I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented challenge across our health services, nowhere more so than in our nursing homes. It has been an incredibly difficult time and we are all acutely aware of the huge sacrifices made by people living in nursing homes, their families and staff. It is fair to say that the health and safety of residents in nursing homes has been paramount in all our minds over the last 16 months. Nursing homes are a key provider of ca…

I thank Deputies O'Dowd and Ó Murchú for raising this, and it is not the first time they have done so with me both on the floor of the Dáil and in person. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented challenge across our health services and none more so than in our nursing homes. I think it is fair to say that the health and safety of residents in nursing homes has been paramount in all our minds over the past 16 months especially. The National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, the Department, the HSE and t…

The pandemic has been hugely difficult for all residents of nursing homes, their relatives and staff. Suffering a bereavement is even harder when all the normal rituals have been disrupted. I acknowledge that Covid-19 has had a very challenging and sad impact on the lives of people living in nursing homes, their families and friends. The Covid-19 nursing home expert panel established last year provided a comprehensive report and package of recommendations on both the ongoing response to Covid-19 and the longer term…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Senators for inviting me here today to speak to them on the new national maternity hospital. At the outset, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is currently in the Dáil taking statements, questions, and answers, in relation to the vaccine roll-out. I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss this critical and nationally important project in the Seanad. As many here will be aware, the practice of having stand-alone maternity hospitals, as is the case in four of…

It is my first time being here when Senator Maria Byrne was present. I congratulate her on her election back to the Seanad and it is great to see her here. I am sorry her contribution was cut short but the debate was guillotined. I thank the Senators for their time and for the contributions that were made by those who spoke. The quality and emotion of today's debate is indicative of the value we place on women's healthcare and of the critical importance of the new national maternity hospital. I have listened carefu…

Senator Horkan and I have not been in the Seanad at the same time since his re-election. I congratulate him on re-entering the Seanad. It is fantastic to see him in the Chair. Well done. I thank Senator Seery Kearney very much for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on the plans for the development of the primary care centre in Drimnagh, which is most important for the people living in the area. The development of primary care is central to the Government's objectiv…

The Senator stated at the outset that the final design was due for 2020 with construction to commence in 2021. In fairness, she pointed to Covid and the challenges we have had. I do not have a specific timeline or dates but Senator Seery Kearney will appreciate the importance of the fact that the funding has been allocated to progress the appointment of the design team and that the tender process for the service has commenced. The construction programme for primary care centres will continue throughout the period o…

I thank Senator Ward for raising this most important issue. I would also like to assure the Senator of the Government's commitment to the ongoing support of Irish thalidomide survivors. The Senator will appreciate that as there are a number of cases concerning thalidomide before the High Court at present, as he has stated, it is not possible to comment on matters that are sub judice . However, I am glad to take this opportunity to set out the supports currently provided by the Government to Irish thalidomide surviv…

I would like to assure the House that the Government is committed to the continued support of the health and personal social service needs of Irish thalidomide survivors. The supports currently provided by the Government to survivors, including the monthly payment for life, the medical card and access to the full range of health and personal social services, are ongoing. I would also like to reiterate that work is under way in the Department of Health to bring forward legislative proposals on health and personal so…

I thank the Deputy very much for raising this very important issue. I welcome the opportunity to address the issue of the current difficulties in the dental treatment services scheme. The DTSS provides dental care, free of charge, to people with medical cards aged 16 years and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Patients may choose to have their treatment undertaken by any dentist who participates in the scheme. I am aware that there has been a red…

To answer the second query the Deputy raised, that is ongoing and something of which I am very much aware. As I said, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, met the Irish Dental Association last November, he spoke at its conference last month and is acutely aware of the challenges. We have discussed it. The reason some dentists say they are leaving the scheme is that they have been seeking a review, including increases in fees, for a number of years. There have been significant changes in dental practice since the current …

I thank the Deputies for tabling this motion. The contributions that Deputies have brought to this topic are testament to how critically important the new national maternity hospital is. When I spoke on the topic of maternity services recently, I noted how the attention and investment in those services are commensurate with the importance that we, as a society, place on women and babies. I reaffirmed the commitment of this Government to delivering better health outcomes for the women of Ireland, as well as our dete…

I thank Members for the opportunity to update the House further on mental health services during and post-Covid-19. At the outset, it is important to acknowledge that although we are, hopefully, past the worst of the pandemic, we are not out of the woods yet. When we talk about mental health post-Covid-19, therefore, we should acknowledge that the impact of Covid-19 will be felt for some time to come. It is also important for me to acknowledge the significant impact the cyberattack on the HSE has had, including on …

Those services will be available in July.

In closing, I again thank Deputy Connolly and her colleagues for tabling the motion. The quality of our maternity services is, for me, a reflection of the importance we place on women and their infant babies. It is not that long ago that such esteem was not clearly visible, something this House and the country as a whole should not easily forget. As an Irish woman and a mother, I am well aware of how important this issue is and am very happy to be able to contribute to the debate. As the Minister for Health outline…

We all understand the important role that day centres play. Our elderly population has not been able to access day care centres since March 2020. An announcement will be made in respect of the reopening of those centres tomorrow, and a timeline will be included.

The programme for vaccination for those who are housebound began in March 2021. To date, there have been 3,900 referrals. The portal closed for referrals in mid-April. The National Ambulance Service is currently operating a seven-day service to ensure all individuals are vaccinated as quickly as possible. To date, it has administered 2,700 dose one vaccines scenes and 1,400 dose two vaccines. There are currently 240 people awaiting their first dose. The programme continues and the National Ambulance Service is very…

The temporary assistance payment scheme was facilitated for nursing homes all over Ireland since last year. Initially, finances were made available up to June and this was extended up to December. Some €93 million was made available last year and €41 million was made available this year. It is a temporary assistance payment to support nursing homes and it will come to its natural end at the end of June this year.

I agree that it is very important that we keep our residents in nursing homes safe. There are approximately 30,000 nursing home residents in the country. I am glad to have an opportunity to respond on this issue. This was always a temporary assistance payment to support nursing homes when they needed extra staff and preventative measures like infection prevention and control, IPC. This payment has been extended twice already. Over €133 million has been made available and significant money has been drawn down. To be…

The Deputy is quite right. Over the weekend, it became obvious that people in the likes of Tallow, Ballyduff and Aglish in west Waterford were being asked to go to Killarney for their vaccine and that those living in the Ferrybank area were being asked to go to Kilkenny. I made inquiries immediately. This was a postcode error. I advise that those who received their first dose in Killarney over the weekend will receive their second dose at Waterford Institute of Technology. Those in Ferrybank and those who declined …