Every week since I have come up here, I am consistently raising issues pertaining especially to the peninsulas that I have named, Iveragh and Dingle. I am also a member of the joint health committee, and I am consistently raising the issues there as well. It is every week, as there is always some issue. By and large, it is in relation to staffing, be it for home care, daycare, primary care, palliative care, mental health as I mentioned already, or respite. Beds remain unopened in both the West Kerry Community Hospi…

I welcome the announcement by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, regarding the new initiative that will allow private sector involvement in developing wastewater systems for smaller housing developments of up to 40 homes. This initiative is a crucial step towards addressing the infrastructure deficit in rural areas, particularly in County Kerry, where housing development has been long restricted by a lack of adequate wastewater facilities. By enabling developers to collaborate w…

I thank the Minister of State for mentioning my late colleague on Kerry County Council, Jim Finucane. Jim was a great Kerry man. He loved his county and his town of Tralee. He was involved in everything. big and small, in Kerry. I extend my sympathies to his wife and family and his wife's nephew, Councillor Mikey Sheehy. I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear this news late yesterday evening. He will be sadly missed by all. He left an impact on Kerry and that will forever be remembered. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a an…

During a debate on the Private Members' motion on abolishing of means testing for the carer's allowance, I referred to the sale of St. Mary of the Angels in Beaufort. I am happy to confirm I have received correspondence from St. John of God stating that there is no sale and that the organisation has not signalled any intention to sell the property. I welcome the clarification and I and the families of children and adults with profound disabilities welcome this development. We look forward to enhancing disability se…

Means-testing for the carer's allowance is not fair on either carers or patients. It could end up costing the State hundreds of millions of euro. The carer's allowance is a weekly social welfare payment to people who care for someone because of their age, disability or illness, including mental ill-health, for at least 35 hours per week over five to seven days. Personal savings should have no impact on whether people qualify for the allowance. Giving of their time to care for someone who is ill takes a large burden…

-----who is in a position of power to address this issue and reverse what they are trying to do. Otherwise, we will be looking for more carers for these people. That is the point I am trying to make.

This is a facility that the people of Kerry fundraised for, which was given free of charge. It should continue to be used for the purpose for which it was originally given to the people of Kerry by the Doyle family.

There are former residential and reformatory school survivors on hunger strike outside the gates of Leinster House as we speak. I raised this matter last week with the Minister for justice in the Dáil. This is their tenth day on hunger strike. This very serious situation has reached an impasse, with the Minister for education having advised them that their demands cannot be met. The hunger strikers assure me they will see this out to a tragic conclusion if necessary. Is there nothing we can offer them to end this t…

Despite the enormous profits being made by insurance companies in this country, premiums continue to rocket upwards. Given that insurance is not alone essential but, in instances like motor insurance, it is required by law, the Government should have stricter control of any proposed increases in premiums. We know that increased construction costs have a large effect on domestic house insurance but increases of 20% year-on-year appear to be over the top and unwarranted. Businesses can succeed or fail depending on ho…

At the outset, I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this Private Members' motion on child poverty and homelessness. We are not by any means the poorest nation in the world, but poverty exists in our society. Poverty severely affects the very young, who are more vulnerable to ill-health because their bodies are not fully formed in comparison with those of teenagers and mature adults. Children are dependent on parents and guardians to look out for them and ensure they are well fed, kept warm, clean, healthy …

I plead with the Minister to use his power urgently to end the industrial and reformatory school survivors' hunger strike by immediately awarding a health amendment Act, HAA, card to all survivors as they deserve access to comprehensive healthcare to deal with the lasting effects of these institutions and by awarding a full contributory State pension for the unpaid work done by them many years ago. These survivors worked long hours, unpaid, saving the State and religious orders a significant amount of money. The su…

Irish householders are facing a winter of increased fuel prices following recent announcements by energy suppliers of price increases, despite the companies involved already having made significant profits. I cannot understand how these increases can be justified in light of soaring profits. It seems to be just another instance of women and men at the side of the street being milked to create corporate profits for large institutions. What can be done to control these ravenous profit mongers that are operating like …

The waiting list for children needing psychological treatment in County Kerry, and in the Cork-Kerry region, as recently outlined by the HSE for the period 2022 to 2025, shows a growth pattern that only be described as highly horrendous. The list grew by 470%. These figures appear to have spiralled out of control during that timeframe. There is widespread fear and frustration in the families of those affected. It is of the utmost importance that the Minister of State outlines to us the valid reasons why we find our…

As I outlined earlier, the figure for 2025 is 1,022. The list grew by a massive 470% from 2022 to 2025. These figures appear to have spiralled completely out of control during that period and there is widespread fear and frustration within the families of those affected. This cannot be allowed to continue. As I stated earlier with regard to CAMHS, we have already witnessed the fiasco in north and south Kerry. We cannot allow a repeat of this disaster. I believe the Minister of State will make every effort to ensure…

I raise the issue of coastal erosion and flooding, which are huge problems in my neck of the woods. I live by a beach called Rossbeigh in Glenbeigh, County Kerry. It is on Castlemaine Harbour. That area in particular is very problematic with global warming and high tides. When the high tides coincide with storms there are particular issues. Homes are flooded and we require funding as soon as possible.

I thank the Minister of State for that response. The towns of Kenmare, Tralee, Listowel, Castleisland and lower Killorglin all need protection works at the earliest possible date. I have been inside homes where there has been 3 ft of saltwater. Rainwater is one problem, but saltwater is a different story completely. I plead with the Minister of State to come down, see for himself and provide the necessary funding. Historically, coastal erosion and flooding were at the bottom of the priority list when it came to fun…

I thank the Minister of State for confirming he is coming down to Kerry. I look forward to welcoming him. There are so many areas. It is a huge problem that involves expensive work. Rock armour is very expensive, as are other lines of defence. For many of the people affected, the Minister of State is General Custer making his last stand. We are pleading with him to deliver for our county and people and to give them some sort of comfort. I am getting calls all the time. Any time a storm is forecast it is particularl…

Iveragh in south Kerry is remote to many of the people who live elsewhere on this island. It is a main attraction for many. For many of those living there, its remoteness is neither an attraction nor an advantage when it comes to health services, be they physical or mental. A proposal to move mental health services from Caherciveen Community Hospital to Killorglin would be a detrimental move for everybody resident from Castlecove to Portmagee, Valentia to Dromid and Kells to Ballinskelligs. The service includes 100…

I again raise the Presidency of the European Union. The Heads of State will be coming to Ireland next year, and I specifically mention Killarney as a destination for meetings and a place to stay. We have the best of hotels. There are 42 hotels in Killarney. We have the best of hotels and the best of restaurants. We have the national park, the Lakes of Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, the Gap of Dunloe-----

It would be a great boost to the local economy as well.