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secured over €658 million of funding for public service obligation and TFI Local Link services, an increase from over €613 million in 2024. This package included funding for the continuation of the various fare initiatives, such as the young adult card and the 90-minute fare until … Funding has also been provided to extend free child fares on public service obligation, 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 programmes such as BusConnects and Connecting Ireland

emergency patient transport services in order to attend outpatient appointments, there is an application process involved whereby patients are obliged to provide information pertaining to their medical card holder status and their mobility status, including details concerning any medical conditions that prevent them accessing public or private transport … patient requests at short notice, where possible. On the Deputy's specific inquiry concerning difficulties in making contact with the Wexford patient transport service, the Minister for Health is informed that there exists within Wexford General Hospital a dedicated office for the administration and support of non-emergency

specific extra funding for dental services. There is no public dental system worth talking about in Laois. I have read the figures out here before on the school dental scheme, the dental treatment service scheme, DTSS, for medical card holders and the PRSI-based scheme. It is absolutely

card. I spoke about the budget yesterday and I am just going to pick out a few things again. Maybe the hint for what has happened with this budget is captured in the words of the Minister, Paschal Donohoe, who said, "Our schools, our hospitals and our public … services are responsible for so much good in society." They certainly are, but that is not their function. Of course it is their function but is not identified as basic rights in a republic. We are talking about access to public health and access to a home

opportunity for people, since the publication of the final report of the expert task force to support the expansion of the role of pharmacy, my Department has been engaging with a range of stakeholders to implement the recommended common conditions service. This service will enable community pharmacists … establish the common conditions service from late 2025. Pharmacies will be entitled to charge their patients a consultation fee. However, medicines will be reimbursed by the State in accordance with a person’s eligibility under the community drugs schemes. Patients, including medical card holders, who choose to access

stay prudent and cautious, maintain buffers, deliver value for money and protect our fiscal credibility while we invest, but the public must also see real improvements in services and infrastructure and investment that is badly needed and appropriate. Turning to the measures, the Bill raises … time worker on the new minimum wage stays out of the top USC rates. It also extends the reduced USC for full medical card holders with income below €60,000 to the end of 2027. These are sensible, broad-based steps and both are welcome. From 1 July

quicker free appointment for medical card holders. This agreement makes it cheaper for some but increases access for all for a prescription for a common condition. On digital integration, pharmacies will actively support national eHealth reforms, including the national e-prescription service and national electronic health record. There … easier for people to access care in their communities. It reflects our shared commitment to innovation, public health, and sustainable investment. It will further support community pharmacies in diversifying their health service offerings, business models and revenue streams. On phased dispensing, there is one important element

protection accommodation system. This was published last week as part of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2024. All recommendations in the report have been accepted and implemented by the Department, with one recommendation to be implemented … already beginning to have a genuine impact. IPAS has put improved processes in place for appraisal, validation, contracting and payments. A new rate-card pricing structure is being applied to all new or renewing contracts, which has resulted in savings of over €52 million across 104 contracts since

years, until 31 December 2028. In line with the programme for Government, I am reducing the rate of VAT that applies to hairdressing services and the sale of food and certain drinks in the hospitality sector from 13.5% to 9% from 1 July 2026. This will help protect … smoking prevalence. This public health policy objective drives our tobacco tax: our annual rate changes are designed to raise the price in order to lower the level and uptake of smoking. Such a tax policy is promulgated by the World Health Organization for supporting public health

demand. We know that from Women's Aid, which has told us that there was a 12% increase in demand for front-line services. That block in terms of housing is huge. Progress is slow and without the urgency that is essential, one in three women will continue … medical card but being refused time and again. While all parties have signed up to Sláintecare, it is clear from budget to budget that there is just no consensus on universal healthcare. This budget will not deliver affordable and accessible public healthcare. The reality is that families cannot

budget 2022 came into effect on 1 February 2025. This was designed to increase the national stock - the amount - of zoned and serviced land to deliver homes across our country. So far, there have almost been 2,000 returns filed. Of these, 526 have requested the deferral … catering businesses and for hairdressing services. The measure will come into effect from 1 July 2026. This will cost €232 million in 2026 and €681 million in a full year. It reflects our commitment to support businesses in the services sector that are facing increased cost pressures. Furthermore

couple with two children - let us think about this - it is €342. When they go over that, they lose their medical card. These people have no basic health cover and cannot afford private health insurance. That should have been rectified. A portion of the large capital budget needs … Francis School in Portlaoise. Overall, instead of targeting money to ease the burden on the working poor and squeezed middle, and to improve public services, the budget will have the effect of transferring a huge amount of wealth and public taxpayers' money to big business and private wealthy

years. Back then, 12 years ago, a report into services for children with spina bifida found major defects and a lack of co-ordination at a national and local level. That report made recommendations for how services could be improved. Those recommendations were not implemented … raised huge concerns about a negative and toxic culture which impacted service delivery and staff experience and had the potential to put patients at risk. It does not end there. We are currently waiting for the publication of further reports into CHI, including one on paediatric orthopaedic surgery

LSSIF since 2020 now reaches €297 million. Since the inception of the fund, a number of outstanding facilities have opened to the public and it is plain to see that this benefits society. Projects of significance that have opened since the fund began include the linear walkway … international golf stage and to promote Ireland as the next host of the Ryder Cup with the assistance of Tourism Ireland. Local service delivery stakeholders representing organisations such as An Garda Síochána, Limerick City and County Council and the National Transport Authority, who attended an observer programme

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of OPW heritage cards purchased in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [53364/25

Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the reason official communications regarding Leap Card applications are being issued from UK-based email domains, raising concerns about data protection and the outsourcing of public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55413/25

will request the NTA for the reason official correspondence regarding Leap card applications is being sent from a UK-based email domain; if he will ensure that all communications related to Irish public transport services are managed securely and transparently within the jurisdiction; and if he will make