I apologised to Mrs. Bartley-Meehan in person.

I thank Deputy Collins for raising this issue. I acknowledge that she has raised it several times in recent years. During oral questions on health two or three weeks ago, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, dealt with this question. He has asked the HSE to come forward with proposals. He said he would engage with all the Deputies in the area to try to find a solution. Public health nurses are essential for young babies and their mothers, and also for older people to be able to live well in their own homes.

In May 2023, a HIQA inspection identified concerns regarding the flooring in both the sycamore and willow units at Cherry Orchard Hospital. These presented a significant potential health and safety risk and a fire risk and it was something that I could not ignore. It was proposed to remove the residents on a phased basis and, so far, 43 residents have been transferred from Cherry Orchard campus, with 17 residents still on-site. There has been ongoing engagement with the residents. Where any Minister receives a repo…

For somebody who is on a long-term waiting list, waiting list validation is very important. We have cases where people are on three or four waiting lists and they may already have received the treatment. If the Deputy gives me specifics of the issue in the Cork area, I can have it raised with the office of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. I know waiting lists are falling. Validation helps in those cases because people sometimes decide to fund services themselves or do it through private health insurance. It is very i…

We need to put a little bit of context on it for people who might not understand what Clifden hospital is. There are two hospitals on the same site: one is a community nursing unit, CNU, where there are people under the fair deal scheme. The hospital also has a respite and rehab ward for six to seven people.

I understand it is a district hospital. To be very clear, in case anyone thinks there are 20, 30 or 40 people in it - there is a ward for seven people. We were solely dependent on agency staff and we were not able to get them. I secured a derogation from the HSE to secure three full-time, permanent members of staff. Recruitment is currently under way for them. A panel is in place, but it takes time. Our full objective is to reopen the hospital. A respite-rehab ward is vital in the area. As the Deputy knows, when I …

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024 to the Dáil. The legislation has two main aims. First, through amendments to the Health Act 2007, it will strengthen the regulatory framework for residential care services regulated under the Act. This includes residential centres for older persons, people with disabilities and children in need of care and protection. The ultimate objective of these proposals is to drive improveme…

And of Covid

The heads were approved today in Cabinet.

Sorry to interrupt, but I did meet Ms Bartley-Meehan.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As she knows, I cannot speak to an individual case on the floor of the Dáil, but if she wants to pass on the details, we can certainly have a look at the case. We have 51 inpatient beds across all of CAMHS operational at the moment and there is capacity. There are 19 beds available. I am updated weekly on the capacity we have. We have invested more in youth mental health this year than ever before.

No, it is not opposed.

Is that 13 beds?

I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes: — the extensive commitments by the Government to address long standing challenges in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sectors; — the 72 per cent increase in State funding since the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future was published, and the achievement of the First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 investment target s…

I am sorry. The Minister, DeputyO'Gorman, will address all of that in the closing.

The Deputy may not have heard me. Because there were two different Departments, we decided to split it that way, if that is okay.

There are two sides to the coin here. When one is in government, sometimes difficult decisions have to be made for the greater good. This was not a decision that was arrived at lightly. We have two situations. On the one hand, the Government has committed to improving access to acute services across the mid-west region. This includes significant and sustained investment in a range of measures to increase capacity at University Hospital Limerick and reduce unnecessary admissions. On many occasions over the last four…

It is registered so it is compliant.

As I said, sometimes difficult decisions have to be taken for the greater good. The decision to utilise the new Nenagh community nursing unit building, on an interim basis, as a step-down, sub-acute and rehabilitation facility was taken to alleviate the significant pressures on University Hospital Limerick. The intention is that the arrangement will be reviewed within one year - I have been given a guarantee of that - and the Nenagh community nursing unit will open for long-term residential care services 12 months …

An older person with a urinary tract or kidney infection who needs intravenous drugs and fluids can be brought to the community nursing unit and avoid the emergency department in Limerick. Please God, they will be back home with their loved ones within 48 to 72 hours. It is not a decision that was taken lightly, but it was taken for the greater good to try to support the emergency department in Limerick. I will give the Deputy a guarantee on the floor of the House that I have been given a firm commitment that as so…