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Swords’ rapid housing growth is being outpaced by transport, wastewater and community infrastructure, with calls for stronger co-ordination, while Government says major projects and funding are already under way to support sustainable development.
Deputy O'Sullivan described the distress of families waiting for treatment for Friedreich's ataxia. The Minister for Health said Ireland needed a better system for rare disease access and that she would pursue a European and domestic solution.
Witnesses said Traveller accommodation in Wexford is undermined by poor reporting, weak consultation and a largely ineffective LTACC. They called for stronger national oversight, an independent or longer-term chair, mandatory regular meetings, proper agendas and minutes, and real accountability for delivery and spending. Personal testimony highlighted homelessness, overcrowding, cultural needs around family living and mobility, and the failure of choice-based letting to work for many Travellers, especially older people and those with literacy or digital access difficulties. Members broadly accepted that the current system is too fragmented and that the LTACC needs structural reform rather than more empty consultation.
The Bill will allow pharmacists to prescribe short-acting contraception in defined circumstances, free for women aged 17 to 35 under the free contraception scheme and privately for others, while requiring an initial GP assessment and clinical safeguards. Senators across parties backed the measure as a practical way to improve access, cut costs and free up GP capacity, though several urged extension of the scheme’s age range and attention to pharmacist resourcing. The Seanad agreed to proceed to Committee and subsequent Stages immediately.
Mary Lou McDonald raised Cara Darmody’s protest, assessments of need, and the urgent plight of people with Friedreich’s ataxia. The Tánaiste said he recognised the seriousness, outlined the HSE rare diseases process, and gave a four-week timeline; McDonald and others pressed him on delay and deterioration.
Concerns were raised that Women of Honour giving evidence to the Defence Forces tribunal lack adequate trauma-informed support, and the Minister committed to urgent re-engagement with the HSE to strengthen tailored counselling and access.
Senator O'Reilly backed Senator Harmon and described the crisis in assessments of need for families in Cavan and Monaghan, where a child was left waiting despite an early intervention preschool place.
Senator Nelson Murray highlighted bowel cancer waiting times, saying the target is 28 days and contrasting national concern with strong recent performance in Navan.
Creates a registration and inspection system for home support providers who help older people and people with disabilities in their own homes, with HIQA’s Chief Inspector overseeing it. Providers would have to register, meet safety and quality standards, display their registration, and report key information, while the inspector could inspect premises, issue compliance notices, and take action — including cancelling registration — if standards are not met. It also sets transition rules for existing providers and makes operating without registration an offence.
Changes how the Health Service Executive is planned and overseen, replacing the old annual service plan with a performance delivery plan and giving the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality a stronger role in setting priorities, issuing guidance, and approving plans. It also tightens financial oversight by requiring the HSE board and chief executive to make sure spending controls, value for money, and corrective action plans are in place if budgets look likely to be overshot. Finally, it expands the National Cancer Registry Board to 10 members and updates its quorum rules.
Senator Tully raised a 12-year-old boy's delayed treatment in Cavan General Hospital and alleged that no doctor came despite repeated calls overnight.