I thank Deputy Harkin for raising the question of Sligo University Hospital. The Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, met with the consultants from the hospital yesterday. I believe it was a constructive meeting. The Government is committed to the development of regional hospitals, such as Sligo University Hospital. There has been a significant increase in the funding allocated to the hospital. I understand that over the last five years there has been an increase in funding of €30 million. I understand it …

I hear the Deputy in respect of her concerns about Saolta being too Galway-centric but in the discussions yesterday between the Minister and the consultants, it seemed that the emergency department surgical block was the key issue. The issue from hereon in is delivery and whether we can accelerate the timeline in terms of its construction because health capital projects, by definition, tend to be slow to get going and slow to get through the process. We have had these discussions at Cabinet subcommittee level, in p…

On Deputy McDonald's issue I want to put on the record of the House my thanks to our public servants and my recognition of the work they do across government and the massive effort that has and continues to go into making sure those who have come to our country seeking refuge have speedy access to the shelter and support they need. We do not have an option but to avail of all offers of accommodation including those that in ordinary times we would not consider appropriate. This includes the use of repurposed office …

-----the Deputy is familiar with it. Ultimately we have to be fairly straight with people. We have international obligations and with regard to fulfilling them the pressures are enormous because of a number of issues such as conflict, famine, drought, climate change and the war in Ukraine itself. The Minister and the Department are engaging with local representatives to provide the information. They will be providing more information directly to the community in the coming days. This is happening. The Minister want…

The Minister is examining the situation. The tolls for private cars on most toll roads, if the increase is to go ahead, would increase by 10 cent. Some of these tolls are collected by private companies. What Deputy Carthy is asking is that we would subsidise private companies in this respect to deal with the issue.

The Minister is examining these issues in terms of how best we can deal with that situation. Toll revenue is generally used for motorway maintenance and maintenance of the wider national road network. The Minister told me this morning that many Deputies have requested an increase in resources for roads in Cavan-Monaghan and the entire country. It is a balancing of that. The other point is that we are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, and we get that. The Minister is examining the situation.

This Government is not neglecting childcare. We are investing approximately €1.25 billion in childcare. This means the first of five investment targets, €1 billion by 2028, has been achieved five years ahead of schedule. This year's budget allocation will support a reduction of up to 25% in childcare fees. This measure will put close to €2,100 every year back in the pockets of parents from next year. This follows last year's budgets that provided funding for a new employment regulation order, which was agreed betwe…

This is a bit confusing because the Deputy just said the RSA stated it was not closing the centre but then asked me to clarify the matter.

The RSA is not closing the centre. Does the Deputy accept that?

I do not know who is creating the speculation. The Deputy could be creating it himself.

God forbid, I would suggest the Deputy is doing so.

How many people work in the centre at present?

Is one person gone?

Okay, but the centre will get a second person. We will talk to the RSA about that. It is a two-person centre at present and one person has moved on for other reasons. The more critical issue the Deputy has raised is of whether we can get the tests accelerated. We do not want people to wait that length of time for tests.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know she has been a great supporter of St. Clare's food kitchen and has worked to highlight the service it provides in Carlow on a continuing basis. The Minister and the Department of Social Protection have provided significant additional expenditure in respect of the school food and meal programme. We will continue to do that. We have expanded the number of schools that are eligible for that programme. The Deputy's suggestion that additional supports may be needed for su…

The Deputy has raised this issue for quite some time. I will talk to the Minister for Justice and get her response.

The Attorney General has advised on this particular issue and perhaps has a different legal perspective to the legal person the Deputy referenced in his contribution, and it would have a far wider range of application than just specific cases. The argument would be that any initial case would encompass the wider issues of family as well. I will seek further legal advice in respect of it and come back to the Deputy.

I will come back to the Deputy on it.

I will engage with the Minister on that. I ask the Deputy to send on the details of the specific cases to the Minister's Department and to copy it to me as well. We will certainly follow up. We have raised issues of this kind and the Minister is very clear that every effort is being made to accelerate payments on a timely basis. That is obviously very important for those providing these services.

Is this in the yard?