The Deputy is right that this is a complicated issue. It is an evolving situation. As I mentioned, all options are being explored. I wrote to the HSE last Friday and asked it to explore all options. Regular engagements are taking place between the Department of Health, the HSE and HIQA. Before this nursing home is registered again, only one organisation can register it and it will only register a facility when it is fit for purpose and all issues have been addressed. HIQA does not like having to withdraw authorisat…

I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue and I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on the matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers. Both the Minister and the Minister of State are aware of the impact that decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals, in both rural and urban areas. An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially and, as such, day-to-day operational …

-----and it is what they have always done. Losing a post office in a local community is very distressing. Money claimed locally is spent locally. Maybe in 30 or 40 years’ time that whole generation will have passed on and post offices will not be as important. Yet, as Minister of State with responsibility for older people, I can understand how important post offices are to the local community. I am saying that on a personal level.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Minister cannot intervene in matters which the Oireachtas has given An Post a statutory responsibility to fulfil. An Post has an independent board that has a clear mandate. I accept that the Deputy is not happy that the post office is being converted. However, I am thankful that it is not proposed that the post office be closed. I encourage everyone to use the post office. I say that every time I have an opportunity to speak on this issue. It is not only in rural areas, it is als…

I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the House on the progress made on supporting the mental health of our children and young people. I thank the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for its work on the report Mental Health Supports in Schools and Tertiary Education. I especially thank the Cathaoirleach of the committee, Deputy Paul Kehoe, for tabling this motion today and for all the work that was carried out. Sometimes people looking in from the …

I have increased the budget by 33% since I came to this post four years ago and I believe that a report on supports for mental health for students is required so that we can stop the political point scoring. Approximately €146.5 million is being provided to CAMHS this year. In addition, €110 million is provided to community-based mental health organisations and NGOs annually, with a significant portion dedicated to supporting young people. Last year, the CAMHS teams allocated 225,000 appointments to young people th…

Maybe that is after the poll.

Deputy Mattie McGrath was at the opening.

I thank Members for their contributions to the debate on the Bill. I look forward to their support as the Bill is considered further on Committee Stage. I note 95% of all those who spoke, even though they raised issues, were supportive of the legislation and I thank them all for that. The Bill provides for a number of pertinent and timely amendments to the Health Act 2007 and the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. First, the amendments to the Health Act will bolster the existing regulatory framework for resident…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Health pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I thank Deputy Flaherty for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. I hope the statement I have will answer some of the questions he has raised. The unregulated nature of the provision of guardian ad litem services has been a matter of concern for some time. Currently, guardians ad litem , GALs, are appointed by the court for children who are the subject of childcare proceedings under the Child Care Act 1991. GALs have an important role…

The Deputy has raised a really important issue. The Department is continuing to work towards the establishment of the guardian ad litem national service to enable the full commencement of the Act. As I have said, a consultant, Anthony Douglas CBE, was contracted to support preparations for the establishment of the GAL national service. The outputs from this consultancy include the development of the operating model, practice manuals and workforce plans for the service, including a transition plan to facilitate the …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, an important one to many Deputies living in Dublin and to the general population. Dublin city centre has always been a vibrant destination for the locals, visitors and tourists who come here to enjoy all the wonderful amenities it has to offer. Recently, however, the social and cultural character of the city centre has changed, with increased concerns for public safety and a diminished overall experience on our streets. In response to this, earlier this month on 7 May, the…

I thank the Deputy for his input to the debate and the views he has raised. In fairness to the Taoiseach, he was only in his second or third week in the role when he established a task force to take a view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin city centre, both north and south. We can all welcome the focus brought by Government on measures which will hopefully make all the difference. The goal is to make the whole of Dublin city centre a more thriving, attractive, and safe cityscape - the Deputy spoke of th…

I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising this important issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, has been delayed. I was on standby to take this and I was under the impression that the Minister of State would be here. I have taken note of the issues raised by the Deputy and I hope the script will be able to provide some of the answers. From the outset I want to clarify that the Minister of State's Department has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Neither that Department …

In fairness to the Deputy - and I believe the Ceann Comhairle will agree - as she had already suspended this particular question, and as I am not in a position to answer fully the Deputy's response, I will ask that one of the officials meet with the Deputy and she can discuss her issues in detail. I will try to organise this for next week. The Deputy has already deferred this Topical Issue matter previously. I cannot respond to those individual questions as they are not here in the file. The NTA is working closely …

I am pleased to attend the debate to set out the Government's position on the Bill. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for initiating the Bill, which is an effort to address the difficult matter of disputes that arise between neighbours over vegetation causing a nuisance. The Bill provides for mediation on neighbour disputes and formal adjudication, if necessary, by adjudication officers appointed by local authorities. It provides for the appeal and enforcement of decisions made by adjudication officers. Many of us in this …

I will keep it brief because I would only be reiterating what was said already. I am grateful for the opportunity to make some brief closing remarks on what has been a fascinating discussion. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for initiating this Bill and the effort to address an issue that can become both serious and distressing for some in our communities, where they are in dispute with their neighbours over nuisance vegetation. I have advised previously that the Government has decided not to oppose this legislation. As I…

No.

I thank Deputy Tóibín for his question. He raised Mrs. Bartley-Meehan yesterday evening in the debate on the health Bill giving new powers to HIQA to go into private and voluntary nursing homes and to access details. The Bill is a direct response to the expert panel that was put in place during that horrendous time for many people in nursing homes. I met Mrs. Bartley-Meehan in person and worked with her on a couple of issues but I will not discuss them here on the floor of the Dáil. In response to the Deputy's subs…