In the opening of any major hospital facility - I have experience of both sanctioning and providing the funding for some major facilities from my time as Minister for Health and Children - there is always a subsequent debate and issue around the proper commissioning and staffing of a hospital, particularly in the context of movement from the older facilities to the newer facility. I understand that Children’s Health Ireland has been working on this for quite some time and that there has been a whole range of structures set in place to facilitate a smooth transition from the existing paediatric hospitals and tertiary hospitals to the new national children’s hospital. I accept that this will be on a scale never experienced before, particularly in paediatric medicine. In my view, the new facility will be state-of-the-art. There will be a huge step change in terms of health and we need to match that with the required staffing levels.
Sentiment score: 0.14
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I will be attending a virtual meeting of European leaders later this afternoon convened by President Macron regarding the unfolding situation on the war in Ukraine. We will take that opportunity to reiterate our support for Ukraine. I will also be pushing strongly for the EU to accelerate the membership process and the application from Ukraine to become a member of the EU. Apart from the economic, social and wider aspects of membership of the EU, there would be a significant security benefit to Ukraine by virtue of being a member of the EU. The Ukrainian Government has responded very admirably. I welcome what US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, namely, that there needs to be a sustainable and durable peace and that Europe and Ukraine will have to play a part in any outcome to any talks that may develop.
Sentiment score: 0.43
The Minister for Justice is dealing with that.
Sentiment score: 0.53
Is this one family or a particular family?
Sentiment score: 0.00
The tenant in situ scheme has been subject to a short review in terms of targeting and making sure we get the best value for money but also making sure that families most in need benefit from the scheme and we get the best outcomes all round in terms of the application of that scheme. There has been engagement within the Department on that issue and we expect that to be resolved shortly.
Sentiment score: 0.77
Do I have to take this or can it be the Minister?
Sentiment score: 0.00
The issue of exempted development was raised and we dealt with it at the Cabinet subcommittee at the beginning of the week to set in train measures to facilitate that. I welcome what appears to be a broad welcome from the Opposition as well in respect of that. Perhaps the Social Democrats are not in favour of it but Sinn Féin seems to be welcoming it anyway. We will have to move the issue quickly. As I have said here repeatedly, every avenue has to be looked at in terms of increasing housing supply. Regarding the Deputy's point about people in rural Ireland who can develop housing on their own land or their parents' land, we have to look at existing guidelines to facilitate capacity for young couples, in particular, to do that. I will come back to the Deputy on that.
Sentiment score: 0.20
It is true to say that the Deputy has been a very consistent and strong advocate for Shannon Airport and the Shannon area. At the beginning of the week, we met with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. One of the first comments he made regarding Ireland's historic relationship with China involved the degree to which China took on board the example of the Shannon free development zone. Shannon was one of the first areas he highlighted regarding how it led the way with respect to industrial development and how the Chinese more or less followed through on similar proposals decades ago. I take on board what the Deputy is saying because there will be very significant developments, particularly around AI, future mobility testing and so on. I will take the points made by the Deputy about the expansion and development of certain industries allied to Shannon Airport back to the Minister
Sentiment score: 0.38
We are well aware of the pressures on childcare services across the country and in Dublin. The last Government, in particular, introduced a number of initiatives on the childcare front, such that the investment in childcare is now approximately €1.37 billion. The data show that more children have places, more services are operating and more parents are benefiting from State subsidies. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of enrolments increased by 8%. That said, we have to do more. We must start by stabilising and creating proper career pathways and income supports, and improving the pay and conditions, for people working in childcare services. The first ever pay agreement was arrived at with the unions and was facilitated by Government funding. We froze the increase in fees through significant allocations. There is, however, an issue in respect of smaller providers, which have been impacted by the changes.
Sentiment score: 0.27
I will, of course, visit Beaumont Hospital. I would be delighted to do so. Perhaps the Minister wants to take it from there.
Sentiment score: 0.17
Go raibh maith ag an Teachta as an gceist agus ní dóigh liom go mbeidh sé ag tarlú roimh an gCáisc. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is progressing the Bill and looking at amendments that must be included, as I have been clear about from the outset, in a new Bill. It will not happen in the spring session because most of the Bills we have put on the Order Paper are drafted and ready to go. It is a short session between now and Easter. I hope in the aftermath of that-----
Sentiment score: 0.24
We continue to invest in public service transport, and will continue to do so. In respect of the specific issue, approximately €660 million has been assigned for the public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland Local Link services. That is a significant increase on previous budgets. It also covers various fare initiatives, such as the young adult card and the 90-minute fare, until the end of 2025. The Airport Hopper bus services that the Deputy has identified-----
Sentiment score: 0.19
-----between Maynooth and Tallaght and Dublin Airport were withdrawn by the operator. If there is a withdrawal, it is a matter for the Minister, and the NTA in the first instance. Decisions will be made as to whether we can resume with the help of the PSO and whatever else, but an evaluation has to take place first.
Sentiment score: 0.09
On the issues in respect of Youghal, our view, and I have been very clear about this, is that we need to bring hotels back for tourism purposes. I do not believe that Ukrainians should be treated in an unfavourable manner. If they are part of the local schools and have been in a given location for quite some time, I do not approve of their being summarily turfed out and moved on to locations far away. I will discuss this with the new Minister for children in terms of the need to be conscious of the needs of children, Ukrainian children in particular, because of the trauma they have already experienced through having to flee their country because of war. We do not want to add to that trauma. I will come back to the Deputy on the issues around the development of the Redbarn facility. In some instances, as the Deputy will know himself, the owners have come forward and made their facilities available. There is huge pressure on the system but Youghal has done more than its share in respect of facilitating both Ukrainians and IPAS.
Sentiment score: 0.04
One of the more significant measures taken by the outgoing Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne, was to make it very clear that failure to have gender equality on the boards of sporting organisations, for example, would result in the withdrawal of funding and a reduction in funding. He made that very clear. We will continue to support women’s participation in sport, young girls in particular, through funding but also through a variety of other initiatives. Retention, as the Deputy rightly said, is a key issue. Retention of young people generally beyond 18 years is a big issue in sport today. It is essential for the health of the nation. The growth of other sports has helped enormously. I have seen a tremendous growth in rowing, women’s soccer, football, rugby and so on. We need to continue to support all of those sports and many more as well.
Sentiment score: 0.27