I am raising the urgent need to locate a Gallium PET CT scanning machine in Cork. Gallium scans are essential for the detection of tumours for certain types of cancers. I have been contacted by many patients with neuroendocrine cancer. Neuroendocrine tumours are rare tumours of the neuroendocrine system, which is the system in the body that produces hormones. Gallium scans are essential for the detection of tumours for this type of cancer. There are no Gallium scans available in the south of the country or in the M…

I thank the Minister of State. I know he is not the Minister for Health and is not in that Department. I have had correspondence and parliamentary questions going back and forward. I have a reply here from 24 June 2022 which is similar to what the Minister of State has read out this evening It mentions assessments, reviews and the like with veiled, shrouded language. I am asking straightforward questions. I appreciate that the Minister of State is not the Minister for Health, but could he get responses for me after…

We will close with the two proposers. Deputies Andrews and Wynne have five minutes each.

The division will be deferred until the weekly division time next week.

My question is on the FAI centre of excellence in Glanmire. I am seeking an update on it. In 2016, I was a councillor involved in the Part 8 planning process for the centre. We were delighted when a funding stream for it was identified. Unfortunately, every time I drive past the field, I see a complete lack of progress on the project.

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I do not want to go into the detail of any organisation's finances, but it is well documented and known that the FAI would have difficulty coming up with a funding stream to match the funding provided by the Government. I believe this project was initially floated in 2016. Funding was approved in 2020. That is a significant period and planning permission has already been extended once. It cannot be extended a second time. My understanding is that there are two or two …

I thank the Minister of State for committing to a meeting. I hope he will be able to arrange it in the coming months. Regarding the LSSIF in general, the Minister of State mentioned that €100 million had been allocated in 2020. If he does not have the figures in response to my questions, he might provide them afterwards. Of the €100 million allocation, how much has been drawn down in the past two years or so? Will the Minister of State provide me with the details now or in the coming days? What exactly was outlined…

In two weeks, on 28 February, we will mark Rare Disease Day. A few hundred thousand people in this country suffer from a rare disease while more than 6,000 rare diseases known at present and many more are undiagnosed or unidentified. I am asking the Taoiseach, as I have done previously, and the Minister for Health, both publicly and privately, about the Mazars report, the reimbursement process in this country and how we do our business. I was under the impression that this report would have been published at this s…

In recent months, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage issued a circular allowing HAP residents at risk of homelessness to remain in their homes and the local authority to purchase their homes. This has been broadly welcomed and comes as a relief to many families. However, the implementation of this circular has varied from local authority to local authority. For example, one local authority has used the new initiative but has placed a five-year stipulation on a person's tenure for it to be avail…

Question No. 5, in the name of Deputy Paul Murphy, will be taken by Deputy Boyd Barrett.

The Select Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31 December 2023: Vote 26.

Deputy Sherlock has indicated.

On the same question I invite Deputies Murnane O' Connor and Durkan.

In light of recent dog attacks throughout the country, the then Taoiseach and current Tánaiste committed to a review of dog control. I understand that is under way, perhaps between the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Agriculture, Food and the Marine. That is welcome but will the Minister confirm or clarify whether that review will include the issue of equine welfare and horse issues? I will point out that in the part of Cork city in which I live, 25 horses were found abandoned last night, …

Is the Minister satisfied that there is a sufficient number of special school places in Cork city and county for September 2023?

I acknowledge all the progress made in the last few years on the delivery of ASD classes in particular. I have witnessed it in my constituency where many classes have been sanctioned. Some are still awaiting delivery but nonetheless it is progress. We all know what happened a year ago with the delivery of Carrigaline and the scramble that happened there. Again, it is progress, places were made available and students were catered for. That said, before I came in here this morning I rang the principals of five specia…

If I am applying to a school, be it in Carrigtwohill, Fermoy where I used to teach, or Glanmire, I know the intake or enrolment of that school. There are X number of places available, or there is a cut-off point or a waiting list. Do we have a number specifically for how many schools have a vacancy for September? I cannot find one at the moment in the city or its hinterland. That is the concern. It is our job to relay that concern to the Minister of State. My question was specifically in respect of special school p…

I raise the issue of the TBESS. I understand it is constantly under review. Recently released figures show that approximately €20 million has been drawn down from a fund of almost €600 million that was allocated to support businesses. That shows that the current system is inaccessible or the criteria are too stringent. I have examples and many Deputies across the Dáil also have them. One business had a bill of €15,000 for November-December 2021 and it increased to €56,000 for the same period in 2022. Unfortunately …

I wish to ask the Minister about the scheme for the vacant property refurbishment grant. Does he plan any more changes to the terms and conditions of the grant?

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I commend him, his predecessor, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on this scheme. I have seen it working in my local authority area. However, I wish to ask a number of questions to establish the facts. I thank the Minister of State for the figures he provided. As with any scheme, there will initially be a certain period before the scheme kicks in properly. I hope 2023 will see a marked improvement in the number of applicants. Will …