Recruitment and workforce planning are absolutely necessary. We all know the plan needs to be about delivering therapies to those who require them. There are still issues regarding schools and others where, no matter what answer I get from the Government benches, parents are still being told they require an assessment of need. What is the plan in relation to the assessment of need? I get where the general plan is but can I have a timeline for when the Minister of State believes all these positions will be filled? I…

It is a huge issue for families who want to plan for their child with a disability. As we know, many of them are dealing with children who have huge challenges. I agree with the Deputy that we have all dealt with issues where it relates to the bureaucracy. There is an issue in ensuring that assessments are made within a decent time. We know that a number of people, agencies and whoever else have had issues where cases have had to be resolved by court, and we are talking about a log-jammed court system. What is bein…

Many of us have met the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, as the Minister of State has. When its representatives met me, it was with a constituent who I had met many times previously about the fact there has not been any community neuro-rehabilitation team in what we term the north east. We have not had it in CHO 8 and in what will be the regional health authority of Dublin north-east. We need to make sure we put this in. It is an absolute necessity. At the moment, people are ending up in accident and emergency dep…

This was the likes of St. John of God operating alongside county councils such as in Meath and Louth and people could be severely impacted.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the ongoing closure of Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara, County Galway. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned extension of Coláiste Bhríde secondary school, Carnew, County Wicklow. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss staff recruitment and retention at community training centres. Deputy Claire Kerrane - To discuss the Government r…

It is fair to say that we will be seeing continuity in Israel's pattern of behaviour. It is not surprising for an entity that engages in genocidal action. The shooting at Irish peacekeepers and diplomats was an absolute disgrace. We know the actions we need to take, whether it is the occupied territories Bill and the inclusion of services. I agree with the Tánaiste that the Commission needs to take action regarding the EU-Israel association agreement. All I can say is that it is a disgrace. We also have to find a w…

I raised earlier the issue of Seán Rooney. We know there is a legal case at this point. We have had many interactions on this and I think there is agreement across the House that we need to seek justice for Seán Rooney and his family. We also need to make sure that, through all the processes, what is learned is carried forward such that the absolute best protocols are carried out in the context of our Defence Forces. On a question completely unrelated to the triple lock, it also means that at times we probably need…

I welcome what the Tánaiste has said. I agree that heaven and earth needs to be moved to get justice for the family. I accept that we are now out of time and that I will get a written answer. I will follow up on this issue. I also ask the Tánaiste that we resolve the issue regarding John McNeela and the payment on the basis of Michael McNeela's sacrifice. That is the only right thing to do.

What work has been done to ensure appropriate primary and secondary school placements for all children? We know about the issue that has existed in regard to those with special needs. Can we ensure that everything is in place for the academic year 2025-26? We know the constant problems there have been, with parents having been put through the mincer, for want of a better term. We need to ensure we are looking after all our citizens properly.

Some of the complaints have been that in many cases, particularly when we are talking about secondary schools, we are aware of the children who are in primary school and coming into that age bracket. It is about making sure everybody is talking to everybody else to ensure the NCSE, the schools and the Department have the information. I agree that action did need to happen on school admissions policies. I have proposed legislation in respect of the fact that for kids with additional needs, there should be a two-year…

I welcome the answer but I agree with the Minister of State that more work needs to be done. We are still being contacted by those who do not have places for next year. We need those cases sorted as soon as possible. It is not right. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could come back to me in writing with some more detail on the timeline for school-based therapies. I will be pushing this. On the common application system, it needs not to be a common application system from the point of view of failure. It …

I would like to do what my colleagues have done and wish the Minister of State well. He will hear a lot today about the issues that exist. Having dealt with stakeholders previously, I imagine he is aware of some of the critical issues impacting on those involved in the fishing and seafood industry, whether we are talking about those in Carlingford, Clogherhead or elsewhere in this State and beyond. When we talk about farming, we always talk about the sustainability of the family farm. We need to talk about the sust…

Before I turn to my main issue, but on the basis that this is health-related, I commend the staff in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital where I had to undergo a testing procedure. All is very well but I must say the staff there were incredibly professional and made something that should not be enjoyable in any way as enjoyable as it could be and definitely as painless as it could be. I just want to state that on the record. I turn now to an incredibly serious issue for a little child - a baby girl - and for other people …

I welcome what the Minister of State said at the end. I will provide the information explicitly because it is absolutely necessary. While all this is commendable with regard to cancer care, it does not deal with the issue at hand, which is this child who was diagnosed with hyperinsulinism, and the fact that we have the machine here to carry out this PET-CT scan. There is an issue with regard to the isotopes and then ensuring we have a medical practitioner who is sufficiently licensed. That is something I expect an …

There is also the issue with regard to the payment. Our own health service, the HSE, should have played a better role in ensuring those bits could be dealt with.

I appreciate the flexibility the Chair has offered me, but I will need an answer. We need a solution with regard to this. I do not think this is good enough for this family or any other family that finds themselves in these circumstances. The only good news is that the child was seen and dealt with and is thriving at the moment.

And deliver the service.

It is hard to believe that we are having this debate. There is absolute acceptance that Israel is an apartheid state that is engaged in genocidal action in Gaza. Another 25 people were killed at a so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid station. I do not know what defence there can be for what Israel is doing on a day-by-day basis. At least 55,000 people have been slaughtered and there is no end in sight. While the Central Bank may not be selling them, it is facilitating these Israeli war bonds. We can have an a…

I imagine everybody in here to speak on this has dealt with those who have not been able to avail of mental health supports on the basis of addiction to alcohol or drugs, or both. We are talking about incredibly complex cases. I would welcome the tenor of what the Minister of State is saying, but we are dealing with too many cases where there has been an inability to provide people with the service they require for ongoing addiction, as I mentioned, but especially psychosis. An awful lot of these cases get funnelle…

Many of the circumstances we are discussing we encounter in our work as TDs. I have gone to the Minister of State previously to discuss such circumstances, in which families, the Garda and others who become involved have looked for someone to be involuntarily admitted, generally on the basis that the person has some form of psychosis. Unfortunately, sometimes when GPs are called out, even following arrests under the Mental Health Act, it ends up in a situation where they will only agree to a voluntary admission. Gu…