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standards published by HIQA under regulation 17, which concerns the nursing home premises itself. The maximum that can be claimed by an individual nursing home under this scheme is €25,000. I am aware that while our commitments in the programme for Government are ambitious and achievable … supports for older people, including day centres and meals on wheels. Day centres are a crucial part of social care provision in our communities that provide invaluable support for people who may, for any number of reasons, experience isolation and loneliness. Currently, day care services are provided across

week of World Mental Health Day is a good time to reflect on the progress that has been made in mental healthcare while also recognising the work that remains to be done to ensure that people, particularly young people, can access support when they need it most. Mental … seeing some good developments in this area. Beaumont Hospital, in my constituency, is establishing a specialist mental health crisis nursing team, with triage nurses providing vital support to people on the northside presenting to the emergency department in acute mental distress. The sooner that service

those who have not experienced it perhaps cannot understand, in particular, the depth of concern. In that vein, I respond today and other days to all the issues in CHI we face together in this House as the current Minister for Health but also as the parent … proportion of whom, 392, as I understand it, are close to skeletal maturity. It is planned that a multidisciplinary team, including physiotherapists and nurse specialists and overseen by a consultant surgeon who is appropriate, will be involved in this clinical review. It is also important to recognise

friends, family and colleagues. We are talking about people who work here in Leinster House. We are talking about the postman, the nurse, the teacher, the doctor. We are talking about everyday regular Irish citizens who are looking for recognition, for rights, for equality and just … National Gender Service in Loughlinstown. It is fair to say the system is broken, not working and failing people every single day in this country. As mentioned, there are 2,000 people on the waiting list. A study by Belong To, Being LGBTQ+ in Ireland 2024, found that

community organisations, including organisations like Pieta House, HUGG and SOS, by €1.7 million, recognising the vital role they play on the ground every day. We are creating a new crisis response pathway for children and young people. This includes 19 new specialist CAMHS doctors to cover emergencies … Staff also help link each person with the right follow-up care. The programme is run by teams of specialist mental health nurses and it is now in place in all 26 emergency departments across the country, including every model 3 hospital, with approximately 50 staff involved

opportunity to mark National Breastfeeding Week and to recognise the thousands of parents, healthcare professionals, advocates and community organisations that work every day to support breastfeeding across Ireland. Like everyone else, I take the opportunity to welcome the very small visitors to the Public Gallery today. I thank … other health conditions, who may sometimes receive conflicting or outdated advice. Support must also continue after birth. Access to lactation consultants, public health nurses and community-based supports can make a significant difference in helping mams overcome challenges in the early weeks and months. Access to these services

cancer services. The HSE is also working to expand capacity. The HSE capital plan introduces funding for the design and construction of oncology day units and chemotherapy infrastructure at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Kerry. Deputy Cahill asked very specific questions. I will … number of treatment sessions compared with conventional radiotherapy treatments. More recently, and supported by our 2025 programme for Government commitments, the acute oncology nursing service has expanded, keeping ever more cancer patients out of emergency departments when they feel unwell. The rollout of the SSMFU framework is also

bigger picture. In hindsight, they were sold at massively discounted prices. The Irish Times reported in 2016 that several major portfolios sold to international investment funds were subsequently resold at profits ranging from 30%, which is not half-bad when one thinks about it, to over … which rewarded early repayment and visible progress. I would argue that it was more on the political side because the Government of the day wanted to be able to say that it had made progress in advance of the 2016 election, even if that meant forgoing future gains

substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022 be deemed to be read a second time this day twelve months, to allow the Joint Committee on Health and the Department of Health to consider matters further.". I acknowledge the intention behind this Bill … innovative medicines. It is important that such partnerships continue. However, transfers of value can create conflicts of interest, and I understand that some international research has linked them to higher prescribing rates, higher costs and lower prescribing quality. This Bill seeks to enhance transparency by establishing a statutory

extend my condolences to Deputy O’Reilly and her family on the loss of her mother last September. The Labour Party marked International Women’s Day this year by standing with the staff and families of the Rotunda Hospital at the Garden of Remembrance, looking on at where … major hospital in 2025, while her daughter spent a week in another major hospital in 2024, five days in a paediatric hospital in 2024, along with an additional five days in 2025. While the care in these hospitals was exemplary, she highlighted one issue. Her daughter was most

take. A total of €3.8 billion is being allocated to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for disability services, including residential care, day services, assessments, home support and personal assistance and respite services. Additional special education supports include more school places, over than 1,700 more SNAs … further cutting the cost of care. Funding through budget 2026 will provide for increased acute and community bed capacity, home support hours, staffing, nursing home places, enhanced community care and expansion of mental health services. In the area of justice, €6.17 billion is being allocated. We are committed

start by marking International Workers’ Day and recognising workers throughout Ireland and the world and, as Deputy O’Reilly said, particularly the workers of Leinster House who make our lives so much more enjoyable as we come in every day to do our work. Lá na n-Oibrithe … they are some kind of kindness from employers. What he failed to recognise, and what I wish to recognise today on May Day, is that for a business to make money or for an employer to profit and simply function, they rely on the value that is produced

will kick-start the spread of the good practice we are seeing in mental health. Today, we mark World Mental Health Day, a day of reflection, solidarity and renewed commitment. This year’s theme, Access to Services - Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies, is both timely and urgent … cross-government plan for how we can reduce suicide in Ireland. Reducing deaths by suicide is a complex task, but evidence and experience internationally show that real reductions in suicide rates can be achieved by involving the whole community, the whole of government and all of society working

which is the daily struggle of patients and front-line workers. The people do not need more layers of reporting or internal reviews but functioning hospitals, nurses who are empowered and not overworked, GPs who are supported and not sidelined, and care that is accessible, timely and humane … owners' coffers. In some cases, that may lead to the closure of nursing homes. It is a very serious concern. There must be supports to bridge the gap. The Minister has met Tadhg Daly of Nursing Homes Ireland several times, as have we. He has advised

Data Protection Act 2018, which I did on 21 July 2025. This enabled the inquiry to formally commence its work the following day. Since commencement, the inquiry has been actively progressing its work in line with its terms of reference. Engagement has taken place with a wide range … investment for these services. In 2024, 52 new full-time equivalent posts were approved to strengthen paediatric spinal services, including surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nursing staff and allied health professionals. Forty-one of those staff are in post. Three orthopaedic consultants have been recruited, in addition to the one last