We never want to see a Leas Cross again. There is no compromise and I will be bringing in more regulation for HIQA later this year as part of the statutory home care scheme. I also agree with the Deputy that the State must take a more active role in the care of older people and I said so at the weekend. I think all the Deputies present agree with me on this. As they are aware, the care of older people is outsourced, with 80% private and voluntary - just under 4% is voluntary - and 20% provided by the State. We are …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: Dáil Éireann: — recognises that the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use will consider the legislative, policy and operational changes the State could make to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families, communities, and wider society; — recognises the Mental Health Bill being drafted for introduction to the Oireachtas this year, which will allow further debate on this Bill to take place in the co…

We will have it in the next two weeks. We checked that today.

I am sorry for interrupting.

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Government and I as Minister of State working with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, are completely supportive of the nursing home sector. A sum of €1.5 billion will be provided this year to support 22,500 people who avail of the fair deal. Some 80% of nursing homes are run by voluntary and private organisations. Less than 4% of these are voluntary. In the past two weeks alone, I have engaged with Nursing Homes Ireland, The Alliance, a new organisation covering…

I thank Deputy Verona Murphy for her continued advocacy concerning CAMHS services, particularly in the Wexford area. All aspects of CAMHS will be developed under the forthcoming HSE service plan 2023. The Deputy is correct. There are two CAMHS teams in Wexford. One has a very low waiting list while the other has a higher waiting list. I was able to visit Arden House in Wexford last year. One of the issues the interim report of the Mental Health Commission showed up was the difference between the number of acceptanc…

I thank Senator Clonan for raising this matter. It is my first time taking one of his Commencement matters. I am delighted to do so. We will meet again at 5 p.m. to discuss the Shona Project, so we will speak twice in one day. The HSE provides a range of assisted living services, including personal assistance, to support individuals in maximising their capacity to live full and independent lives. The HSE National Service Plan 2022 outlined the HSE's commitment to deliver 1.7 million hours of personal assistance ser…

There is a half-minute left.

They would have to be paid the living wage. They would have to be provided with mileage which the HSE workers get. Notwithstanding that issue, HSE healthcare workers are paid €16.50 an hour and mileage and still it struggles to recruit. We have rolling recruitment campaigns across the nine CHOs at the moment to try to encourage more people to become healthcare workers. I want to make caring a viable career option. I will send on a copy of the strategic workforce advisory group recommendations. They have been welcom…

I thank Senator Clonan for the way he expressed himself today. We are putting a new tender in place at the moment. It was meant to be in place on 1 January but has now gone out to 1 April. One of the things we are doing, because this was not available for the care of older people previously, is looking at personalised budgets for the first time ever, within the tender. We are also looking at some e-technology supports especially for people with dementia. This is another thing we are exploring. We are trying to thin…

I beg the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence in the context of allowing me to welcome a group of ladies to the House. They are members of the Fianna Fáil women's network, which includes many aspiring politicians. I hope the late hour we are sitting will not put them off deciding to venture into politics. They are more than welcome to Leinster House. I very much thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for giving me the opportunity to respond to the points raised. There is very little he said that I do…

I thank the Deputy for the support he has always afforded to me. We all have a common desire to have the best possible policies and services in place for older people. That process starts by ensuring we identify the growing and diverse needs of older people. I want to see older people being able to age in place and being able to live in their own communities for as long as possible. We do that by supplying three different types of supports. The first support is daycare services and dementia daycare services. The se…

I stand over the every piece of information I said in the Dáil. The building was constructed in 1817. I received a report again today where the HSE attended the committee. The hospital has been repurposed; it has not been closed. There are currently 24 people working in the hospital. It is a community healthcare network supporting people with-----

-----chronic disease-----

-----and with diabetes and helping people to live and age well in the community.

I thank the Deputies for all their contributions today. Debates like these are important so that we can all reflect on how the State is currently supporting its citizens, highlight deficiencies in past approaches, particularly those affecting the vulnerable, and ensure this knowledge and learning is used to inform improvements into the future. Today the focus has been on two essential elements of our social care system, namely, services for older people and services for those with a disability. As Minister of State…

I liaise constantly with the providers of eating disorder supports throughout the country. Many young people are now presenting with eating disorders or disordered eating. Last year, 504 children, young people and adolescents presented to the eating disorder teams. When this scheme was initially put in place in 2018, when the relevant data were in place, it would have been expected that approximately 50 children per year would present. Some 504 children needed these vital supports last year. I assume the Deputy is …

If the Deputy sends me on the details, I will have a look at them.

I am pleased to join Senators here in the Seanad to discuss the very important topic of child and adolescent mental health services. We had a debate in the Dáil for two hours yesterday and a further debate lasting three hours last Thursday to discuss the Mental Health Commission's report. I know the Seanad had invited me here prior to the publication of that report. I was happy to oblige. All of us in Government have listened most closely to the views and contributions expressed over recent days. I have welcomed th…

It started yesterday.