I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am taking this question on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Minister and the Government continue to make progress in improving access to meet the health needs of rural and remote communities. Sláintecare is the roadmap for reform of our healthcare system. A key milestone is the organisation of the HSE into six health regions. This took place last year and a phased transition to the new structures continues. Each region is now empowered to plan and deliver services tailored to the needs of its population. At the same time, we must maintain a national health service with consistent standards across all regions and communities. I will outline how the health regions are structured to deliver on these commitments. Regions will adopt a population-based planning approach based on the specific needs of their areas. A population-based approach to service delivery emphasises prevention and early intervention. This complements existing programmes such as Healthy Ireland and Sláintecare Healthy Communities. The HSE’s population-based planning framework provides principles and key steps for the teams doing this work. For example, regions now have detailed publicly available population health profiles. These draw on census data and cover both the region as a whole and smaller community health areas of approximately 50,000 people. In addition to planning, we must ensure our workforce is equipped to meet these evolving needs. For example, the University of Galway has recently developed medical and pharmacy education with a specific focus on rural healthcare. This focus on the broader determinants of health promotes integrated care across all levels of service. Integrated care means patients experience smoother transitions between services with better co-ordination and improved outcomes. To achieve this, the HSE is rolling out the next phase of its integrated service delivery, ISD, model. This is a central part of the health regions reform. Staff are now being reconfigured from care group teams to integrated teams which serve defined geographic areas. There are 20 integrated healthcare areas, IHAs, across the country, including one for the county of Kerry. Each IHA has a dedicated senior manager at national director level. The IHA manager is responsible for all health services delivered in their area. This reconfiguration promotes joined-up care and accountability across primary, community and acute services. The Deputy raises the possibility of a study on the health service needs in the Iveragh and Dingle peninsulas. However, this is exactly the kind of insight that the new local teams are designed to address, with support from experts in the HSE centre. In the south west, the HSE is implementing innovative solutions to improve access in rural areas. Mobile clinics, telehealth services, and digital infrastructure are bringing care closer to people's homes. The telehealth roadmap and the digital for care 2030 framework are expanding remote consultations and health monitoring. These initiatives reduce travel time, improve access, and support continuity of care for rural patients and service users. While these innovations are promising, the Department of Health recognises that workforce remains a key challenge, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Under the new HSE structures, the HSE south west is now able to recruit and retain staff across all service areas within their allocated budget.

Sentiment score: 0.27

I will raise the issue as well with the Minister for Health. The Department of Health encourages regional teams to explore service models that reflect the realities in their communities. It is important that the regions learn from one another and that they share best practices. Such work can then inform broader strategies for improving care in remote areas right across the country. Looking ahead, this regional innovation can inform national strategy and strengthen service delivery everywhere across the country. Patients need health and social care services that are responsive, integrated and locally informed. The health regions are now empowered to lead on the planning and delivery of community-based care. My colleague, the Minister for Health, thanks the Deputy. She looks forward to working with him and collaborating with him to improve healthcare in the Kerry area.

Sentiment score: 0.54

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Helen McEntee, who is unavailable. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. It gives me an opportunity to discuss the current position with Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola. The Deputy will be aware that the school is a DEIS post-primary school in Falcarragh, County Donegal, and the school had an enrolment in September 2024 of 417 pupils. The school is located in the Falcarragh school planning area and is the only secondary school in the area. The Department of Education and Youth is in receipt of three applications under the additional school accommodation scheme and three for the emergency works scheme from Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola. All applications from schools for major capital works are considered against a range of factors. The priority for the Department of Education and Youth continues to be the provision of required additional school places to meet demographic requirements as well as to provide for children with special educational needs. In County Donegal alone, in the period 2020 to 2024, the Department invested €209.6 million on projects in construction, projects in the pipeline and completions. There were 64 projects completed in Donegal in the period 2020 to 2024. There are currently 17 projects in construction. The Department of Education and Youth is required to manage the allocated capital funding across all schools in the country, and the Department's approach is to maximise the use of existing capacity in schools and, in tandem with this, to manage the progression of the existing pipeline of projects within available budgets and in line with the Government's infrastructure guidelines. This allows the Department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the roll-out of additional special classes for children with additional needs. This approach reflects the Department's fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child. The pace of delivery of additional residential development in school planning areas, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data, will be kept under review and will inform the timing of school requirements. The Department of Education and Youth will continue to liaise with local authorities in respect of the projected completion of planned residential developments. The Department of Education and Youth is examining demographic requirements across the country, including in the context of current and planned residential development activity, and any major capital works for Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola will be considered in this context. The purpose of the Department of Education and Youth's additional school accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special educational needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year where the need cannot be met by the schools, existing accommodation or other schools in the area. To answer one of the Deputy's specific questions around the current position in relation to the emergency works applications for Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola, there are three emergency works applications at assessment stage - mechanical and electric works, roof works and life safety systems. Those applications from the school in question are being considered by Department of Education and Youth officials and the school authority will be notified of that decision directly. I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of those three applications under the additional school accommodation scheme for capital works for the school. The school submitted an application for additional school accommodation in 2022 seeking a new-build and a purpose-built classroom for students with special educational needs. Two further applications were submitted in 2024 for special educational needs accommodation and prefab replacement. Modular accommodation for a classroom for students with special educational needs was approved in 2022 and has been delivered. I will raise the issue with the Minister for education as well.

Sentiment score: 0.18

I will raise the matter with the Minister, Deputy McEntee. As I have stated, my understanding is those applications from Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola for additional accommodation are being considered. The school will be contacted directly once a decision is made. I assure the Deputy that the Department of Education and Youth will advance this matter as quickly as possible and it is very conscious that where additional accommodation is required, a significant lead-in time is necessary for a variety of reasons.

Sentiment score: 0.14

I thank Deputy Gannon. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan. The Department of Education and Youth and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, are aware of the recent issues raised by the school to which the Deputy refers. Both Department and NCSE officials are engaging with the school directly to address the concerns raised. A meeting was held on 7 November between the Department, the NCSE, the school management team and a representative from the school’s board of management. The school will continue to be prioritised for support by the NCSE, by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and by the Department’s inspectorate. The meeting last week also identified a number of areas which can be progressed in the short term. Department officials will ensure that the school’s management is informed of developments on an ongoing basis. It is important that schools raise concerns with the Department and the NCSE when they arise so that supports and-or advice and guidance can be provided when they are required. I know special schools face a number of additional challenges and the Department and the NCSE are available to provide support when required. Special schools now have both administrative principal and administrative deputy principal posts since September 2024. These additional posts are proving instrumental in assisting principals with leadership and management functions, with both the necessary support for learning and parental and community engagement. The NCSE has recruited additional SENOs, team managers and advisors to support all schools, with special schools prioritised across the board for support. On the advisory side, the NCSE is developing a greater level of curriculum, behaviour and other training supports for schools. New leads for these important areas of work have been appointed and are available to work with schools to design and deliver new bespoke training and supports. Aligned to the issues which the school has raised, two other priorities in relation to special education refer to therapy supports and day-to-day funding to cover the increasing costs of running our special schools. Securing funding on both issues was a key focus in the recent budget discussions. The programme for Government 2025 commits to the introduction of an education therapy support service. This service will begin in special schools and gradually extend to special classes and mainstream settings, ensuring all children can access occupational therapy and speech and language therapy in a timely and effective way. The allocation of €16 million in budget 2026 will support the continued roll-out of this service, along with the necessary resources and supports. These therapeutic services will build the capacity of school communities to better support all children and provide one-to-one therapy interventions for those who need them most. This is a transformative initiative and one that will make a real difference in the lives of children and families. Budget 2026 has also delivered increased investment in teacher professional learning in special education, additional funding for assistive technologies and enhanced capitation, which will benefit, in particular, children in special schools. In real terms, the capitation increases which have been secured - the increase in the base rates, the enhanced rate for students aged 12 and over in special schools, and the application of a payment threshold for a minimum of 60 students in all schools - will make a substantial difference. We must also look to raise the bar and be more ambitious for our children and young people with special educational needs. Initiatives, including new post-primary curriculum pathways, transition supports and new further education and training programmes in development, will help with this.

Sentiment score: 0.50

As previously stated, both the Department and NCSE officials are engaging directly with the school in relation to the recent concerns raised by the school. There has been an online meeting and a school visit is planned to involve the NCSE, NEPS, and the inspectorate. I cannot stress enough that any school that has a concern regarding the provision of supports available for students with special educational needs should contact the NCSE, or the Department, in the first instance. Guidance, advice and support will be provided to ensure that schools are supported and their concerns are addressed. I also wish to take this opportunity to outline the well-being services available to school staff that are supported by the Department, namely Oideas's well-being at work teacher well-being section, details of which can be found online, and the employee assistance service provided by Spectrum. This service provides a dedicated, confidential, 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service 365 days a year to promote staff well-being in the workplace. In addition, the Teaching Council provides a number of supports and resources to teachers and school leaders to support their well-being, including personal, professional and financial supports. Further information is available on the Teaching Council's website.

Sentiment score: 0.52

I welcome the Deputy's question and the opportunity to set out the significant funding that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has delivered and continues to deliver in terms of payment schemes for the beef and sheep sectors. Payment schemes for the beef and sheep sector can be divided into two types. First, there are national schemes. In 2025 there are two such schemes supporting the beef and sheep sectors: the national beef welfare scheme and the national sheep welfare scheme. In addition to the national schemes, there are EU schemes supported through Ireland's CAP strategic plan. In 2025 there are two such schemes: the suckler carbon efficiency programme and the sheep improvement scheme. Returning to the national schemes, the 2025 national beef welfare scheme has a budget allocation of €28 million, all of which will be spent, with payments commencing to cleared cases in early December 2025. The budget allocation is an €8 million, or 40%, increase on the equivalent scheme in 2024. The national beef welfare scheme attracted more farmers than in previous years and more calves will be paid on. This is a testament to the fact that the measures are practical, and farmers can see the clear benefit of participation. However, because of the success of the scheme and resulting oversubscription, to stay within the budget allocation of €28 million and to ensure that all calves up to the maximum of 45 calves are included, a linear adjustment is being applied to the voluntary measures of vaccination, forage analysis and faecal egg count. No adjustment will be applied to the mandatory measure of meal feeding. What this means in practical terms is that the payment rate for a farmer who has applied for all three actions will be €67 per calf on up to 45 calves. In 2024 the payment was €50 per calf, with the maximum number of calves payable being 40. Therefore, the maximum payment in 2025 will be €3,015, a significant increase on the maximum payment of €2,000 in 2024. A farmer with 25 calves would have received €1,250 last year; in 2025 the same farmer will receive €1,675. That is 34% higher than in 2024. The national sheep welfare scheme has also proved popular beyond projections. The budget allocation in 2025 is €22 million, all of which will be spent. This is a significant increase on the €15 million in 2024. To deal with oversubscription under the 2025 scheme, the control mechanism is to pay for the voluntary action at €3.50, with no adjustment to the payment rate for mandatory actions. In practical terms this means that a farmer who applied for a voluntary action will receive €11.50 per ewe, a significant increase on the €8 per ewe payable under the equivalent 2024 national sheep welfare scheme. For example, a farmer with a 100-ewe flock doing all measures will receive a payment 44% higher than in 2024, that is, €1,150 compared with €800. The total allocation under these two national schemes is €50 million, and the Department will spend the €50 million on these vital supports for farmers in the coming months. The first of the payments, €16.44 million, under the 2025 national sheep welfare scheme payments was delivered last Monday to over 13,000 farmers. In addition, in the coming weeks, payments will commence under the CSP schemes, namely SCEP and SIS.

Sentiment score: 0.25

I will raise the specific issue the Deputy raised with the Minister. The information I have here in relation to the two schemes - the sheep and beef sectors - is that the Minister secured a further €50 million for those two national schemes in budget 2026. The Department has met with the farming organisations regarding those schemes. I will go back to the Minister and get him to come back to the Deputy directly to clarify the issue.

Sentiment score: 0.10