Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle agus leis an Teachta. I convey the apologies of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, who regrets she cannot be here for this issue. On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy Steven Matthews for raising this important issue and for giving me the opportunity, hopefully, to provide clarity on it. Deputy Matthews summed it up very well when he said it was a very complex issue. As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the legislation for publi…

The Deputy has made a very important point in talking about disputed routes. Two weeks ago, I was in Cashel to launch the St. Declan's Way walk. It is another part of the strategic plan. It is the most fantastic walk between Cashel and Ardmore. What struck me on that walk was the number of landowners who were present, who had engaged and who had made the walk the success it was. There was funding from the Department of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, the LEADER programme, the local authorities, loads of volunteers …

The Department of Transport has responsibility for the provision of funding and setting of policy on transport issues, including active travel. The National Transport Authority has responsibility for the allocation of funding to projects at local authority level and works with the local authorities to ensure delivery of same. The Deputy will be aware that a significant increase in funding has been allocated to walking and cycling infrastructure projects in recent years, following a commitment of approximately €360 …

I think the rest of this response will answer some of the Deputy's questions. I thank him for his views on this matter, which is obviously a very important issue to the residents of Lehenaghmore Road and the wider community. The safety of road users, especially vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians, is paramount to the Department of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. The Lehenaghmore improvement scheme is currently at detailed design and land acquisition stage. Cork City Council deemed it necessary to seek…

I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence. I thank the Deputy for his statement and interest. In July 2022, the then Minister for Defence accepted the recommendation of the joint civil military working group on decommissioning that the decommissioning and disposal of three Naval Service ships, namely, the LÉ Eithne , LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara, should be progressed as soon as practicable. In effect, these three ships had reached the end of their working lives and were not in…

To reiterate, a number of organisations, including Dublin Port and the local authorities in Cork and Limerick indicated their interest in taking the LÉ Eithne as a museum piece or a tourist attraction, following her decommissioning in 2022. However, despite extensive engagements and lengthy discussions and inspections all these parties withdrew. Dublin Port commissioned two reports in addition to a ship survey. A decision has been made that the ship will be decommissioned. Earlier in 2024, following a competitive p…

However, I will relay the Deputy's disappointment.

I support that as well.

I cannot comment on individual cases. I can tell the Deputy that a huge amount of work has been done to reduce the CAMHS waiting list. I, too, have met with the organisation the Deputy talked about. Its members are concerned about the potential dual diagnosis of children with autism and a mental health illness. I have to be very clear, and I have said this several times on the floor of the House, that CAMHS support is only needed for approximately 2% of children. Those children have a primary diagnosis of a mental …

We are running early after losing all that time.

I welcome the opportunity to engage with colleagues on the important matter of the provision of primary care health services. Access to health services in the community is essential to people's well-being, with GPs usually acting as people's primary care providers and gatekeepers to the wider healthcare services. Treating patients as close to home as possible is beneficial for patients and for the wider health services as it reduces pressures on hospitals. The programme for Government recognises the importance of e…

I will get on that straight away.

It is lovely to see Senator Flynn in the chair. I thank Senators Kyne and Pauline O'Reilly for raising this important issue. I want to be clear on this because I do not want people to be upset or worried. Admissions to Clifden District Hospital have unfortunately been paused due to lack of staff availability. For people listening who might not understand the situation in Clifden, the hospital has not been closed. I was delighted to visit last August and meet the Senators. Senator Kyne accompanied Deputy Ó Cuív and …

I thank both Senators for the way they have addressed this matter. We are all very conscious that this is home from home for many people and that respite is important. There is no bigger advocate in these Houses than me for community nursing units and HSE-run community hospitals, whether they have 40 beds or 80 beds. I met yesterday with Dr. Emer Ahern, who is the clinical lead for older people for the whole of the country. We had a long meeting in which we discussed respite and the resumption of respite beds, whic…

We have the highest life expectancy in the EU.

I thank the Deputy very much for her question. We have been speaking about care all this week. I was only saying to the Tánaiste last night that of my budget for older people and mental health, which is €3.9 billion, every single cent of it is spent on care. There is home care, day care, meals on wheels and supporting people to age in place and in nursing homes and there are those with enduring mental health conditions and those with challenges in relation to their mental health. In relation to the Deputy’s specifi…

I thank the Deputy for his question. I will follow up on this today. The Deputy is aware that we had a situation over the last six months where the Fórsa union was not co-operating in relation to giving us responses. Some 54% of all parliamentary questions asked in the Oireachtas are for the Department of Health. I cannot tell the Deputy the volume that comes through this Department-----

In relation to that specific case, which the Deputy raised directly, I will give the Deputy a commitment that I will follow up on that today and try to get a response for him.

As the Deputy knows, children referred to CAMHS by their GPs have to meet a specific threshold. I am delighted to put on record that the waiting list for those accessing CAMHS decreased by 480 last year. There are still approximately 3,700 children on the waiting list. We are working hard across every community healthcare organisation to reduce the list. We have six waiting list initiatives in place. I am delighted to say that in the next few days I will be announcing an additional €10 million in funding for mental…

We have to put in perspective what I am dealing with as Minister of State with responsibility for older people. HIQA has issued a clear directive that it does not believe the premises is safe and that there is a fire risk. I have to listen to that. As of 27 February, 40 residents had been transferred from Cherry Orchard campus. There are 22 residents still on site. I know the families are not happy, but I have to put patient safety first. I met Bernard Gloster, chief executive of the HSE, last week. Mr. Gloster and…