Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Carlow-Kilkenny · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“There is nothing any of us in this House can say that can undo the pain, harm and loss experienced by those young boys, their families and the communities in which they lived, played basketball and worked. They have had to endure a lifetime of harm, many of them carrying their suffering in silence.”
“We are listening to you, we are learning and we are acting. All of us in this House have a responsibility to ensure that our child safeguarding systems are robust. We must ensure that if concerns are raised today, they are acted on without delay.”
“Today is a profoundly important and solemn day. I want to add my voice to the full and formal State apology and to acknowledge the courage, dignity and perseverance of those survivors who fought for truth and accountability for so many years.”
“I thank the Deputy for highlighting this very important issue and the 161 recommendations. First, I thank the Joint Committee on Drug Use for its work. I welcomed the report and I am in agreement with many of its recommendations. As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year I published a draft of the national drugs strategy.”
“The Bill and the secondary legislation, training and clinical protocols that will follow it will support the terms and conditions for this service, as laid out in the community pharmacy agreement. All secondary legislation will be in place before commencement and launch of this measure.”
“No. I thank the Deputy again for her work on the drugs committee. The vast majority of the 161 recommendations will be in the new drugs strategy but one of the recommendations was on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. It falls under section 3. That legalises drugs. It is important we tell the people of the concern.”
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“It is the children, parents, families and survivors whose voices and experiences are at the centre of these processes and it is their lived experiences that will shape this work. The first matter I wish to address is the CHI inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services scoping exercise. As a first step, the Government agreed that a facilitator will be appointed to consult with stakeholders on scoping the content of potential terms of reference for an inquiry. This process, the scoping exercise, is designed to ensure that when a public inquiry is established, it has structures that reflect the needs of children and families, are grounded in evidence and avoid duplication with existing statutory or clinical processes. The Minister for Health appointed Mr.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on behalf of the Minister for Health on two important scoping exercises currently under way and to address the motion to approve four data protection regulations relating to these exercises. It is important that we put these updates in the context of the patients whose lives are at the heart of these issues. I am very conscious that we are speaking in the context of the publication of details of the case of Chloe Maher. Chloe, who died recently, was formerly a patient of CHI's spinal services. As Members will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on an individual case, but I do want to take this opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to Chloe's family and friends at this sad time. My heart goes out to them.”
“This is a really important issue. The Senator can be guaranteed that I will definitely go back to the Minister. I know that in light of the request today, the HPRA will contact the manufacturer to clarify the status of this issue and assess the impact of these issues or any implications for supply. The Department of Health will further engage with the HSE to keep this matter under review. The Senator is right. We need to get the answers. We need to know if there is an issue with the batteries and we need to get that sorted. I assure him that the Department will come back to him and I will highlight this really serious issue with the Minister. I thank the Senator again for highlighting this today.”
“In light of this Commencement matter raised today, the Department will further engage with the HSE to discuss whether any substantive issues arise. This is a really important issue. I know myself how important it is to have defibrillators in communities. Like the Senator, I see it in my own home constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, where we have volunteers on a regular basis who give up their time to help save lives. I will definitely check into this. I am only taking this today on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, but I feel it is a really important issue. I also want to thank everyone involved in this. With the amount of volunteers and goodwill in communities, it is exceptional how people are so good. I want to compliment them for the work they have done.”
“These may include return of the device to the supplier, device modification device exchange, device destruction, retrofit or advice regarding use of the device. In this context, the HPRA is aware of several ongoing actions impacting the HeartSine Samaritan products. I will have to check that out and come back to the Senator. Depending on the nature of the issue, these field safety corrective actions may have an impact on product availability. As part of the HPRA’s evaluation of any such actions, there is engagement with the manufacturer to assess the impact of these issues and any other impact on supply. In addition to engaging with the HPRA, the Department of Health has engaged with the HSE for information. The National Ambulance Service has confirmed that it does not use the devices and is not impacted by this issue.”
“On the specific issue raised by the Senator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, is the agency in Ireland with responsibility for regulating medical devices for the benefit of patients. The Department of Health engages closely with the HPRA on its remit. Officials from the Department have reached out to the HPRA directly regarding this issue. The HPRA has advised that it has not been informed of an interruption or discontinuation of supply of batteries and pads for HeartSine Samaritan defibrillators. In light of this request, the HPRA will now contact the manufacturer to further clarify the status of this issue. As part of its role, the HPRA monitors field safety corrective actions associated with medical devices.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who cannot be here today. I will outline the current position with regard to the provision of medical devices and aid appliances. In general, for the HSE, medical devices are purchased through the HSE procurement system. The HSE also provides a wide range of aids and appliances free of charge to eligible people following assessment by a health professional. These are provided through community-funded schemes and play a key role in assessing and supporting people to remain living in their homes and local communities. A national list, including prescribing criteria, can be found on the HSE website.”
“I am not aware of that case but I am glad that the HSE is working with the family and will continue to do so. I will get the Senator the information he wants and I again thank him. These are really serious issues that we need to highlight and work to resolve.”
“In addition, €65 million has been allocated to disability residential services. Approximately €25 million of this funding will go towards expanding increased respite services, which are very important. Families also need respite; I do understand that. The HSE 2026 national service plan outlines an expected 10,000 additional respite beds nationally, including high-support placements and 25,000 additional respite sessions for adults and children, including after-school, weekend and holiday programmes. The Government also recognises the voice of those with disabilities and the importance of listening to their wishes for their futures. I will come back to the Senator. I understand his concerns. I am going on the basis of the brief I was provided with today.”
“I fully appreciate the upset that the HSE correspondence has caused the Senator. My understanding is that the HSE is engaging with the family and putting in place the appropriate supports. I will certainly go back to the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, on this and get the Senator the answer. The Senator needs to get the appropriate clarification on the services and the care. I can only go on the response I have been given today. In an effort to address the demand for disability services, budget 2026 allocated approximately €3.9 billion for specialist disability services, an increase of 20% compared with 2025. Specialist disability residential services make up the largest part of the disability services paid for by the HSE, representing almost 60% of the total budget.”
“The Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will work in collaboration with a number of other Departments and agencies, including the HSE and local authorities, to advance pillar 3 of the strategy, which outlines a collective approach to provide a clear pathway for disabled people to access the supports they require to live independently and address the barriers that impact on their daily lives. The Senator highlighted many cases. As he said, people are living longer. The services have to be there for people with disabilities. I acknowledge that and think it is important that all of us, working together, make sure that we deliver that. I thank the Senator for highlighting the serious issues.”
“The programme for Government includes a number of commitments to advance the rights and improve the lives of people with disabilities, including a commitment to address waiting lists for specialist disability services by implementation of the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026, and resourcing and delivering on its targets. The programme for Government also recognises the requirement for a whole-of-government approach to advance the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2025, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality published the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with input from disabled people and representative organisations on the issues that matter the most to them.”
“To support families and carers, the HSE and contracted service providers make every effort to provide the correct supports for individuals when needed, including day services, respite services, residential services, home support and personal assistance. HSE disability services provide supports for people with complex disability needs and the level of support provided for each person is aligned to their assessed needs and individual circumstances. Current policies aim to ensure as far as possible that the supports for a person are based on individual assessed need, will and preference and to support people to remain as close to home and connected to their community as they can in line with Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, UNCRPD, which the Senator spoke about.”
“The HSE advises that the sentence the Senator refers to was part of a more detailed two-page letter outlining available supports and options to the family. HSE South West states that it did not intend to cause any upset and apologises sincerely for the upset caused. The Minister understands that the case is being responded to locally. Relevant service providers have been engaging directly with the individual and their family and appropriate supports are being put in place. This Government recognises the vital work carried out by family carers and acknowledges the impact on carers' physical and mental health. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality, alongside the HSE, is continuing to work to increase provision in order to assist those who are most vulnerable in our society, and who urgently require services.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this really serious issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, who is just returning today from St. Patrick's Day duties. This matter is really serious and the Minister of State is aware of this case and the letter referred to by the Senator. In order to protect the privacy of the individual and their family, it is not appropriate to comment on the specific details in relation to this case. However, officials within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality have liaised with the HSE in relation to the issue raised by the family and the details of this correspondence issued by the HSE and so I believe there has been correspondence. This an ongoing operational matter for the HSE.”
“This service model of care is currently under review through the establishment of the HSE governance process and will guide the next phase of services development nationally. I will get the Senator more information on that. It has been deployed already by the new ADHD team based in Monaghan, acting as a pilot. That team is reporting shorter waiting times and improved management of demand. Enhancing specialist mental health services, such as ADHD, remains a key priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, the Government and the HSE. Again, I thank the Senator for bringing this important issue forward. I will get her that information she is looking for.”
“I thank the Senator again for highlighting this issue with my own neighbours of Laois. The Department, Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and the HSE acknowledge there are issues with wait times and access to services. The demand for adult ADHD services has been significantly higher than originally predicted, so they are seeing much more than they had thought. We are now working to embed a tiered approach to services to efficiently tackle demand and improve access to services to better meet the needs of the service users. The HSE has prepared a draft amended model of care, incorporating this step care approach which is informed by engagement with the service users, families, clinicians and ADHD Ireland.”
“Outside of the team-based services, the national clinical programme has also worked to develop supports in collaboration with ADHD Ireland to improve awareness and promote early management of ADHD. These non-clinical resources include an app, which was developed by UCD, to offer evidence-based information, lifestyle strategies and signposting for adults with or exploring ADHD. There is also the UMAAP programme, which is a six-week programme run by ADHD Ireland that has proven highly beneficial and effective for adults who have completed it. I understand this is working very well. These resources are not a substitute for a diagnosis or clinical care, but they represent a vital entry point for individuals seeking support. The final ADHD teams will be operational later this year, and there will be full national coverage of these services.”
“Adult ADHD teams have been substantially rolled out across the country, with eight teams now operational and the final three teams in recruitment, following the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, allocating funding in 2025 for the remaining teams to achieve this full national roll-out. In County Laois, adult services are provided by the midlands, Kildare and west Wicklow team, known as Solas adult ADHD tertiary services. The team is based in St. Fintan's campus, Portlaoise. The team provides assessment and multidisciplinary interventions, including medication, psychological and other supports to adults presenting with diagnosed or suspected moderate or severe ADHD.”
“Prior to the beginning of the national clinical programme, NCP, for adults with ADHD, which the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, launched in 2021, there were no specific ADHD public services available for adults in Ireland, but the national clinical programme for adults is now delivered as part of HSE mental health services to ensure an integrated person-centred response to adults with ADHD. The programme includes both assessment and treatment of ADHD and works with relevant voluntary agencies. It envisages a national service of ADHD teams, with each team comprising a consultant psychiatrist, a senior psychologist, a senior occupational therapist, a clinical nurse specialist mental health and an administrator.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. ADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. It can cause many issues in areas such as personal and social relations, education and occupation, managing money and organising life in general, and there is also an increased risk of having other mental health difficulties with it such as anxiety and depression.”
“It is great to see a woman bus driver there and, as the Senator said, she is so dedicated and committed to it. I wish her well. I will definitely go back to the Minister with this. I thank the Senator.”
“I do understand. This is a really important issue. In the current school year, over 181,000 children are transported daily to primary, post-primary and special schools throughout the country. Included in those figures are over 25,000 children travelling on the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs. This includes over 7,800 tickets in County Meath. The Department recognises that the school transport scheme is vital to families in certain areas to support them in bringing their children to school. The safety, care and protection of school children travelling on school transport services is equally of paramount importance to the Department of Education and Youth and Bus Éireann. I compliment Linda, the bus driver the Senator mentioned.”
“The Senator has said there seem to have been many more incidents. When I was reading the brief for this debate today, I noted the Department of Transport has indicated that the wider public transport sector has faced a number of challenges with regard to the recruitment of drivers, mechanics and craft workers in the past 12 to 18 months. Unfortunately, these challenges have an impact on service delivery and speed. I understand the difficulty. I assure the Senator I will go back to the Minister on this. As I said, she has said this has happened more frequently. I will highlight this because every child is important. As a parent I know texts are sent late at night. Everyone wants to make sure their child has a lift to school.”
“This is to provide for additional demand from pupils with special educational needs on school transport services and increased bus contract running costs. The Department is very much aware of this issue. It will also provide for additional funding for the school transport scheme fleet in order to implement improved technologies, such as e-ticketing on school transport services. Bus Éireann has advised that to date during the 2025-26 school year, there have been three incidents where there were operational issues with the vehicle on the route in question. However, on each occasion a replacement vehicle was provided. In addition, on the days where the driver was not able to operate the service, cover was sourced in order to ensure there was no more disruption for pupils availing of the service.”
“I am taking this on behalf of the Minister. I thank the Senator for raising the matter, which is very serious. I am a parent myself. As the Senator knows, the school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Bus Éireann manages the procurement and tender process and contract management arrangements to include service providers by the contractors under the scheme. The school transport fleet is made up of contractors and Bus Éireann vehicles. Over 90% of the services are provided by contractors operating on school transport schemes. Over €69 million in additional funding has been allocated to school transport services in 2026.”
“They have been granted a 16-week extension to their existing contracts to ensure continuity while permanent assignments are finalised under the agreed process. The main thing is that these graduates are valued. They are needed and they are part of a service that is expanding significantly to meet growing demand. Our responsibility is to ensure those posts are all allocated fairly, transparently and in a way that meets operational needs across all communities while assigning graduates as close as possible to their homes. I welcome the resolution that has been reached. I remain committed, as does the Minister for Health, to supporting these graduates and to continuing the expansion of the NAS so that patients across the country receive timely, high-quality emergency care.”
“I thank Deputy Ó Murchú. These are really important points. As the Deputy said, all of us have been working with our ambulance paramedics over the years and we see the value of their work. Tonight I want to compliment them for their outstanding work in the community and the work they do for all of us. That is the main thing. There are three main points. First, full-time permanent contracts will be offered to all year 3 paramedic graduates in 2026. Agreement has now been reached on those posts and they will be assigned. Second, there is no recruitment embargo in the NAS. On the contrary, 263 additional posts and, as we said, €20 million in new funding have been approved this year, alongside continued and significant investment in the service. Third, graduates are not facing unemployment.”
“There will be no interruption in employment and no graduate left without a pathway to a permanent position. In summary, we are seeing a structured and agreed transition of graduates into permanent posts within an expanding national emergency service.”
“The NAS is also establishing a new helicopter emergency medical service in the west north-west and a new NAS tertiary education site in Cork to further support paramedic education and training. The investment in 2026 will also see significant increases in NAS capital funding, including €34 million for renewal and expansion of the NAS fleet of emergency ambulances and other response vehicles. Graduates play a vital role in maintaining workforce capacity and safe service levels, and supporting new developments, particularly in the context of this sustained funding and expansion of services. As the NAS works to place all graduates in permanent positions, they have been given a 16-week extension to their current training contract to ensure continuity of service and employment for them.”
“This reflects both operational requirements and existing agreed processes within the service. Since 2022, the Government has invested an additional €75 million in the NAS, with staffing increasing by 761 posts in that time. In 2026 we will see further major investment in the NAS, with approval for the recruitment of an additional 263 whole-time equivalent posts and €20 million in new funding. This will help to improve ambulance response performance by delivering 21 extra crewed ambulances operating at peak demand, as well as four additional intermediate care vehicles, and will further develop NAS alternative care pathways, including community paramedic services.”
“These roles will be drawn from funded and approved vacancies, including posts arising from retirements and promotions, as well as new posts linked to service development under the national service plan. The HSE has confirmed that there are more than enough vacancies to accommodate all of this year's graduates, and there will be a permanent job for everyone. Under the revised arrangements, graduates will now be assigned to permanent posts as close as possible to their home address following the completion of the staff transfer process for existing NAS personnel. When speaking to ambulance paramedics, that is something that was constantly raised with me. Where locations are oversubscribed, assignments will be made based on original recruitment panel placement, ensuring a fair and transparent approach.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this very serious issue. I too have been speaking to a lot of ambulance paramedics. It is important to clarify for the record that there is no recruitment embargo in the National Ambulance Service, and there is absolutely no failure to offer permanent employment to paramedic graduates. Every paramedic who is graduating in 2026 will be offered a full-time, permanent contract with the National Ambulance Service. In fact, following constructive engagement between the HSE and representative unions last week, as the Deputy stated, agreement has now been reached on the arrangements for the transition of all of this year's graduates into permanent roles. The HSE has confirmed that full-time, permanent contracts will be available for all graduates completing their training in 2026.”
“Women's refuges came up very strongly in the debate. We have a great women's refuge in Kilkenny, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, namely, Amber Women's Refuge. Carlow's refuge is moving fast now. We hope to get the plans in soon to the local authority. Refuges are important. It is important that all of us work together with the women in our workplaces, wherever they work. It is important that all of us promote, work with and encourage our women. Women have so much to offer. As a woman standing here and as the Minister of State to conclude these statements, I can say I am a proud Irish woman, delighted to be here in the Chamber, encouraging women to go into politics. It is so important. We have so much to offer and we get a lot of satisfaction from the work we do. I hope everyone had a lovely, happy International Women's Day.”
“All the women get to mix one or two evenings or maybe two mornings a week. They all do their own thing on different days. It is exceptional, and the goodwill that was there on International Women's Day for that launch was excellent. Together with my colleague, the Minister, Dara Calleary, in the Department of rural and community development, we want to ensure that women's sheds are supported in their excellent work. I appreciate the importance of investing in health and well-being measures that target inequality and the extra burden that women can carry, including free period products and initiatives under the national sexual health strategy such as free contraception. That is to name only a few measures within my remit. A lot of TDs spoke about different issues. It is important that all of us work together.”
“In terms of my remit as Minister of State with special responsibility for public health and well-being, I was delighted to spend International Women's Day in Tullamore at the official launch of Women's Sheds of Ireland. It was wonderful to be there with so many strong and enthusiastic women dedicated to creating healthy environments in everyday life through community participation and empowerment. Spaces such as women's sheds can only help women. Women's sheds are great for women, even if they go just to socialise, and can help them to live healthier lives within their communities by encouraging participation, providing support and acting as a defence against loneliness and isolation. There are over 380 women's sheds around Ireland, and the work they do is valuable and crucial. They are a social outlet.”
“It will strengthen the transparency of pay systems, improve public understanding of the relevant legal concepts and enhance enforcement of the rights and obligations relating to equal pay. The Government is fully committed to full implementation of the pay transparency directive. It is vital work that must be progressed and will directly benefit women and girls and advance gender equality, both in the workplace and in wider society. As the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, described, she travelled to New York last week to update the 70th Commission on the Status of Women on the important progress we have made, while acknowledging that there is more work to be done to achieve a fully gender-equal society.”
“The publication of this information is intended to incentivise employers to take action to reduce the gender pay gap as much as they can. It is also intended to support Government policy in taking meaningful steps to further women's empowerment. This year, the Department will focus on transposing the pay transparency directive. Under this directive, EU companies will be required to share information about how much they pay women and men for work of equal value and to take corrective action if their gender pay gap exceeds 5%. It also provides for compensation for victims of pay discrimination and penalties, including fines, for non-compliance. This directive is crucial to empower workers, especially women, to enforce their right to equal pay through a set of binding measures on pay transparency.”
“We have also made great strides in our efforts to narrow the gender pay gap, which is a critical measure of inequality. Through a range of measures, the gender pay gap in Ireland decreased from 14.4% in 2017 to an estimated 8.6% in 2023. In 2025, gender pay gap reporting was extended to all employers with over 50 staff. While it is mandatory for all those in scope of the reporting to publish their gender pay gap reports on their own website or make them accessible to the public, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has now developed a centralised reporting database, the gender pay gap portal, for employers to upload their gender pay gap information. While reporting on the portal is currently on a voluntary basis, it will become mandatory for 2026 reporting in November of this year.”
“Ireland will continue to explore options to strengthen victim reporting and awareness raising and will use our upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union to advocate for greater online safety and the protection of women and children, in particular, from the misuse of digital tools. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has led efforts and implemented a range of measures to support women in the workforce and to drive forward equality in the labour market. It is widely known that business does better when there is diversity among decision makers. Ireland has fully transposed the EU directive on gender balance on corporate boards to ensure that listed companies achieve a more gender-balanced spread among their board members.”
“This legislation includes a broad definition of intimate images to also capture images that have been altered or doctored. To further address cyber violence against girls, we must tackle the harmful and restrictive content that is influencing our younger generations through social media and online spaces. Anti-gender equality movements are now emerging alongside a notable rise in online hate speech. Making digital and media spaces safer requires robust regulation. It also requires collaborative approaches to raise awareness, promote respectful online behaviour and support early intervention. Partnership-based, survivor-centred initiatives are essential to ensuring that prevention is embedded across digital environments and that emerging online harms are addressed effectively.”
“It is also extremely important that we recognise and acknowledge the changing threats to the safety, dignity and well-being of women and girls with the rise of cyber violence in our digital world. This is an issue that disproportionately affects young girls and women. As we have heard during today's statements, combating cyber violence against women and girls is part of Ireland's national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence 2022-2026. It is extremely concerning to see the increasing use of AI to generate offensive materials and to abuse or harass people. Worryingly, this online environment consistently gives rise to new, emerging and unforeseen threats. The enactment of Coco's Law in Ireland has ensured that the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is illegal.”
“The combined durations of maternity, paternity and parent's leave and benefit now equate to 46 weeks' paid leave for a two-parent family. Mothers also have an entitlement to 16 weeks of additional maternity leave, which is unpaid. In terms of disability rights, we had the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 last year. Its implementation, alongside the women and girls strategy, can make a real and positive difference in the lives of disabled women. That is a real priority for the Government. Actions have been taken to tackle gender-based violence and the harassment of women through the national strategy, particularly objective 4, entitled "Being Safe". The impact of gender-based violence is a huge issue in our society, and the Government is committed to improving safety for women and girls.”
“The perspective of youth was prioritised in the development of the strategy, with a special national youth assembly taking place to ensure that young people's voices were built into Government policy. This demonstrates a real commitment to supporting the next generation. It is vital that we recognise that women can face many forms of disadvantage. To be effective, policy must respond to the full diversity of women's backgrounds and experiences. In the area of family caring, equal sharing of caring responsibilities has been promoted through significant increases in family leaves and promoting equality in the labour market with the Government's efforts to increase pay transparency and narrow the gender pay gap.”
“I thank all my colleagues for their contributions today. I am very pleased to be delivering the closing remarks. It is very important that we mark International Women's Day because it is an opportunity for us to revitalise our shared efforts to achieve full equality between women and men. As a country, we have made real progress in our fight for equality and this has been captured by our improved ranking on the EU gender equality index. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and her Department have taken significant steps to promote gender equality and support the full participation of women and girls in society. The national strategy for women and girls sets out to address the challenges faced by women at all stages of their lives.”
“I understand people living with defective concrete in their homes experience real challenges. You can see it - families are really affected by this. That is why our Departments are working together to get the funding to get this done. The scheme is a major commitment by the State to help impacted homeowners to move on with their lives. We have to make sure the families who need counselling or support get it and that there is a commitment from Government. We know mould and damp can have a huge impact on people's health and well-being. I will work with the Deputy on that to prioritise. I will go back to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about what is in her remit and mine. We will talk to the Minister for housing because it involves different Departments. I thank the Deputy for highlighting this important and serious issue today.”
“Working with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, we will come back to the Deputy on that and see what we can do. Working with the Minister for Health, as a public health approach, this issue has to address the underlying cause of ill health. The best way for us to help those affected by mould and damp in their homes with defective concrete is to address the housing directly. That is a priority. I have been speaking to the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, about this too. We need to move on this urgently. As the Deputy will probably be aware, the scheme was recently extended in other counties. The amount available to homeowners was increased by 10%. It is now €462,000. We need to do more; I understand. I know families affected myself. I see the stress and anxiety.”
“We are very much aware of this and can see that there is a huge level of stress and anxiety. To support those affected, enhanced mental health supports have been introduced. I do not know if the Deputy is aware of these but they are really important. They have been introduced through the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, and through our mental health services. It is called MyMind, which provided free counselling, psychotherapy, and psychological support. At the moment approximately 450 appointments are offered each year, along with group sessions and workshops. Children’s Health Ireland’s respiratory, cystic fibrosis and sleep teams continue to provide essential care for children affected by respiratory conditions. Given the well-established health impacts of mould and damp, a further study is not going to be needed.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this. We know that living with mould and damp can have a profound impact on people’s health and well-being. They are known to cause respiratory illnesses and can also affect mental health. Children and other vulnerable people often feel these effects more than most. The Government recognises the difficult and painful situation that many families are in and is working to address the root cause through the defective concrete blocks grant scheme. We are very mindful of that. This scheme provides financial support to those in designated counties whose homes have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks during construction. We understand that families can face financial hardship and in some cases may have to leave their homes.”
“All of us here tonight want to do the right thing and get these Bills passed. It is important we do so as soon as possible.”