I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for raising this matter. I am glad to take it on behalf of the Minister for Transport, who, as the Deputy knows, has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding relating to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 and in line with the national development plan, the operation and management of individual roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Transport Infrastructure Ireland ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the national development plan. The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national road projects, including the completion of projects already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others. An additional €2.9 billion was allocated for the protection and renewal of the existing national road network. As the greater portion of this funding becomes available in the second half of the decade, this means there is a constraint on the funding available for new projects in 2025. However, approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funds has been provided for national roads through Transport Infrastructure Ireland to local authorities this year. It is important to point out that the programme for Government commits to continued investment in new roads infrastructure to ensure that all parts of Ireland are connected to one another. This year, approximately €3 million was allocated for the construction of new national roads in Kerry, with an additional €10.2 million allocated for the improvement of the existing network. With regard to Daly’s roundabout in Killarney, which is the substance of the Deputy's question, I understand from Transport Infrastructure Ireland that Kerry County Council engaged consultants to review safety and capacity issues on the N22 and its approaches and to introduce improved active travel facilities at the N22-Park Road junction. A proposal for an active travel-friendly Park Road roundabout with reduced lane lengths was not considered the optimal solution for the location, with a signalised junction identified as the preferred solution recommended by Kerry County Council. Details of the traffic assessment work undertaken in relation to the signalised junction proposal can be requested from the county council. As part of the scheme, it is proposed to reallocate some of the existing road space on the carriageway between Daly’s roundabout and Ballycasheen junction to provide space for a new active travel facility. This would reduce the width of the existing carriageway down to 7 m to provide space for the construction of a 2.5 m cycle track. This is in keeping with the commitment in the programme for Government to continue to invest in dedicated infrastructure for walking and cycling. Transport Infrastructure Ireland did not allocate funding for this scheme in 2024 or 2025. Having regard to Kerry County Council’s recent approval of the scheme, it will be considered for funding in the 2026 funding allocations.

Sentiment score: 0.33

I will relay to Transport Infrastructure Ireland that the Deputy has raised this matter in the Dáil. As I said, this has been strongly considered locally through Kerry County Council. It engaged consultants to review safety and capacity issues on the N22 and its approaches and to introduce improved active travel facilities at the N22-Park Road junction. Coming out of that proposal and consideration by Kerry County Council and those assessments, it made the decision that this was the best approach to address the issues. It is always appropriate and correct that these issues be given as much consideration as possible at county council level in terms of the work and professional assessment by engineers and transport engineers, also engaging thoroughly with local authority members in consideration of the matter. From the information I have, that is what happened regarding the proposals currently under consideration. The Deputy indicated they were at planning stage and there was an opportunity for people to participate and give their views in relation to that. It has come as a result of significant engagement, consideration and assessment as to the optimal approach to address the issues at Daly's roundabout. I will pass on the matter the Deputy raised today. It will continue to get significant consideration locally through the county council and local consultation process. I know the Deputy will stay actively involved in its consideration.

Sentiment score: 0.36

I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this matter. I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Health. I have the details and response on the guidelines and policy around incontinence pads. I will give the Deputy these as part of my response but I assure him that I will be following this case up further, on the back of his contribution, with the Department of Health and the HSE. The guidelines and policy are focused on the fact that the approach has to be person centred. It has to take into account the needs of the individual person, be it a child or adult, and has to be appropriate. I will certainly be taking this up following on from the Deputy's engagement on the floor of the Dáil this morning. The HSE provides a wide range of medical products and services under the community-funded schemes to eligible persons in accordance with the Health Act 1970, as amended. These are provided following assessment by a relevant health professional. The HSE oversees the provision and supply of incontinence wear products for eligible persons across the country. Provision is based on an appropriate clinical assessment and the determination of the most appropriate products that will meet the individual's needs. The provision of clinically appropriate incontinence wear products to eligible persons is administered within each health region under a national tender arrangement. The HSE advises that this is a person-centred delivery system which allows the individual or their carer to vary both the time of delivery and the amount of product delivered according to their specific needs. It is also possible to alter the location for a particular delivery should the need arise. The HSE also utilises the service provided by public health nurses and continence nurse advisers to assess individual patient needs to ensure the supply of incontinence wear products is appropriate. As part of the national service improvement programme for the community-funded schemes, the HSE has completed and implemented national guidelines in respect of incontinence wear products. These are published and are available on the HSE website. Governance arrangements have been strengthened through the implementation of an integrated electronic management system to support the ordering, supply and distribution of incontinence wear products across all healthcare settings, including the home delivery service. The HSE advises that in circumstances where a person does not hold full eligibility, such as through a medical card or a long-term illness scheme card, reimbursement support for incontinence wear products is provided under the drugs payment scheme, DPS. This scheme provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances, including incontinence wear, exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The scheme threshold is €80 per month. While there are no set limits on the quantity, the DPS claim must be supported by a valid prescription for the products. That outlines the policy, oversight and guidance. At the core should be appropriate care and supply for the individual. I will certainly take up the case with the Department and the Minister for Health following the Deputy's contribution.

Sentiment score: 0.21

Certainly, I will. Obviously, the parents have been through several challenges and the child has had a very difficult and challenging start to life. It is really important from the point of view of the State that the health service we provide be appropriate to the child's needs. It is important that incontinence pads be appropriate to and sufficient in number for the child to meet all his needs. I will certainly engage with the Minister for Health and her Department on this case and ask that it be fully considered and responded to. The Deputy raised the child development network therapies and teams. I am aware that there have been recruitment challenges in various parts of the country, including my county and the Deputy's. The challenge has primarily been the availability of therapists. The Department of Health, the Department of education and the Department of further education have been working to ensure additional staff are trained to meet the needs. They have been seeking to recruit and there have been improvements over the past year to two years in regard to increasing the size of the team. There is significant demand that is not being met but the objective is to have more people coming through who can take up the positions and meet the needs. This is essential to affected children, and supports are essential to families. I thank the Deputy for raising this. I will ask the HSE to engage further.

Sentiment score: 0.22