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million of funding for public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland, TFI, Local Link services, which was an increase from €618 million in 2024. That includes funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the young adult card on both PSO and commercial … support the roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services under programmes such as BusConnects and Connecting Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently commitment to improving public transport under the new programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, and is backing

example of good practice when it comes to public service reform as regards the work that has been done with the use of technology and online service. The passport service issued over 1 million passport books and cards in 2024. That was a milestone. Forecasts for this year

approximately €660 million has been assigned for the public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland Local Link services. That is a significant increase on previous budgets. It also covers various fare initiatives, such as the young adult card and the 90-minute fare, until

transportation networks and infrastructure development and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, under budget 2025 the Department of Transport secured €658.442 million of funding for PSO and TFI Local Link services. This represents an increase from €613.813 million … card and the 90-minute fare until the end of 2025. Funding has also been provided to extend free child fares on PSO services to include those aged five to eight years old and to support the roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services under

wish to discuss the ongoing decline in the dental scheme for medical card holders in County Clare. I have raised this issue time and again. The Irish Dental Association has also raised it and has made repeated calls for the scheme to be overhauled. The association states … scheme does not work either for dentists or patients and that a lot of lip service has been paid to it but nothing is happening. In November 2021, as a county councillor in Clare, I tabled a motion calling for the then Minister for Health to engage with

million passport books and cards in 2024. There were 16,792 adult passports and 12,474 child passports issued to residents of County Meath in 2024, bringing the total number of passports issued to Meath residents to 29,266. The passport service forecasts that more than … passport service continues to be in an excellent position to meet the demand forecast for 2025, with 855 staff officers currently assigned to it. Customers who need to have their passports renewed urgently can book an appointment at the public counter in Mount Street or in Cork

this process will involve publishing the next stage of the advertisement to eTenders before the end of this month. I await the publication of the e-tenders because a bundle of primary care centres is included, one being in Lismore, in my area. I have … shortage of GPs in north Wexford and south Wicklow, under the GMS scheme the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved

cards, where will this depot go? It can go to the other side of Kilcock, to Enfield. There are many opportunities for a park-and-ride service. I acknowledge that the delivery of this extension to Kilcock is dependent on the service and delivery of the DART+ West … option. While the private car remains the most popular mode of commuting in Kildare, we have seen an increase in the use of public transport between the most recent two census profiles. Much of that is down to the increase in provision of bus services and accessibility

will increase the number of consultants in emergency medicine and ensure that more senior staff are rostered in emergency departments during weekends and public holidays for better decision-making. The construction of 114 new and replacement acute beds is expected to be completed in 2025. The surgical … health service include a national system for electronic prescribing, remote health monitoring and virtual care solutions. In mental health services, we will continue to build the mental health workforce and infrastructure and support for community-based services. In older people's services, we will support people to live

know who will be getting the flowers and chocolates from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The Valentine's card has gone to the investor funds, with a note inside that reads: "We're getting rid of the rent caps for you. Let it rip with the rents … lack of supply. What will we see then? Housing assistance payments. We will see the use of more public money to support renters who cannot afford the rent, more public money going to US and German pension funds rather than being invested in building affordable housing

development funding - €74 million in 2024 and €39 million in 2025, with some funding from the existing level of service, ELS, allocation also funding service expansion through provision for demographic change. However, we know that there are significant barriers to delivery, and we are keen to work with … plan to succeed. This involves addressing workforce and sustainability issues, improving data collection, seeking innovative policy and service delivery solutions and finding ways to enhance the delivery of residential services so that we grow this area in a more sustainable fashion. Respite plays a crucial role

regards the transfer of records. There is a lot of catching up to do. In 1996 the Danish system started the patient card, which has all a person's medical information on one file, no matter what hospital the person is admitted to. I was speaking … care seven days a week but many services are not available during some of those seven days. I spoke to Professor Rónán Collins today who had an interesting article in thejournal.ie about the issue of lack of access to services at weekends such as MRI scans

State. We believe that we should collect taxes and use that money to create a just society, where everyone has the services they need, has their basic needs met, and feels they are getting value from the contributions they make to the State. To achieve that goal … country needs to evolve over time but it should evolve in a way that is thought out, considered, provides value to the public and actually makes the running of the State more efficient. We need to carefully consider the roles of Ministers of State, their remit

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the renewal of public services cards needs to be done in person and no longer via phone or online; if he will consider facilitating online or over the phone renewals for public service cards, given

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the renewal of a public service card needs to be done in person and no longer via phone or online, appreciating the challenge this poses for elderly citizens; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the chiropody services available in the public health service, including to those with a medical card. [6281/25

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the chiropody services available in the public health system, including to those with a medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2634/25