Kieran O'Donnell
Limerick City · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels services — including dementia-specific supports — plays a vital role in helping older people to age well in their own communities. Meals on wheels services provide much more than nutritious meals.”
“The organisation currently operates a day care service four days per week, supporting approximately 60 registered users, and a meals on wheels service with 104 registered users. The HSE has advised that increased funding has been committed to support the organisation.”
“I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming the Kellehers to the Seanad, which is a beautiful building in its own right. I thank Senator Kelleher for raising this important matter. He has advocated for Westgate Foundation over a sustained period of time and that has to be acknowledged. I know the work it does is close to his heart.”
“I again thank the Senator for raising Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig and the work it does on behalf of the community, particularly older people. The Senator referred to housing on-site. It is very much an integrated model. I could see how committed the staff and the board, many of them voluntary, were.”
“The Government has significantly increased investment in meals on wheels services in recent years. Funding increased from €3.5 million in 2022 to €6.25 million in 2025, with a further €2 million allocated in budget 2026 to support service expansion and maintenance.”
“The shared objective of the HSE and Westgate Foundation is to ensure high-quality day care and meals on wheels services continue to be available to older people who rely on them, particularly in the greater Ballincollig area.”
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“It is its actions and those of the Iranian authorities, more broadly, which have made this step unavoidable. As the EU High Representative has stated, it remains essential to engage diplomatically with Iran to try to resolve the very many areas in which Iran's actions are a serious concern. The Minister welcomes engagement between Iran and the United States and hopes it will lead to agreement on how to address the legitimate concerns of the international community regarding the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. The EU and its member states remain open to dialogue with Iran on these and other issues. No EU member state has indicated any intention of breaking diplomatic relations with Iran.”
“Many members of the IRGC are already subject to these restrictions under other EU sanctions regimes, including under the headings of global human rights, Iran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, and Iran’s nuclear programme. All three of these sanction lists are kept under constant review, with names of key individuals and entities, including those in the IRGC, added as appropriate. There may well be further listings in relation to the recent violence, as further perpetrators are identified. The IRGC is a central pillar of the Iranian regime and the designation may well negatively impact on EU-Iran relations and member states' bilateral relations. We hope this is not the case. It was not agreed lightly but the actions of the IRGC have been a major concern for many years.”
“Other sanctions were brought against those involved in Iran’s continuing support for Russia's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, and expanded export controls. Both the Government and the European Union have condemned the actions of repression. Full information is emerging only slowly because of the authorities’ continuing restrictions on communications in Iran, but it is clear that many thousands have been killed and many more injured and imprisoned. Following political agreement at the council, the formal procedures for designating the IRGC as a terrorist organisation are now being worked through, and this should be completed quite quickly. This designation of the IRGC will introduce an asset freeze, a prohibition on providing funds and a travel ban on IRGC personnel.”
“I thank Members for their patience; there was a vote in the Dáil just now. I thank Senator Keogan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for foreign affairs and for Defence, Deputy McEntee. At the January Foreign Affairs Council, EU ministers discussed the current situation in Iran, particularly the EU’s response to Iran’s brutally violent repression of protesters. The Council agreed unanimously to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. This decision was taken in response to the IRGC’s central role in the violent attacks on street protesters. The Council also agreed on additional sanctions being placed on persons directly involved or complicit in the attacks on protestors, including the Minister of Interior.”
“In addition to accessing the Cork and Galway SATU services within the three-hour timeframe, those in the mid-west can avail of immediate forensic and medical support in Limerick, which operates independently of the national SATU network and SATU governance structures. At a national level, the HSE is currently preparing an overview of the SATU infrastructure. I will look to see that Deputy's proposal for an SATU in Limerick is fed into that review. This work is expected to inform the strategic healthcare investment framework alignment process and inform future steps. I expect the Deputy will follow this up with the HSE about this particular review in terms of including Limerick. The Government is committed to the provision of SATUs to ensure timely, compassionate specialist care for survivors of rape and sexual assault.”
“They provide responsive, patient-centred care for people of all genders and gender identities aged 14 years and over who have experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are delivered in close partnership with key agencies, including Rape Crisis Ireland, An Garda Síochána and Tusla. SATUs aim to provide 24-7 access to forensic examinations, medical treatments and trauma-informed support within three hours. Accessing a SATU within a three-hour timeframe is a HSE national key performance indicator for the service, with a target of 90%. This has been consistently achieved since 2018. The 24-7-365 nature of the SATU service necessitates ongoing monitoring of accessibility and a sustained focus on both infrastructure and workforce.”
“Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. I join him in referencing the work done by Rape Crisis Ireland and specially trained gardaí. Will the Deputy come back to us on the 80 people waiting for counselling? As I stated earlier, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Government remains committed to providing sexual assault treatment units across Ireland to offer safe and confidential services for people who experienced rape or sexual assault. There are six dedicated SATUs located in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and Waterford. SATUs operate within a nationally agreed model of care, underpinned by defined multi-agency guidelines and referral pathways.”
“It is maybe a matter that the Deputy could bring up with the Minister and we can follow up on it. The HSE is currently preparing a review of the SATU infrastructure. We can feed into that in terms of considering the matter the Deputy has put forward for Limerick.”
“The work these organisations do in this difficult space must be commended. SATUs are a key element of the support available in the health sector to victims of rape and sexual assault and, while the demand for this service is unpredictable, it is monitored closely by the HSE. At a national level, the HSE is currently preparing an overview of the SATU infrastructure. This work is expected to inform the strategic healthcare investment framework alignment process and inform future steps. Did the Deputy say there were eight people on a waiting list for counselling?”
“In addition to accessing the Cork and Galway SATU services within the three-hour timeframe, those in the mid-west can avail of immediate forensic and medical support in Limerick which operates independently of the national SATU network and SATU governance structures. This service provides a local out-of-hours forensic medical examination service for individuals aged 14 years and over but does not currently provide health checks or options for storage of evidence. All patients must be accompanied by a member of An Garda Síochána, which initiates access to the service. Victims of sexual assault also have the option of calling the excellent frontline services provided by organisations such as Rape Crisis Ireland, which offers non-judgmental support, a listening ear and information.”
“The SATUs are geographically distributed to enable any patient nationally to access the service within a three-hour window, optimising both the health and criminal justice responses to sexual crimes. The Government has always been very clear that, regardless of the circumstances in which sexual violence has occurred, a victim of these crimes can and should report their experience to An Garda Síochána. Accessing a SATU within a three-hour timeframe is a HSE national key performance indicator for the service, with a target of 90%. This has been consistently achieved since 2018. The 24-7-365 nature of the SATU service necessitates ongoing monitoring of accessibility and a sustained focus on both infrastructure and workforce.”
“SATUs aim to provide 24-7 access to forensic examinations, medical treatments and trauma-informed support within three hours. SATUs operate within a nationally agreed model of care, underpinned by defined multi-agency guidelines and referral pathways. They provide responsive, patient-centred care for people of all genders and gender identities aged 14 years and over who have experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are delivered in close partnership with key agencies, including Rape Crisis Ireland, An Garda Síochána and Tusla. SATUs offer a range of services, including options for people to access care without the need to engage with An Garda Síochána and for people to store evidence for up to one year, giving them time to consider their reporting intentions in more detail.”
“I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this important topic and for the opportunity to speak on an issue of profound importance: timely, compassionate and specialist care for survivors of sexual assault. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Responding to sexual violence is a responsibility which is shared across Government and Ireland’s sexual assault treatment units, SATUs, play an integral role in this. Across Ireland, there are six dedicated SATUs, located in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and Waterford, which the Deputy has referenced. In 2025, these units provided care for 1,077 people. The year 2025 saw a reversal in the slight downward trend in overall attendances of previous years, with the largest increase in attendance in Dublin, at 12%.”
“As I said, these organisations are not public bodies. While they may receive funding from the State to deliver certain services, the terms and conditions of the employment of their staff, once in line with employment law, are strictly between the employer and employee. There was engagement between the HSE and the service. It is up to Northside Home Care Services to interact with staff as the employer. I understand funding came through the authorisation scheme and section 39. There is obviously detail involved. I want to acknowledge the great work done by staff.”
“I again thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this matter. As I stated, I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I want to acknowledge the great work healthcare assistants do. I also acknowledge the work of the great staff in Northside Home Care Services and the huge contribution they make. As I stated, there are different mechanisms by which organisations are funded by the State. The WRC agreement was reached with ICTU unions at the time. They are grant aided under section 39, section 56, section 10 and section 40 arrangements. Services commissioned through competitive tender process such as the HSE authorisation scheme operate under separate contractual agreements with individuals and providers. Any matters relating to these can be addressed through existing procurement frameworks.”
“The HSE engaged with Northside Home Care Services on the issue at the time. Ultimately, however, the relationship is between the employer and employee under the HSE authorisation scheme.”
“The HSE authorisation scheme for the provision of home support services is the formal tendering mechanism the HSE uses to approve and contract providers that are eligible to deliver State-funded home support. Only providers admitted to this scheme can receive HSE funding for hours allocated to clients. For clarity, the Minister for Health does not have an operational role in individual staffing matters. These responsibilities rest with employers, which are legally established separate entities. The Minister’s functions concern national policy, legislation, budgetary allocations and oversight of the health system as a whole. The matter the Deputy raised concerned a general point. Some funding for the service comes under section 39, as the Deputy is probably aware, and other funding comes via the HSE authorisation scheme.”
“I am aware, however, that many healthcare assistants work in home care services delivered and funded through a competitive tendering process. This is a different mechanism of funding to section 39 service and, as such, they are not covered by the WRC agreement. Services commissioned through tender processes are governed by separate contractual arrangements with providers and any matters relating to these can be addressed through existing procurement frameworks. These organisations are not public bodies and the terms and conditions of employment of these staff, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between the employer and employee.”
“As the Deputy will be aware, an agreement on pay and conditions was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, on 10 March 2025 between ICTU and the relevant Departments. This agreement provided funding to health and social care and the homeless sector employers to deliver a 9.25% pay increase, in line with the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. This agreement applies to organisations funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 and section 40 of the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023. These organisations operate in the community and voluntary sector and are not public bodies. Only bodies falling within these funding categories were included in the scope of the agreement.”
“I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. At the outset, I would like to recognise the vital contribution that healthcare assistants make to our health system. These staff play an essential role in delivering supports to people with disabilities and to older persons in our communities right across the country. It is important to note that the community and voluntary organisations providing many of the home support services in our communities are independently operated entities. Accordingly, the employment terms and conditions of their staff, provided they comply with general employment law, remain a matter strictly between the employer and employee.”
“A move to E10 petrol in 2023 is seeing the desired result, with a 9% volume blending of ethanol in petrol in 2024, up from 4.9% volume blending in 2022, as recorded by NORA. Ireland's policy on renewable fuels continues to provide future supply of sustainable advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin. I will take Deputy Ward's specific point back to the Minister. The Deputy's argument was very effective, but I would have thought a direct communication with the Minister and his office on the matter would assist very much in terms of it being considered in a comprehensive way by the Department of Transport.”
“HVO is one of several renewable transport fuels contributing to transport decarbonisation in Ireland. Indigenous biofuels and biogas also play a key role in Ireland's decarbonisation. Implementation of the renewable transport fuel policy considers the need to support and develop Irish production of biofuels and biogas. Developing Ireland's domestic biofuel supply potential will have benefits for diversity in securing security of supply. It will also have economic and environmental benefits. It should be noted, particularly in relation to the use of renewable fuels in private cars, that biofuels are also blended with petrol. Increasing the blend of bioethanol in petrol is one of several transport sector measure towards achieving the 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, as set out in the climate action plan.”
“I again thank Deputy Ward for raising this matter, which, as stated, I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The transport sector has a significant role to play in Ireland's transition to a low-carbon society and economy as part of the wider European goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Reducing our historical reliance on imported fossil fuels in transport and switching to alternative fuel technologies will be essential in the context of decarbonising the sector. As outlined, the Department of Transport's Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027 is one of the most effective and immediate policy levers available to the Government in this regard. That policy ensures an incremental transition to lower carbon-emitting fuels in transport, largely by using existing vehicle technology.”
“The study will inform the continued rationale for State intervention through blending targets and incentives to promote the most efficient use of HVO across transport modes and non-transport sectors relative to the alternative renewable energy options in each sector. The study is expected to be completed in quarter 2 of this year. I humbly suggest to the Deputy that this particular vehicle is currently being looked at by the Department. It is obviously an area that could include consideration of his proposal.”
“NORA is responsible for ensuring compliance by fuel suppliers with these sustainability criteria, which is assured through an EU sustainability certification framework involving certification of economic operations globally by certification bodies against standards established under EU-approved voluntary schemes. NORA provides ongoing assurance on the sustainability of the current supply of biofuel to Ireland under the RTFO. Noting the projected future cross-sectoral demand for HVO, under the current renewable transport fuel policy, the Department of Transport has commissioned a study on the hierarchy of use of HVO across transport and other sectors.”
“It is expected that further increases in the RTFO rate projected to 2030 under the policy will see a physical blend in the region of 13% HVO in diesel supplied in the State. The 2026 RTFO rate is 32% by energy. This level of biofuel blending within diesel is well within the diesel specification EN590 for EU vehicle compatibility and air quality requirements. It is expected that achieving the CAP biofuel blending goal in 2030 will deliver emissions abatement of 1.08 MtCO2eq. In 2024, biofuel blending delivered an overall saving of approximately 7.1% in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the road transport sector. Of course, it is essential that biofuels imported into Ireland meet the strict sustainability criteria set out in the EU renewable energy directive for the purpose of environmental protection and emissions reduction.”
“The Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027 sets out a pathway to incentivise supply of renewable fuel in transport through annual increases in the RTFO rate to 2030, as well as ensuring that EU sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reduction criteria are adhered to. The policy is supported by analysis and modelling by NORA and is revised every two years through extensive engagement with the agency and the industry, including fuel suppliers and biofuel producers. The RTFO is the most impactful way to achieve the policy goal of transport decarbonisation in the near term. In 2024, corresponding to an obligation rate of 21% by energy, the RTFO delivered a physical blend of approximately 10% biofuel in diesel supplied to road transport, of which approximately 7% was FAME biodiesel and 3% was HVO.”
“The supply of renewable transport fuels such as HVO in the transport sector in Ireland is driven by the climate action plan biofuel blending targets for 10% ethanol in petrol and 20% biodiesel equivalent in diesel by 2030, as well as European targets for the total renewable energy share in transport consumption of 24% by 2030. These targets are implemented through the renewable transport fuel obligation, RTFO, which places a statutory obligation on suppliers of road transport fuels to ensure that a proportion of the fuels they place on the market in Ireland is produced from renewable sources. The National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, is responsible for administration of the RTFO.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien. I will give the Deputy the response I have, but I will bring the particular point he raised back to the Minister. I suggest that the Deputy follow up himself and write to the Minister on the point in question. Renewable fuel is a vital transitionary measure in transport decarbonisation, falling under the improve dimension of the avoid-shift-improve framework adopted under the Climate Action Plan 2024. As the shift to electrification and further increases in public transport and active travel are fully realised, sustainable renewable transport fuels provide immediate climate change mitigation utilising the existing vehicle fleet.”
“Given the importance of infrastructure to Ireland's social and economic success, under an ambitious plan under the revised national development plan, all stakeholders need to engage willingly in open dialogue around planning concerns. The health needs of women and infants presenting to our service are increasingly complex and the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 is in its final year. It has been driving national reforms across our services to better meet these needs. We have committed in the programme for Government to developing a successor to the national maternity strategy. It will consider a broad evidence base and will involve policy considerations that may have evolved since the first strategy was initiated ten years ago. I will bring back the specific points raised by the Deputy to the Minister.”
“To be frank, the time needed to co-locate the Rotunda with another acute adult hospital would by far exceed the delivery time of this new critical care unit, which is needed now. The successful relocation of the Rotunda will require a strategic reassessment of prevailing conditions and factors that impact the project at the time of the planned relocation. This would also need to be viewed in the wider context of all hospitals in the region, including Connolly Hospital. The Rotunda is currently working closing with the Mater hospital, a model 4 hospital that the Deputy referenced. It has a protected blue light corridor to provide adult acute services when needed. The priority now is to support the Rotunda to continue to provide essential maternity and neonatal services.”
“Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As I said, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Government is clear that we need increased capacity at the Rotunda to ensure it can meet the needs of women, infants and families in the short term. My priority, and that of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is to work with the master, Professor Sean Daly, in making sure we take the correct steps to deliver appropriate neonatal care for the Rotunda as quickly as possible. The Minister has spoken of her disappointment at the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála, which references the longer term plans to relocate the hospital.”
“A range of service improvements are also being driven by the hospital and through the national maternity strategy. The Minister for Health visited the Rotunda in June 2025 to launch a new neonatal intensive care unit, NICU, resource for parents, and again in January this year to welcome a new foetal surgery service. Following Government investment, the Rotunda has also been working closely with hospitals across Dublin to establish a new community post-natal hub service for women and infants following birth, which is being launched next week. We will continue to support the Rotunda with these initiatives as it strives to meet the needs of the women, infants and families it serves.”
“The Minister will also continue to work with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Deputy Chambers, to ensure that health infrastructure is fully recognised as critical infrastructure within the forthcoming reforms arising from the Accelerating Infrastructure - Report and Action Plan. We are committed to providing support for the hospital in meeting the current and future needs of women and babies at the current Rotunda site. The hospital budget has increased to €109 million in 2025. This is an increase of 47%, or €35 million, since 2020. The HSE purchased an additional building, Hampson House, to extend capacity, which officially opened in January 2025. Over 100,000 outpatient and ambulatory patients are expected to attend annually.”
“In this context, the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to overturn the position of Dublin City Council and refuse planning permission for this urgent, critically needed expansion is deeply disappointing, particularly when we have had positive decisions accepting the public benefit of the development all the way through the process. Our priority now is to ensure the delivery of appropriate neonatal expansion at the Rotunda Hospital as quickly as possible. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will meet with the master of the Rotunda, Professor Sean Daly, in the next two weeks once he has had an opportunity to consider all options available to him, as he is the applicant for planning.”
“This includes the most critically ill babies, many of whom must be transferred from other hospitals to receive the specialist care they need. The planned critical care wing at Parnell Square west is critical to provide essential upgrades to the existing Rotunda campus to meet high-priority clinical needs. The new wing would provide additional NICU capacity, single-room beds and a new theatre. This development would increase capacity at the hospital to provide safe and appropriate care for an increasing number of presentations, including the most critically ill babies. It would address the space shortages that restrict our capacity to deliver critical services to very sick babies and wrap-around supports to their mothers and fathers.”
“I thank Deputy Gannon for the opportunity to address the need for a new critical care wing at the Rotunda Hospital. I am taking this matter on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Government is committed to driving improvements and continued investment in the Rotunda Hospital. Providing the highest possible standard of care at the Rotunda campus is a priority for the Minister for Health. This includes ongoing capital developments at the site to manage the current and future needs of women and babies. The Rotunda Hospital is one of the busiest maternity hospitals in Europe. More than 8,600 babies were delivered there in 2025, and more than 1,300 babies were cared for in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, NICU. The Rotunda Hospital provides 25% of the neonatal care capacity in the State.”
“Indeed, there is a large demand for special class provision in the Lucan school planning area. The Department encourages the school authorities to engage with it directly about its concerns. I will take the matters the Deputy raised back to the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I have no doubt the Deputy will follow up in his own way, maybe via email, and correspond with the Minister in respect of the precise proposals he is putting forward.”
“I thank Deputy Gogarty for the opportunity to outline the position in relation St. Mary's Boys National School, Lucan. As I stated, I am talking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I assure the Deputy that the Department of education has worked closely with the school authorities in relation to the school application for additional school accommodation, and it will continue to do so. The Department is cognisant of the concerns of the school in respect of its green space. Officials have tried to preserve as much of the area as possible while working within a challenging site in terms of available options. The Deputy will appreciate that the Department is required to utilise the funding available to it to ensure that every child has access to a school place.”
“At a recent meeting with the school authorities, departmental officials outlined that there was only one viable option available for the progression of modular accommodation at the school when considering the funding available to the Department and the site in question. The school authorities were reminded of the high need for special class places in the area and, to try to provide the necessary classes, it was agreed that a deadline of February 13 was required, as the Deputy referenced. The Deputy will appreciate that the Department has been working with the school authorities for just under a year to try to progress the project. There is a degree of urgency due to the need in the area. Furthermore, the modular project being proposed would still leave the school with a large amount of green space available for use.”
“There are fire safety considerations which also have to be addressed when considering the location of the modular accommodation due to the requirement for a turning circle for emergency services and proximity to a fire hydrant. More recently, the school asked for another modular unit to be provided, along with the project currently under consideration, for the replacement of a prefab on site. The school authorities were advised that consideration of this would not be possible at this time. The Department of Education and Youth recently published the €7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. The plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the urgent need.”
“The Department-appointed project manager visited the school and engaged with the school authorities in relation to the location of the proposed modular accommodation. The school authorities were anxious to preserve as much of the green area available at the school, which the Deputy mentioned, as possible and the Department endeavoured to facilitate this. The site in question is challenging for many reasons due to its close proximity to the Liffey Valley proposed natural heritage area. It is within a designated riparian corridor and a flood risk zone. Officials from the Department met with the school authorities on the issues on a number of occasions to try to progress the project.”
“In March 2025, the school was sanctioned additional special education classes by the National Council for Special Education. The Department’s planning and building unit engaged with the school authorities with a view to encouraging the school to apply for the ASA scheme. On foot of this application the school was assessed to determine the best accommodation options available for special class provision and it was proposed that the Department’s modular framework would be utilised due to the demand for classes in the area. The modular framework involves the use of project management supports, which are designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.”
“In June 2022, the school was given approval under the additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme for a traditional build project to deliver four mainstream classrooms, three special education tuition rooms, two special education classrooms and one universal access WC, along with the repurposing of existing accommodation to create one special education classroom. This project was devolved to the school authorities for delivery and it is currently at stage 1 - preliminary design. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure essential mainstream classroom and special education needs, SEN, accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.”
“I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. It gives the Department of Education and Youth the opportunity to discuss St. Mary’s Boys' National School, Lucan. I can see the Deputy has a deep personal interest, apart from being a TD for the area. I will give him the answer I have been provided with. If there are particular matters he wishes me to take back, I will deal with those on the conclusion. The Deputy will be aware St. Mary’s Boys' National School, Lucan, is under the patronage of the archdiocese of Dublin. The school is in the Lucan school planning area. It had an enrolment in September 2025 of 495 pupils and a staffing of 21 mainstream teachers and three special class teachers.”
“to 8 p.m. seven days a week, and opening new units in Tallaght, Athlone, Carlow and Ballina. In the interim, Balbriggan primary care centre continues to play a vital role in delivering a vast array of integrated services from chronic disease management and older people's specialist teams to mental health and disability services. I assure the Deputy that I am committed to building further capacity in primary care by recruiting additional staff and promoting advanced practice roles to meet the needs of a growing population. The Department and the HSE will continue to monitor population growth and geospatial requirements to ensure our service evolves to meet the needs of the people of Balbriggan.”
“Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As I said, I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Government remains committed to the implementation of healthcare reforms that ensure patients receive safe and convenient care in the right place at the right time. Last year, we saw 222,697 attendances at injury units across the country, which was a 5% increase. This demonstrates the growing public confidence in this model. By maintaining an exceptionally low median patient experience time of just 1.3 hours, these units provide an efficient and faster pathway for those with non-life-threatening injuries. While there are currently no plans for a stand-alone injury unit at Balbriggan, we are future-proofing the national network by standardising opening hours, from 8 a.m.”
“The 2026 national service plan focuses on new units in Tallaght, Athlone, Carlow and Ballina. However, the HSE continues to review expansion plans and future-proof the system by working towards standardising opening hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, across existing sites to improve accessibility. Residents in Balbriggan currently have access to the following options for non-life-threatening injuries: the Mater Smithfield rapid injury clinic in Dublin 7; the Dundalk injury unit at St. Joseph's Hospital; and Connolly hospital emergency department, which features a dedicated nurse-led minor injury unit. The Department and the HSE will continue to monitor population growth and geospatial implications to ensure that our urgent care footprint evolves to meet the needs of growing communities like Balbriggan.”
“These include primary care therapy services, community specialist teams for older people, a chronic disease hub, mental health services and disability services. The centre also hosts two GP practices and a pharmacy. The Minister is committed to building capacity in primary care by recruiting additional staff and promoting advanced practice roles in the community. The HSE undertook a national injury unit review in 2023 to examine service levels and geographical coverage. This review has informed the 2026 national service plan, which includes provision for new units in Tallaght, Athlone, Carlow and Ballina. Regarding the Deputy's request for a minor injury hub, I must advise that while the HSE undertook a national injury unit review in 2023 to examine geographical coverage, there are currently no plans to open an injury unit in Balbriggan.”
“By providing the same level of care for specific conditions as an emergency department but with significantly shorter waiting times, injury units play a vital role in reducing congestion in our acute hospitals. Last year, there were 222,697 attendances at injury units, representing a 5% increase compared to 2024. Crucially, the median patient experience time, PET, in an injury unit remains exceptionally low, at just 1.3 hours, ensuring that patients with non-life-threatening injuries can access the care they need much more quickly than in a traditional emergency department setting. In relation to Balbriggan, the Balbriggan primary care centre already delivers a broad range of integrated services to meet the health needs of the local population.”