Commencement Matters

Hospital Groups

Senator Paudie Coffey

I welcome the Minister for State with responsibility for health promotion to the House, where I again raise important issues during a Commencement debate concerning the health service, not just in my county and city but nationally. In 2013, the previous Government, in an attempt to create efficiencies within acute hospital services, decided to reform the acute hospital network and reconfigure it into hospital groups. The South-South West hospital group in my area consists of University Hospital Waterford, which is my local hospital, as well as hospitals in Cork and Kerry. At that time, there was grave public concern that this reform would lead to the downgrading of the model 4 hospital at University Hospital Waterford, which has provided specialist services across a range of acute services for the region.

Certain assurances were given in writing by the former Minister for Health, the Secretary General of the Department of Health and senior management in the HSE that this would not lead to downgrading. However, I have concerns I wish to raise today. When these hospital groups were formed, hospital boards were to be appointed in tandem. Four years later, we still do not have sight of a hospital board being appointed for the South-South West hospital group. This is a cause of great concern to me because the hospital boards were meant to be appointed to bring oversight and accountability in terms of governance and efficiency of expenditure in respect of the HSE and various services.

This leads to my next point regarding the capital plan the HSE plans and adopts for health services around the country. Again, University Hospital Waterford is the example about which I can speak the most. I acknowledge the investment by the State in the new accident and emergency department, which was a major capital investment. I also acknowledge the news that the new palliative care centre for the hospital will go out to tender and possibly be built very shortly but I have to add that this is not before time. For many years, the south east has been the only region without that type of palliative care support. It would not have happened without fundraising by the hospice movement in Waterford and surrounding counties. The news that the five-storey block will be built is welcome.

Recent controversies around cardiac care continue. There are promises of a mobile catheterisation laboratory. However, I was horrified to read a plan that was recently disclosed to me. The plan was a report by a review team into University Hospital Waterford in December 2014. This report was carried out by the HSE to review the acute services as part of the reconfiguration plans. In this report, I was horrified to discover that the HSE has approved more than €5.4 million for a new mortuary for University Hospital Waterford at a time when all public representatives, all parties, consultants, the public and everybody in the region are crying out for an investment of €2.4 million for a second catheterisation laboratory for cardiac services in the region. I am dismayed and cannot believe that the HSE can invest €5.4 million into looking after the dead when it cannot invest €2.4 million to look after the living. I am horrified and wanted to bring it to the Minister of State's attention. I believe this is happening because we do not have the oversight, governance and accountability that was foreseen when these hospital groups were first established.

Somebody needs to call the HSE to task. I have tried to do it but, unfortunately, to date I have failed. We need the political system to work and these bureaucrats need to be asked to explain why this investment is being put in the wrong place.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy)

I thank Senator Coffey for raising this issue.

Acute hospitals are organised into seven hospital groups, the formation of which is a key element in the reform of our health services. The establishment of acute hospitals into a small number of groups provides an optimal configuration for hospital services to deliver high-quality, safe patient care in a cost-effective manner. The establishment of hospital groups is a key enabler for the reorganisation of services across hospitals, with associated benefits in terms of providing care in the most appropriate setting and delivering a safe quality service.

Significant progress has been made in the implementation of the hospital group construct, with individual hospitals within the groups starting to work together to support each other, providing a stronger role for smaller hospitals in delivering less complex care and ensuring that patients who require true emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in larger hospitals. Chairpersons are in place for six of the hospital groups. Board members are currently in place for the University Limerick hospital group. In late 2016, the Department commenced advertising, through the Public Appointments Service, PAS, for candidates for appointment to the hospital group boards. This process began with campaigns in respect of the Saolta University Healthcare Group board and chair and the University Limerick hospital group board. Those campaigns have been completed. Arrangements to advance the South-South West Hospital Group and the other hospital group board vacancies, including a phased timetable for the PAS campaign, is under consideration, informed by the experience gained from the first two campaigns.

The projects under way at University Hospital Waterford are the new ward block and a decontamination facility to support the endoscopy department. Recently completed projects at University Hospital Waterford include: an upgrade of infrastructure, as approved in the hospital’s development control plan, including the development of utilities, power supply and roads to facilitate future development at the hospital; upgrade to the theatre air-handling units; refurbishment and upgrade of the acute mental health department; provision of a CT scanner in the emergency department; and a cystic fibrosis unit, with the provision of four isolation rooms, part-funded by the local cystic fibrosis group.

Future investment in hospitals must be considered in the context of the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, the prioritised needs of the hospital groups and the overall capital envelope available to the health service. Nevertheless, the HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs, having regard to the level of commitments and the costs of completion already in place. The Department of Health is working with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a mid-term review of the capital programme. The Department is also conducting a bed capacity review. This will assess projected health care needs over the next decade and the associated infrastructural requirements to meet these needs.

The investment in the palliative care unit and other facilities which the Senator referred to are welcome. Unfortunately, I do not have any information on the report of the review team in 2014. I will contact the HSE on foot of the Senator raising the matter with me and come back to him with that information.

Senator Paudie Coffey

I thank the Minister of State for taking up my genuine concerns about capital plans adopted and pursued by the HSE. I acknowledge that the hospital groups were set up for the optimal configuration of acute hospital services in the interests of patient safety, as well as to achieve cost-effective patient safety. Unfortunately, until the boards are in place, we will not have the accountability and oversight over the HSE which is required.

I am horrified that in its review in 2014, the HSE could approve an investment of €5.4 million for a mortuary but that it does not have the vision or foresight to provide essential services. In the south-east region, we have patient apartheid whereby if one has a heart attack after hours in the evenings or at weekends, one does not have access to interventional cardiology. Somebody somewhere has his or her priorities wrong. My faith is still in the political system putting that right and that is why I raised the matter.

I appreciate the fact that the Minister of State is not only taking it up on my behalf but also on behalf of people in Waterford and the wider south-east region. We must have oversight where it matters and bring these bureaucrats in the HSE to account. This Government is being blamed while the HSE is running amok investing in the wrong priorities.

Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

I will take on board the urgency of appointing the board, as the Senator has outlined. While I have been informed that it is under consideration, I totally understand the need for a timeline by which this matter will be concluded. That is what we really require, so I will certainly follow up on that for the Senator.

Universal Social Charge

Senator Victor Boyhan

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to the House. I am seeking an update on the universal social charge. The Minister of State will be aware of a poster with the slogan: "Abolish the USC. Let's keep the recovery going." That slogan was used by Fine Gael during the 2016 general election campaign. I do not have a particular problem with the slogan. I took the time to look for this election material and found that quite a lot of it had gone. Interestingly, however, The Irish Times keeps a picture archive in which I counted at least 25 posters. Eight Government Ministers were pictured at various places, including Heuston Station, holding these posters. This was the main plank of their election campaign last year - "Abolish the USC. Let's keep the recovery going."

I downloaded all these posters from www.irishtimes.com which I would be delighted to send around to all my colleagues today. It is interesting that this clearly was the message. There was a quotation in the Minister's election literature, which was also quoted by The Irish Times. I will quote it here for the benefit of our deliberations:

Of all the commitments we are making in this election, this is the central commitment to our tax policy. It is a hated tax. It is a socially divisive tax. It was introduced as an emergency measure. The emergency is now over and now we are going to abolish this tax.

That quotation was attributed to the current Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan.

I note that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, has spoken about a bigger package of reform, including the USC being merged with the PRSI. I do not know whether that is being advanced or not, but it is meant to be a possibility. Perhaps the Minister of State can elaborate on that.

I accept that there should be tax cuts for middle-income earners. At the end of the day, there is a section of our society who work hard, pay all their taxes, comply with the law, yet are falling out of the parameters for social insurance and social protection. They need to be addressed and Fine Gael identified that as one of the key issues in its election campaign.

I do not wish to be negative but I think there is a need for a social insurance fund. We need to build that up, realise that people want it, and be cognisant of their needs. More important, can the Minister of State explain where he stands as a member of the Fine Gael Party and Government that have advocated the abolition of the USC? Has there been a change of heart or mind? Is there a view that the USC should be merged into some sort of reformed PRSI package? I simply do not know and that is why I am asking the question. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could enlighten us.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Eoghan Murphy)

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this matter. As he will be aware, A Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to ask the Oireachtas to continue to phase out the USC as part of a wider medium-term income tax reform plan that keeps the tax base broad, reduces excessive tax rates for middle income earners, and limits the benefit for high earners.

High marginal tax rates affect labour force participation and productivity by increasing the cost of labour for employers and reducing the incentive to work for employees. The unemployment rate in Ireland has now fallen to 6.6%, down from a high of over 15% just five years ago.

This is not the time to become complacent, however, and we must still be conscious of the need to support employment creation and retention. Britain has now formally begun the process of leaving the European Union and this process is expected to bring both opportunities and challenges for Irish businesses.

The top marginal income tax rate, and how it compares with the rates in other jurisdictions offering similar employment opportunities, can be a significant factor in attracting mobile, high-skilled workers to Ireland.

An uncompetitive income tax regime or burden could lead to skill shortages in some sectors.

The continued phasing out of USC will improve lreland's international competitiveness and the incentive to work, supporting economic activity and continued job creation in the economy. The USC reduction measures in budget 2017 were the third step in a gradual process of unwinding USC and resulted in a reduction in the marginal rate of tax on income up to €70,044 to 49%. It should be remembered that as recently as December 2014 the marginal rate of tax for a single individual on all income over €32,800 was 52%. It is the intention of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, to continue the process of reducing USC in future budgets.

Senators will be aware that this is not a measure that has been considered in isolation but as part of a wider medium-term income tax reform plan. In July last year the Department of Finance published the income tax reform plan to set out the policy considerations relevant to this reform, including the necessity to maintain the breadth of the income tax base and retain appropriate levels of taxation for high earners. The purpose of the income tax reform plan was to inform all Members of the Oireachtas of the issues and options which would underpin future income tax reform. It is my hope all Oireachtas Members will engage constructively in debating options for future reform in this area.

It is the Minister’s intention to continue the process of reducing the income tax burden, with an emphasis on low and middle income earners, in future budgets as fiscal resources allow. It is expected that the resulting reductions in marginal tax rates will support job creation and economic growth. It is the Minister’s view, however, that it would be prudent to pursue the phasing out of USC by taking the relevant decisions on a year by year basis, having due regard to the prevailing fiscal resources available to the Government. The setting out of a schedule for the phasing out of the charge as suggested would not allow for flexibility for the Government and the Oireachtas to adapt income tax reform as necessary to address the challenges and opportunities that might arise domestically, as well as in the global economy. Notwithstanding this, the Minister affirms the Government’s commitment to reducing the income tax burden as and when fiscal resources allow. In this regard, I draw Senators' attention to a further commitment in the programme for Government that sets out a minimum ratio for the use of fiscal resources such that two thirds of such resources will be used to increase expenditure on public services, with the remainder being available for tax reductions. In fact, the ratio in the last budget was in the region of 4:1 in favour of expenditure measures.

Senator Victor Boyhan

I thank the Minister of State for his reply which is helpful. It gives us an indication of the direction he is taking. It is important to state it does not reference the abolition of the universal social charge, USC, in the immediate future, despite the fact that it was the major slogan in his party's campaign. Credibility is very important in politics. When a party sets out to do something and changes course, it is important that it explain the reason. It has been explained somewhat in the reply. I am keen to note the Minister of State's emphasis on income tax reform. That is an important issue that needs to be monitored and discussed. The Minister of State's party sought a mandate from the people to govern on the basis that it would abolish USC. I will take the time to send him the pictures I mentioned because they are extraordinary. They show jubilation among candidates not yet elected to Dáil Éireann and others who had sought re-election, all of whom were elected. They include the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan. This was their central message. When a party goes before the people with a central message, it is very important that it deliver on it.

Deputy Eoghan Murphy

I participated in that campaign also. We talked about abolishing or phasing out USC as fiscal resources allowed and nothing in the reply I have given to the Senator deviates from that plan.

Senator Victor Boyhan

I appreciate that.

Deputy Eoghan Murphy

That is what we will have to do on a year by year basis. We all recognise that the burden of taxation is too high and that the Government is taking too much of people's hard-earned money to fund vital State services. Those services must be funded. That is the reason we have the ratio of 4:1 in the current budget for the changes we have made in the fiscal space. We have an income tax reform strategy paper that was published last year. We need to work together within the Government and the Oireachtas to find the most prudent path towards reducing the burden of taxation, but we cannot tie the Oireachtas to a five-year plan because it might have to be altered as needs change on a year to year basis, depending on what happens internationally and domestically. However, it is our continuing commitment to reduce the burden of taxation on income earners.

School Patronage

Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

I very much appreciate the Minister being here in person to address this issue. He will be well aware of the geographical area related to this issue as it is in his constituency. I was involved in a campaign to establish an Educate Together school in the Drumcondra area, and one of the first actions the Minister took on taking office was to sanction the approval of that Educate Together primary school in Dublin 3 in the Marino-Drumcondra area. The campaign to establish that school was elongated and it took a long time to get it off the ground but it was successful. There are some long-established Educate Together schools in the more northern end of the constituency, which the Minister knows very well, in an area where a major degree of construction is taking place and where there has been major growth in the population. The people in that area will need a number of facilities, including school facilities.

In terms of Educate Together schooling, in line with the vision of the previous Government and, I hope, with that of the Minister, he will be familiar with the Educate Together schools in Kilbarrack and in Belmayne. We are asking that there would be a logical continuum of that ethos of education for the children who attend those schools. There has been a metamorphosis in the ethos of one second level school, Clonturk community college, into a new type of school with joint patronage. What we hope to achieve in Dublin 13, which covers a number of areas, including Clongriffin, Belmayne, Donaghmede, Baldoyle and Sutton, is that a new Educate Together would be established to facilitate those children, living in the area of rapid population, who attend an Educate Together school to have a continuum of that ethos of education, which is available to every other schoolchild attending other schools in the area. No other children in that area attending another school is asked to change the ethos of his or her schooling when he or she moves from primary to second level. If a child attends a Gaelscoil, there is a facility for him or her to attend a second level Gaelscoil. If a child attends a Catholic ethos school, he or she can continue that ethos at second level. That is not available to children who attend an Educate Together primary school.

While it is appreciated that the Department of Education and Skills has made great strides in recent years in increasing the number of Educate Together schools that are available for parents who want that ethos for their children's education, it does not make any sense for that to stop once a child reaches sixth class. While the growth in this type of education is greatly appreciated, the parents and members of the committee involved, some of whom are in the Public Gallery, want to know what process they can pursue and how they can work with Government and the Department to make this a reality. This campaign does not necessarily need to be fractious or full of tension or friction. We want to achieve the establishment of an educational institution that the children can have to continue their education in the ethos chosen - as is a constitutional right - by their parents. I ask the Minister to outline where those involved in the campaign are to go next. These children attend an Educate Together school at primary level, or some of them do not. They live in an area that is under major development. They need a process whereby they can work with the Minister and his Department to arrive at a stage where they will be able to have a new education facility available to them. Nobody can convince me, and I am sure the Minister would agree with me, that this area will not need extra school places in the years to come. What we want is fair play. There have been moves across the city and the country with respect to the opening up of second level education. Often it is easier to open up a primary school rather than a second level school, but in areas of north County Dublin there are various different models, including community school models. I am mindful of the Malahide area where the Educate Together model has been approved by the Department because it is seen as providing a continuum of education which is necessary for the children concerned.

Acting Chairman (Senator Gerard P. Craughwell)

I must ask the Senator to conclude.

Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

I respectfully ask the Minister for a positive response to this issue.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I fully understand and support the ambition he has set out. As he knows, it is my ambition to increase substantially the diversity of offerings both at primary and at secondary level to reflect the growing preference of parents for more diversity in our education system.

Earlier this year I indicated that nine new schools are to be provided at post-primary level and eight of the nine are multidenominational in ethos and four of them are Educate Together schools. We are very keen to promote diversity.

I must outline to the Senator the way in which decisions are made when new schools are decided upon. Perhaps he already knows. First, it has to be based on an assessment of the population pressure in an area. We use the geographical information systems, GIS, census data, Ordnance Survey information, Department of Social Protection numbers in terms of children and all the Department's databases to accurately project the pressure of demand across 314 planning areas that are set out by the Department. In terms of the exact area, namely, the Donaghmede and Howth, Dublin 13 area, as of today there is not sufficient population pressure to indicate that a new school would be warranted but it is an area where my Department is closely monitoring trends. As the Senator rightly said, it is an area of growth.

An indication of what we are doing is that in the adjoining area, namely, the Malahide and Portmarnock area, we recently approved a 1,000-student post-primary school for Educate Together as the population pressure warranted it. I am sure the Senator will ask why we do not provide more diversity straight away. The difficulty I face, which I am sure he will appreciate, is that with the population bulge that is occurring, I have to provide 20,000 additional places just to keep pace with population trends. That puts me under very severe pressure and I can only provide funds for additional places where the planning area does not have vacancies in other existing schools.

The approach that is then taken where it is identified that a school is warranted is predominantly based on parental preference. It is an independent process. Parents are asked to express their preference as to the patronage of the new school and it is done on the basis of an assessment of the number of parents indicating a preference for different schools. It is done independently of the Minister by an independent group, which has been set up to carry out the evaluation. That is the process. I am committed to greater diversity. I recognise the value of Educate Together and the education and training boards, ETBs. The Senator rightly pointed to the interesting innovation in Clonturk where an ETB school took in Educate Together as a joint partner. That is an interesting approach. We are determined to pursue greater diversity but we must work within the constraints of the existing budget planning process. We made provision recently for an Educate Together school in an adjoining area and we will closely track population numbers in the Donaghmede and Howth, Dublin 13, area.

Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

I thank the Minister for his response. The Minister is very familiar with the area. It does not take too much effort to appreciate that population pressure is only a number of years away given the incredible intensity of building work and apartment building in the area. Could the Minister at least commit that he or his Department officials will work with the campaigning group, which is open to all sorts of options, including a similar type of arrangement to that in Clonturk, in order to facilitate children to have a continuum of education? I do not think the Malahide and Portmarnock option will fly when one has such a large geographical area that is in need of this facility and considering that the vast majority of those places will be taken up by people living in the area. I say that with the greatest respect to the Minister. I appreciate him being here in person and his comprehensive reply. I also appreciate the constraints under which he is operating as Minister.

Could the Minister give a commitment that his officials will sit down with the campaigning group and outline how best this campaign can proceed, what type of information it needs, what type of population figures will help the case and give realistic projections of what the population growth will be? As the Minister knows, it is only a matter of time until-----

Acting Chairman (Senator Gerard P. Craughwell)

Thank you, Senator. I think you have made your point.

Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

-----there is a campaign for second level schools to facilitate the population numbers.

Acting Chairman (Senator Gerard P. Craughwell)

The Senator is out of time. I call the Minister.

Deputy Richard Bruton

I can assure the Senator that my Department and I work with all patrons. We support Educate Together in its work as a patron, which is certainly recognised. Obviously, the Department cannot favour one particular group that is campaigning for a school because the process under which a school patron is selected is based on parental preferences. Everyone has to have an equal opportunity of competing when a school is identified as needing in that regard. The Department does not anoint one patron or another. It is based on parental preference and the need to promote diversity. We do not assume one patron versus another.

There are eight schools currently at second level across the area. They are educating about 3,852 pupils. There is capacity at present but, as I say, we work very closely with the local authorities and have a code of practice with the planning authorities. We get information about the plans. They look at prospective sites when they are planning areas. We seek to work very closely with local authorities in order that the plans for the development of an area are synched with our own. At a time of such pressure on places, we have to see an established need for additional places at second level before we can consider such a process. We are very open to any patron. We are encouraging patrons, but at the end of the day it is parental preference that will decide it when we do identify that a new school is justified. I cannot favour one over another.

Homeless Accommodation Provision

Senator Martin Conway

I would like to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the House. It is always very interesting that he comes in to deal with housing issues. He will know full well that the homeless crisis is unfortunately not just in the cities or in Dublin. In terms of counties, it is not just in the capital town of the county. It can percolate down to all of the villages, particularly the more urban type of village and town. Kerry is a classic example. It is a big county. It stretches from the Tarbert ferry down to the Cork border. We are talking about in excess of 150 km if one was to drive it straight. The only homeless facilities that exist in Kerry at the moment are in Tralee. If somebody in Killarney who does not drive and is in a situation where he or she is rendered homeless as a result of domestic violence or finds himself or herself in need of emergency accommodation, he or she will be accommodated in Tralee. I am sure that Kerry County Council does a very good job of accommodating people there, but Killarney is a good distance from Tralee.

There is a facility that is vacant at the moment in Killarney called Armagh House. We all know how expensive it is to rent property in Killarney, particularly at the height of the tourist season. Homelessness issues do occur in Killarney. This facility is vacant. It is there and it will need a few bob to be renovated. When it is renovated, it will be able to provide services to people who find themselves in the very unfortunate position of being homeless in Killarney or indeed in the greater south Kerry area.

I do not think this is going to involve much work. I am hoping that at least we will get an indication that the Minister of State's Department is looking at the matter. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, was in Killarney in the not-too-distant past and gave a commitment that funding would be made available to upgrade Armagh House. I am sure that he and the Minister of State will honour that commitment. I am sure there is at least a prospect of the Minister of State providing some good news today.

As an aside, I tabled a Commencement matter about rural resettlement a number of months ago. The Minister of State gave a very positive response, citing an engagement between him and his Department and the rural resettlement group in County Clare. He might give me a quick update on that now, to save me tabling another Commencement matter.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Deputy Damien English)

I thank Senator Conway for raising this matter. The Senator is right that the Minister gave a commitment on Armagh House and that certainly will be honoured.

My Department issued funding approval in principle to Kerry County Council in July 2016 for the development of Armagh House, Killarney, included under the capital assistance scheme. The Department had first granted pre-tender approval under the capital assistance scheme in March 2007 for the purposes of the building and its development as accommodation for homeless persons. The acquisition costs of €960,000 for the building were paid to the council in December 2009 and, while the purchase was completed, there were concerns about the adaptability of the building for the provision of good-quality homeless accommodation. In particular, the small nature of the rooms and fire issues raised challenges for the reuse of the building. The project, therefore, did not advance and in intervening years there was limited opportunity to advance it due to a lack of funding availability.

A new proposal involving the demolition of the existing property and building of six high-quality units was submitted and funding approval in principle issued in July 2016. Initial designs and costings were provided by the council and my Department has recently requested additional information. On receipt of this additional information, I expect my Department will be in a position to approve the project to advance to the next stage, which will involve the preparation of detailed pre-tender designs and costings. With the new approach now being followed by the approved housing bodies and the council, it is hoped that the project can be advanced quickly, particularly given that funding is now in place to support it. The Minister was very clear that the funding is there for this. His is a strong and genuine commitment. We know that both Clúid and Kerry County Council are actively working on the matter so the project should advance to tender as soon as possible.

I assure Senator Conway that my Department and the Minister will continue to engage actively with the council and Clúid and that there will be no undue delay in dealing with further information on the project once it is received. I stress that it is important that the information comes in as quickly as possible in order that we can progress the application.

The Senator is right that homelessness does not just occur in the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick, although that might seem to be the case as a result of reports in the media. The Minister and I have travelled around the country in order to meet local authorities and discuss their plans to tackle and prevent homelessness. Some councils are in a position to deal with a homelessness situation very quickly, getting a person into permanent accommodation over a weekend. Others are not as they are under pressure regarding availability of space.

We are working with all local authorities to provide solutions in order to ensure that people do not spend long in a homeless situation. Our commitment is that there will be nobody living in hotels from next July onwards. That is a commitment we will meet and honour because it will prove that we are doing our work under the Action Plan for Housing. The funding has increased across the board for homeless services in every county and region. We must compliment all those who are working in the homeless services to provide solutions on a daily basis through our local authorities and approved housing bodies. They are doing a great service and we will be matching that with funding.

In respect of rural resettlement, I did give a strong opinion and commitment on this matter to the Senator a couple of months ago. We are working hard on it. There have been numerous meetings with the various groups, including the one the Senator mentioned, and the Department, in an effort to try to ascertain how best to proceed. My Department is also working in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to provide funding for these schemes. Rural resettlement makes sense. It gives people the option if they are on a waiting list in a city such as Dublin but would rather live in a rural area. If the accommodation is there as well as the demand, it makes sense to match the two together. That is what we are going to try to do.

Seanad Éireann debate - Tuesday, 4 Apr 2017