10. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Taoiseach for an update on the establishment of a Cabinet committee on water quality to co-ordinate water quality improvements across all sectors; and when it will hold its first meeting. [7230/25]

Sentiment score: 0.11

The threat to, and cost of, the provision of safe drinking water affects every human being. We are reliant on the disposal of our wastewater, which is a major challenge to our local authorities. Are these to be dealt with as one as they are closely linked? By ensuring we have safe drinking water, can we also upgrade our wastewater facilities, including the provision of constructed wetlands to provide a solution for rural Ireland? The vast majority of our villages, for example in County Kerry, are unsewered. If the wastewater problem in Kerry was solved, would our safe water supply not be much easier to deliver? Constructed wetlands are a much cheaper solution and much speedier to deliver.

Sentiment score: 0.16

21. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will meet next. [7231/25]

Sentiment score: 0.00

In University Hospital Kerry, we have great staff and a great manager whose interests are in her staff and especially in the patients who use the facilities there. However, we have a crisis in the accident and emergency department where patients are waiting 24, 36, 48 hours and longer. Many of these are elderly people. A 96 bed block is required in addition to the 39 beds which are already in train there. A new maternity unit is urgently required there due to the clinical risks to both mother and baby and due to the fact that the current location of the unit is simply too far away from the theatre and this must be addressed as soon as possible. There is also an urgent need for a permanent oncology and haematology building as the patients requiring chemotherapy are increasing year-on-year with more than 5,000 patients treated there last year. Patients would not have to travel to Cork if we could accommodate them in Kerry. This is obviously very important.

Sentiment score: -0.03