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1090. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national policy exists requiring that a transition plan for housing and care supports be developed for persons with an intellectual disability before reaching adulthood; if so, the details of this policy; and if not, whether such a policy is under consideration. [32691/26]

1093. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the €10.69 million projected cost of the fire safety and refurbishment works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the original approved budget, the current projected outturn cost, the value of all additional works identified during construction, and the total cost variance arising to date. [3270…

1094. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original planned completion dates for each phase of the refurbishment works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, the revised completion dates, the total duration of any delays incurred, and the specific causes of such delays. [32706/26]

1095. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the procurement process for the works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the number of tenderers, the contract award value, the successful contractor, and whether any post-award variations have altered the contract value. [32707/26]

1096. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the governance and oversight arrangements in place for the capital works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including reporting structures, risk management processes, and whether any issues identified during construction were escalated to the Department. [32708/26]

1097. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to specify the exact nature of the issues identified during the refurbishment works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit which led to the extension of the project timeline; whether these issues relate to structural defects, fire compliance, asbestos, design deficiencies, or contractor performance; and if she will provide a detai…

1098. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original approved project budget for the fire safety works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; the current projected final cost; the value of any additional works identified; and whether contingency funding has been utilised. [32710/26]

1099. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what interim fire safety measures and risk mitigation protocols are in place for residents and staff during the ongoing works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; and whether any risk assessments have identified elevated safety concerns during the construction period. [32711/26]

1100. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the delay in completion of fire safety works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit is expected to impact bed capacity, admissions, or service delivery; and if so, the extent of such impact. [32712/26]

1101. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the fire risk assessment report completed in October 2024 in respect of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit classified the identified fire safety risks by severity level; if so, the classification assigned; and whether the unit was deemed compliant with applicable fire safety regulations at that time. [32719/26]

1102. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what decision-making process led to the closure of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit in February 2025 following a fire risk assessment completed in October 2024; the dates on which the findings were reviewed; the level within the HSE or Department at which the decision to close was approved; and whether alternative mitigatio…

1103. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the findings of the October 2024 fire risk assessment relating to the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit were formally notified to the relevant fire authority or to HIQA; if so, the dates of such notifications; and whether any compliance directions or recommendations were issued by those bodies. [32721/26]

1104. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether residents continued to occupy the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit in the period between the completion of the fire risk assessment in October 2024 and its closure in February 2025; and if so, the fire safety or risk mitigation measures that were put in place during that period. [32722/26]

1105. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a copy of the October 2024 fire risk assessment report relating to the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit will be made available; and if not, the specific legal or policy basis upon which it is being withheld. [32729/26]

1106. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the fire safety risks identified in the October 2024 assessment of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit were recorded on any HSE corporate, regional, or site-specific risk register; and if so, the risk rating assigned and the dates on which the risk status was reviewed or escalated. [32730/26]

1107. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, external audit, or independent review has been undertaken in relation to the fire safety risks identified at the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit and the subsequent decision to close the unit; and if so, to provide details of the scope, dates, and findings of such reviews. [32731/26]

1108. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what capital funding, if any, was allocated or approved to address the infrastructural fire safety risks identified in the October 2024 assessment of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; the estimated cost of required remediation works; and whether such works were progressed prior to the decision to close the unit. [32732/26]

1109. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal options appraisal was conducted following the October 2024 fire risk assessment of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit to assess remediation, partial closure, or continued operation with mitigation measures; and if so, to provide the outcome of that appraisal. [32733/26]

1110. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any residents displaced from the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit following its closure in February 2025 were relocated to alternative facilities; the number of residents affected; and whether any impact assessment was carried out in relation to continuity of care and patient welfare arising from the closure. [32734/26]

1116. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the exact whole-time equivalent staffing complement currently assigned to the dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, broken down by grade, including nursing, healthcare assistants, and all support staff. [32743/26]

1117. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a final, formally approved workforce model has been signed off for Heather House Community Nursing Unit; if so, the date of approval; and if not, the reason a unit is reopening in advance of such approval. [32744/26]

1118. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to confirm whether the current staffing levels at the dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit are fully compliant with HIQA standards for residential care settings; and whether any risks or variances have been identified. [32745/26]

1119. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether full funding has been formally approved and allocated for the complete staffing complement required to operate the dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit at full capacity; and if not, the shortfall. [32746/26]

1151. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the clinical specialties and procedures in which third-party insourcing was utilised prior to its reduction; and whether equivalent in-house capacity now exists in each category. [32886/26]

1155. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a comparative cost per procedure between third-party insourcing, outsourcing via the National Treatment Purchase Fund, and direct in-house provision for the most common procedures. [32890/26]

I thank Deputy Gannon very much for his question. I am concerned about overcrowding in the Dóchas Centre, the female prison in Mountjoy. To make the House aware of some statistics regarding the centre, as of yesterday, there were 223 women in custody in Mountjoy, 29 of whom were on mattresses. The centre's bed capacity is 146. I am concerned about this. I previously said that I do not have the sam…

I believe that a lot of people in County Clare have been housed through the accommodation recognition payment scheme. From what I can see, it is working well and I have not heard of any major issues from house owners or tenants. It is important that we have a clear picture of how many people are supported under this scheme nationwide. With that in mind, will the Minister of State provide an overal…

I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for his question. I have also visited Teach Tearmainn. It is a wonderful refuge in County Kildare but, like very many of the refuges that have been established, it is obviously under pressure in terms of meeting the demand for its services, unfortunately. Cuan is instrumentally part of funding to ensure that we can provide refuges and safe homes for predominantly women wh…

As I indicated in my response to Deputy Ó Cearúil earlier, we have to be very careful when discussing the issue of women fleeing domestic violence that we do not present the solution as being removing the woman from the house and putting her, long term, into emergency accommodation in a refuge or a safe home. That cannot be the long-term solution. Refuges or safe homes are needed because sometimes…

I thank the Minister for the reply but I am asking whether the Department has carried out a full assessment of this. We can all call a spade a spade. Not a month has gone by where we have not read an article in a newspaper regarding suspended sentences for first-time offenders or those who have been caught for the first time when it comes to child sexual abuse images and online images. Certainly,…

We have a State organisation in the Land Development Agency that is making a real and positive impact in relation to the delivery of homes right across our country. I have been on many sites with it in recent weeks and months. We do live in a housing emergency, of that there is no doubt, but it is important to quote the report in the round. I note that we did see the number of terminations actuall…

I seek clarification. I see the Minister of State with responsibility for housing is here. A month ago I asked a question about the exemption for modular houses at the back of properties. I note that in the media in the last week they are saying that the regulations could be done within the next week or two. Are they coming forward? Could the Minister of State inform me about that?

Tomorrow we will all collectively celebrate Daffodil Day and we will support the Irish Cancer Society. I see many Members across the House donning the daffodil today. In Galway last year, 1,332 people were diagnosed with cancer and in 2024, sadly, 531 people died at the hands of this disease. One thing we in this House can do is try to alleviate some of the pressures people face when they are batt…

Tairgim: "Go léifear an Bille don Dara hUair anois." This is an important Bill, and I am happy to bring it to the House on behalf of the Minister. The main aim of the Bill is to implement the European Media Freedom Act, EMFA, in Irish law. EMFA is an EU regulation which puts in place new rules to protect media freedom and pluralism in the EU and strengthen the internal market for media services. …

Deputy Joanna Byrne has already stated the issue, which had previously been brought up by Lynn Boylan, regarding the fears we have about Ireland's media being owned by a very small number of players. We brought this issue up because of the huge footprint Denis O'Brien had at the time. You cannot talk about the negatives of media ownership and the impact it can have on world politics without talkin…

The Minister of State articulated very well the purposes of this Bill particularly in implementing elements of the European Media Freedom Act. It is important to note that Ireland has always performed well on press freedom indices. Reporters Without Borders, RSF, which is journalists making their own assessment, has placed Ireland’s ranking over the past number of years as "good", which is the top…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis labhairt ar an rún seo. Tá saincheisteanna maidir le Tusla ardaithe agam sa Dáil arís agus arís eile. Níl sé sin ceart go leor. I commend Independent Ireland on bringing this motion to the Dáil. I welcome this opportunity as I have raised issues with regard to Tusla on numerous occasions both here in the Dáil and in the justice committee. It is clear that there are majo…

I really appreciate the Minister of State taking time to come to the House this evening. I acknowledge that this issue does not come under the remit of her Department. The work done at Kildare town train station is very welcome but the new car park is already full. Drivers cannot get into it every morning. People have told me they cannot use Kildare town train station because the car park was not …

We want to be honest with people. We do not want to mislead the 829 families into believing that, by purchasing the site, we will be able to excavate and identify burial grounds. We need to be honest with people in this regard. Just so the House is aware, on foot of the Government’s action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby homes, the former Minister for housing, Deputy O’…

I thank the Deputy for bringing the issue in respect of Ballycommon to the attention of myself and the Dáil. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Browne, in respect of it. I know that he is bringing forward proposals that will allow a builder to build up to 40 houses for, I believe, fewer than 120 or 150 people and that Uisce Éireann will then be obliged to connect them. I will raise the matter wi…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to enable the state to accede to the Antarctic Treaty done at Washington on 1 December 1959 and to certain related instruments, including the protocol on environmental protection to the Antarctic Treaty done at Madrid on 4 October 1991; and to provide for related matters. The Antarctic Treaty (Accession and Implementation) Bill pr…

As a man, I welcome the opportunity to discuss International Women’s Day. It is an important day for every man to reflect on. It should not be this day alone, however. Men need to reflect every day on how we treat women, both in this State and across the world. Following more than 20 years in political life, I am seriously worried about the dramatic increase in the number of women fleeing domesti…

The first International Women's Day was observed in 1911 following calls for women's rights, including the right to vote and to hold public office. It was officially adopted by the United Nations in 1975. The day focuses on celebrating progress while urging pay equality, educational opportunities and increased representation and leadership. This year I was invited to a few events, and I was asked …

A number of Sinn Féin TDs have said there is legislation before the House tonight. There is no law. For people watching, there is no Sinn Féin law before this House tonight. There is a motion. The motion brings forward-----

I welcome this motion from Sinn Féin and Deputy Doherty. Families across County Donegal have watched in despair as the price of fuel at the pumps has continued to creep up. The cost of home heating oil has completely spiralled out of control. The price of fuel at the pumps has gone up so much that families are paying, at least, between €30 and €50 a week extra just to fill up their cars. For examp…

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 Richard Boyd Barrett - To discuss the situation in Iran, and implications for Ireland. Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the regular reporting of the defective concrete block appeals board. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery ene…

I wish to discuss the HSE's failure to offer 76 newly qualified paramedics full-time jobs upon graduation. We do not come in here too many times with a solution to a particular issue. It is fair to say that the reason this issue has been somewhat resolved is the action taken by many of those graduates who obviously made contact with many people in this House and beyond. It was good to see the numb…

Working with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, we will come back to the Deputy on that and see what we can do. Working with the Minister for Health, as a public health approach, this issue has to address the underlying cause of ill health. The best way for us to help those affected by mould and damp in their homes with defective concrete is to address the housing directly. That i…

I have already outlined the several of the measures we are taking. Through our national homeless action committee along with homeless organisations, we are developing new strategies around child and family homelessness, and there are also our programmes around other homeless prevention. What the Deputy does not mention when he mentions the 55,000 figure is how many we have prevented going into hom…

The price of cost-rental accommodation is far too high. There is a growing number of working people, singles and couples, who earn too much to access social housing but because of the application of the affordability rule, they are not able to access cost rental. Can the Minister confirm that he shares my concern with respect to this matter and set out what he is going to do to assist the Land Dev…