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Cullinane, published our health plan. It highlighted that between 2019 and 2024, nearly half of dentists providing publicly funded care to medical card holders had withdrawn from the dental treatment services scheme. Nearly 80% of those who remained were not taking on new patients. The Government's oversight … dental care teams to target school screening for children and medical card holders. Sinn Féin would expand dental training places by 32% from 185 to 245, develop a modern general dental services contract, crucially including a public-only contract, and make necessary reforms to the Dentists

agree with other speakers in that successive Governments have left dental services for public patients to collapse in the State. The dental services scheme for medical card holders has been in a state of chaos for years. In the term of the previous Dáil, the then Minister, Stephen … hearing services are other examples of services that the State is steadily scaling back, relying on the private sector to pick up the slack. In disability services, we expect charities to do likewise. We must initiate a widespread recruitment plan for public dentists and sort out the DTSS

recruitment for dentists to work in the School dental programme, and in public dental services; — introduce a dynamic advertising and recruitment campaign for the DTSS, to encourage dental practices to take medical card patients in all parts of the State; — expand the range of services available under … paying their taxes but they need to see services for that money. If people could see good services, they would not mind paying their taxes and levies. We need to ensure that the HSE improves and expands hospital services and capacity for those children and adults with special

what the Government has done in the town of Mallow in terms of the frequency of the rail service, investing in light rail and public transport, including Leap cards and the station in Mallow. I take the Deputy's point. There is more that

examining the further expansion of free public transport for children. Specifically, budget 2025 included a measure to extend free child fares on PSO services to children aged five to eight years old. The NTA is working to develop and implement this change, with the new scheme expected … continuation of other fare initiatives, such as the 90-minute fare, the young adult and student Leap card, and 20% discounted fares on PSO services, all of which help make public transport more affordable. Furthermore, the NTA recently introduced a new distance-based zonal fare structure

year. There are 6,858 vacant posts in the public health service at this time. A total of 400,000 people entitled to medical cards and GP visit cards are not availing of them. The public system is struggling in many respects. Health insurance providers step into that … fear that if they get sick, they will not get the help they deserve and that should be their right through the public system. Sláintecare is moving at a glacial pace, with a reduction in funding for its implementation from last year to this year. The question

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

cost of operating subsidised public transport services with fuel, vehicle maintenance and staff costs. In the same period, public transport fares have decreased through various measures such as the 20% cost-of-living discount, the young adult card discount of 50% and the extension of free travel … substantial increase in Exchequer funding, continued inflationary pressures have increased the cost of operating public transport services, which has limited the NTA’s ability to improve services or introduce new services to the Transport for Ireland network as part of wider capital investment under the national development plan

public service obligation and TFI Local Link services. That was a 43% uplift, a really significant uplift and an increase from €658 million in 2025 to €940 million for next year. This package includes funding for the continuation of various fares initiatives such as the young adult card … minute fare until the end of 2025. Funding has also been provided to extend free child fares on public service transport to include those aged five to eight years of age and to support the roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services under programmes such

public transport passengers in Ireland. The project will facilitate a variety of payment methods on public transport services, involving a new-generation account-based ticketing scheme incorporating both mobile- and card-based payments for passengers. In 2024, the NTA awarded an overall framework contract to Indra Sistemas … importance and scale. It will take a number of years to deliver the project fully. Public transport is not just about moving people from A to B. It is a vital service that connects individuals to work, education, healthcare and their communities. That is why I am firmly

neglected public dental services. The first clear statement of the State's aims and objectives for dental services was first published in 1994. That was called the dental health action plan. That plan led to the development of the dental treatment service scheme for medical card holders … medical card patients. Under the medical card scheme, private dentists are contracted by the HSE to provide services to medical card patients but this scheme is haemorrhaging dentists and medical card patients are paying the price. In 2015, there were around 1,600 dentists participating in the scheme

Tipperary and east Limerick in its hinterland, has no dentist accepting public patients, medical card holders. That is absolutely and totally unacceptable. It is proof positive that the dental and oral health service in this country is totally in disarray and is failing patients very badly … number of dentists employed by the HSE in the public dental service is also reducing by 30, with 65 unfilled posts as of early this year. The year 2019 saw the Smile agus Sláinte plan for the dental service. That was a strategy that was supposed to move

Student Card, which was introduced in 2022 and extended in 2024; and — the roll out of additional Local Link services since 2022, which has seen a five fold increase in the number of people using these services, with 100,000 journeys taking place on Local Link services every … public transport services, so let us deliver that now. Commitment No. 4 is to complete the roll-out of the contactless fare payment system in 2026. We all recognise that the lack of a contactless system, whereby one can pay with one's card or phone, leaves Ireland

Over €200 million is invested in public oral healthcare services annually. The dental treatment services scheme provides oral healthcare, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over, as the Deputy is aware. Services are provided by dentists and clinical dental technicians who hold a contract

card scheme, leaving thousands of patients without the free care they are entitled to. If that were to happen within GP care, there would be absolute uproar and alarm - rightly so. Yet, we are not seeing that same level of attention or care for our public health service … system. Business cases sit there for months on end. That is absolutely unacceptable if we are to take public dental care seriously. The reality is that those on medical cards and those who struggle to afford to see a dentist are the ones who are most disadvantaged

beginning with rural areas and offshore islands, and expanding into areas of deprivation and out-of-hours services; — create a new DEIS for GPs scheme, deprivation-weighted General Medical Services capitation rates, with a cap on list size, in recognition of the additional health needs of patients … practice nurses' continuing professional development, and establish clear career pathways for progression; — increase annual public health nurse training capacity, from 160 to 240 places; — remove the Common Conditions Service fee for medical card holders; — provide universal access to the CDMP for all patients with type 2 diabetes, asthma

should not have to get a Leap card. You should be able to use your phone to tap on quickly when getting on a bus or rail service. Accessibility and ease will increase people's use of public transport and will allow us to have a just transition

thank Deputy O'Shea. As he is aware, over €230 million is invested in public oral healthcare services annually. The dental treatment service scheme, DTSS, provides oral healthcare free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services are provided by private dentists and clinical dental

cost of operating subsidised public transport services, including fuel, vehicle maintenance and staff costs. In the same period, public transport fares have decreased through various measures, such as the 20% cost-of-living discount, the young adult card discount of 50% and the extension of free travel … social inclusion perspective, it has widened the gap between what it costs to run services and the revenue fares bring in. There is a requirement to strike the right balance in public transport fares to enable further enhancements, which both Government and Opposition Members are calling

transport passengers in Ireland. The project will facilitate a variety of payment methods on public transport services. This will involve a new-generation account-based ticketing scheme that incorporates both mobile and card-based payments for passengers. As the Deputy outlined in his original contribution, a competitive procurement … needs to be done to bring this into operation. The NTA is making great efforts to ensure this transformation and beneficial project for public transport passengers is delivered as effectively as possible. I have asked for target dates for delivery and we are probably looking at the year

further supports subsidised bus and rail services across Ireland, including rural Ireland. This allocation also maintains targeted fare initiatives, such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of nine and the young adult card for those aged 19 to 25, as part … package. It delivers on a key programme for Government commitment to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families. Uptake of this initiative has been really strong. Approximately 25,000 child Leap cards were issued in the first month after the launch of this scheme, and applications

major county towns, no longer has a dentist providing a service to public patients. This is not acceptable. The Government has repeatedly ignored warnings and pleas for changes to the dental medical card scheme. I have raised my concerns many times in the House and repeatedly with various … continue to treat public patients. It cannot happen - dentists are disappearing from the system and you cannot blame them. Dentists simply cannot continue like this. As a result, many have a made the decision to withdraw from the scheme entirely. Others are limiting their services to basic pain

isolated failing; it is part of a wider collapse in public dental services – a collapse that is hitting families hard, especially those without the means to pay privately. Even medical card holders are struggling to find a dentist, let alone get an appointment. In Waterford, the picture

aimed at improving the affordability of and access to public transport, while also encouraging increased usage across all age groups. These measures include the 90-minute fare, the 20% fare discount on PSO services, and the young adult card, YAC. Notably, the YAC scheme has been broadened … services, with the application portal formally opening on 3 September 2025. This targeted initiative is designed to encourage children to start using public transport from an early age. The Government decision to expand this initiative did not include broadening this measure to commercial bus operators

services we operate is largely from the 1990s, and it must be modernised. While that reform is progressing, we are determined to ease the pressure people are facing now. In practical terms, that means improving access through the public system, especially for children and adult medical card holders … services provided by the HSE. The HSE provides these patients with an oral health examination and where necessary, their treatment is provided using additional supports. This service provides care to many children and adults who would not otherwise have access to oral healthcare services. Regarding access to public

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for the introduction of contactless bank card payments across public transport services currently operating under the Leap Card system; the stages of implementation planned; the reasons for the length of time required to deliver this upgrade

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport if there is a timeline for the introduction of the Leap card services for all public transport services in Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14947/25

considered the introduction of an interim lower cost contactless payment solution, including smartphone based QR ticketing or limited contactless bank card payments on selected public transport services, pending the full rollout of the next generation ticketing programme; if any assessment or indicative costing of such measures has been

they must hold a medical card in order to receive a public health nurse visit; if she will direct the HSE to end this practice; if she will ensure that older people with significant care needs can access public health nursing services irrespective of medical card status

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the HSE costs attributable to international protection applicants, by service that is GP/primary care (including GP visit cards), pharmacy/medicines, public health (screening, vaccination), emergency department, inpatient and outpatient activity, mental-health services, dental, interpreting and any per-applicant

Youth if her Department will lead on transposing the directive establishing the European disability card given that the cards also affect public transport, culture and other services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19273/25

Cork and their positive effect on dwell times when buses stop; the timeline for the installation of swipe card readers on all Bus Éireann and other public transport services operating in Galway City; whether funding has been allocated for this rollout; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of Heritage Cards purchased in each category adult, student and so on, each year since it was introduced; if there are plans to modernise it as an app on smartphones

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 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

Transport the amount of Leap card fare revenue collected in each year since 2016 across all TFI services in respect of credit on cards that was expended on public transport journeys, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47343/25

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

asked the Minister for Transport if there are any agreements for cross-Border travel between transport services in this State and the North of Ireland regarding the use of public travel cards; if Leap cards, iLink cards, or other public transport smart cards are recognised

Transport the status of the Government’s commitment to introduce contactless fare payments across public transport, including the use of ordinary debit and credit cards and mobile wallets on bus services; the bus services and operators that currently accept contactless bank-card payments; the progress made

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

will increase the qualifying income limits for a medical card in respect of those over 70 years, as these limits have not been increased since 2020 with no consideration allowed for any pro-rata public service pensions or State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement

timeline for the introduction of contactless payment by bank card and mobile wallet services, including applications (details supplied), across Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Luas, DART and Irish Rail services; if a phased rollout is planned across the various public transport operators; and if he will make a statement

Minister for Health following publication of the community pharmacy agreement 2025, to provide further details in respect of the consultation fee for the common conditions service; if a set rate has been agreed; if this fee will be covered under the medical card; and if she will make