I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the House.
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Rail Network
I am bringing this issue to the House today for a number of reasons, but the first key reason is that since this Government has come into office, as the Minister of State will know, there has been a very strong shift towards the use of public transport in so many guises and forms. The way we can encourage people onto more public transport is to provide the opportunities for them to use it in the first instance.
How do we do that? Let us look at Dunleer train station in County Louth, for example. Dunleer is the second biggest town in County Louth after Ardee in terms of a rural hinterland. It had a train station that closed in 1981. The other two train stations in County Louth are in the middle of Drogheda and the middle of Dundalk. Unless a person lives in either of those two urban areas, the concept of getting a train is just not open to them. It is physically impossible with traffic and everything else to either get into Drogheda in the morning, because of where the station is centred, or even into Dundalk at the same time.
A year ago, during the county development plan process in County Louth, the National Transport Authority, NTA, poured cold water on the concept of opening a train station in Dunleer. It said it did not have the population. When one takes away the two populations of Dundalk and Drogheda, the population of the mid-Louth area is 25,000 people. However, it is not just that mid-Louth area; one has to take into consideration south Monaghan and the Kells-Slane-Nobber area of County Meath as well. It is a very substantial hinterland. The thing behind this is that, as I said, if we want to get more people off our motorways, out of cars and onto public transport, it is very difficult to do that when we are not providing them with various and a myriad of options.
Where we have seen in Limerick, for example, the reopening of a railway with the Foynes-Limerick line, there is now a real opportunity to consider some of our disused and closed railway stations around the country. Alongside the national rail strategy, which is taking place, there should be a dedicated Government strategy or policy examining the concept of reopening disused railways. I am not talking about reopening disused railways in areas where they would be of no use. For example, in County Louth there was a very famous one that used to go out to Greenore and Omeath. Something such as that would not be feasible. However, Dunleer train station is right on the main Dublin to Belfast line. That whole part of the island of Ireland is part of the economic engine of the island of Ireland.
One other issue we have to consider is making sure it is not the case that people from outside the Dublin region are pouring into Dublin to go to work. This has to be able to show that we can provide jobs and economic opportunities in place like counties Louth or Wicklow or even in Newry and further afield in order that those people are then able to commute into our area, and that is not being sucked into a Dublin region. The concept of reopening Dunleer train station should strongly be considered.
I do not agree with the concept that the population is not there to do so. The population is set to grow dramatically by 2024. We want to expand the population of County Louth from 100,000 to 250,000 by 2050. At what stage, therefore, do we start to reopen railway lines? Do we just have to sit and wait for another ten years until the population grows further? If we provide the opportunities to increase public transport and get more people off our roads, reopening railway stations in particular areas such as Dunleer would be a good move. I am keen to hear the Government's views on that.
I thank the Senator. I agree with everything he said with regard to the modal shift. Trying to move people out of private cars and onto public transport is a critically important policy from a climate perspective but also from a development and balanced regional development perspective.
As the Senator may be aware, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport, including rail. However, the operation, maintenance and renewal of the track network and stations on the network, including the former station at Dunleer, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.
The Senator may also be aware that Programme for Government: Our Shared Future commits toward a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. The Minister for Transport believes that rail has a critical and crucial role to play in achieving change. It is vital that we address the constraints in the rail sector and deliver a network that allows rail to fulfill its potential in pursuit of decarbonisation priorities, rural connectivity objectives and as a generator of prosperity for people across Ireland.
To this end, the Department of Transport co-commissioned an all-island strategic rail review, to which the Senator referred, with the Northern Irish Department for Infrastructure. The review will establish the strategic context for investment in rail across the island in the coming decades. Work on the review is at an advanced stage and a key consideration of the analysis is how the rail network can support regional and rural connectivity, encompassing service stopping patterns and the provision of stations.
In addition to the strategic rail review, the eastern and midland regional spatial and economic strategy supports the continued development of the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor through targeted investment in transport infrastructure and services, recognising its importance as a link to the core European Union trans-European transport network, TEN-T. The complementarity between EU-level investment priorities and local services would need to be considered, however, as would the potential integration with any relevant local development plans. The reopening of Dunleer station is not currently included in the Louth county development plan.
The delivery of any new rail infrastructure involves a multi-agency approach in the planning, design, funding and construction of a scheme. To protect the taxpayer, there are also guidelines and requirements in place surrounding the release of funds for capital infrastructure projects that must be adhered to by all agencies wishing to draw down public funds. These are set out under the public spending code drawn up by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Before Iarnród Éireann can receive public funding to proceed with any rail infrastructure scheme, the following conditions must be met: the proposal must be fully aligned with transport and planning policy; it must have a robust business case in line with the public spending code, as well as the transport-sector-specific common appraisal guidance; and a full demand assessment using the National Transport Authority’s regional modelling system is required as an input to the business case. The Minister for Transport is not aware of any current plans to reopen the station at Dunleer or to progress a business case. As noted, however, potential services and infrastructure along the existing and potential new rail lines are being considered as part of the strategic rail review.
The Minister has been assured by Iarnród Éireann that it will engage with any parties proposing station reopening projects such as Dunleer. Iarnród Éireann will ensure that no action is undertaken which would preclude any future reopening of the station. I hope that gives the Senator some assurance. A number of measures need to be addressed before a project like this can, excuse the pun, be brought back on track. It is important that it is reflected in the development plans as well and as I stated, that there is an aspiration and business case for such a project.
I thank the Minister of State very much. I see where he is coming from. This is an issue that has been talked about for 40 years. I did not come to the House today expecting to be told that Government is going to look at it. This has been an ongoing issue. This type of stuff with the regulations made sense before Covid-19. There has been a total sea change in Irish attitudes towards modal shift, however, particularly under this Government over the last two and a half years.
This is a good example of how what Government plans to do and what it wants to do are actually at odds in officialdom. To me, this speaks of officialdom prior to the Covid era. People do not want to sit in their cars for two hours on the motorway into Dublin anymore. They want extra opportunities to take public transport. That is why we need some sort of particular strategy to be able to look at this and highlight the fact that if a person is coming from Dunleer, he or she does not want to have to drive to Dublin. People want accessible public transport. That is why we need to take a brand new approach and a new look at this. These types of regulations, while they are important, are very much a pre-Covid concept. New things should be considered when we have such a movement towards a modal shift in getting more people on public transport.
I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator in terms of the aspiration. A step-and-stage process has to be adhered to regardless of whether it is pre or post Covid. Certainly, there has been a sea change. The reduction in fares by 20%, and 50% for young people, has encouraged and put far more people back on to our public transport network. It is critically important that we as a Government respond to that and provide the infrastructure, facilities and funding in order that Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann can meet the demand.
At present, there are no plans for the reopening of the station at Dunleer or to open a station in north Drogheda. Iarnród Éireann has assured the Minister for Transport that it will engage with any parties proposing such projects and will ensure that no action is undertaken that could preclude any future reopening of the station. That offers some assurance to the Senator that this is open for consideration.
As I said, a business case must be made for it. The Senator certainly put forward a very good argument this morning. The next stage lays with the local authorities, in particular. It is important to highlight it in this forum. It is critically important that we expand our rail network and expand the opportunities for people to use public transport.
I thank the Minister of State and Senator McGahon for that excellent discussion in the contemporary context.
Animal Welfare
I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my Commencement matter. I acknowledge the correspondence I received last night from the office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, apologising that he could not be here, for which I thank him, and telling me that alternative arrangements were being made. Subsequently, this Commencement matter was moved from third on the list to second, which may account for some of the confusion on how the Commencement matters are being taken. That is way beyond my brief, however.
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for coming to the Chamber. He is always very welcome to the House. This matter proposes to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide equine keepers with access to his Department's animal identification movement scheme, IMM, which houses a central equine database allowing people to notify the Department directly when an equine moves residence to facilitate compliance with EU animal health law and the requirement for a record of habitual residence.
This has been pursued many times in the Dáil by my colleagues, Deputies Fitzmaurice, Lowry and Canney.
It is a discussion they have had on many occasions, and I support it.
In short, it is about the importance of information, data sharing and identification relating to the equine sector. It also concerns the importance of recording the details of ownership and history and ensuring that records can be viewed and submitted by equine keepers. We are getting smart, and IT and other technology is now very much part of the game. It is also about the live traceability of horses and more efficient processes for equine keepers to register and be compliant with the requirements set by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding records, movement and traceability of equines. Such records will also be valuable in cases of regional equine contagious diseases and outbreaks.
As I have said, this is all built around EU animal welfare law. I am keen to understand how it is progressing. Yesterday, we had the second national equine census in the country, for which 29,000 census forms and contacts were made. That is a significant undertaking. It is important for equine keepers to fully comply with the census. The move now is to embrace technology so the database can be accessed. I understand the Department is in favour of that and there may be questions around it.
Regarding the equine census, I want to acknowledge and thank the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a very comprehensive question and answer session which it pulled together and posted on its website. It was very helpful. Based on the outcome of the census yesterday, there will be a measure of how many people are engaging with the system. As we know, the equine sector is important to our economy.
We had a debate yesterday on funding for the Irish racehorsing industry. We have to do everything we can to support the Irish racing and breeding industries. Horses contribute significantly to the economy of Ireland, in particular the rural economy, be that sports, racing or breeding. Kilkenny is of particular importance. I want to do what I can to support the sector. I also want to make it easier for equine keepers to comply with the various EU laws and agricultural requirements.
I welcome the young people to the Gallery. It is great to have them here. I probably saw them in the Dáil earlier. I am sure they are all looking forward to Santa. The countdown is well and truly on.
In line with the commitment in the programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare through a robust traceability system, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine carried out the first equine census in November 2021. The 2022 equine census was held yesterday, Wednesday, 30 November. The primary objective of the census is to capture the habitual residence of every equine present on holdings across the country on census night - I am starting to sound like the nativity.
All keepers will be able to access the equine census 2022 portal on agfood.agriculture.gov.ie. It will allow them to submit a census, including habitual residence of animals on a holding. It is important not to conflate habitual residence with ownership. As with other species, it is the keeper who may or may not be the owner of the equine and is responsible for the proper identification and treatment of that animal. The Department, therefore, relies primarily on updates by the keeper and change of ownership updates as a matter for the passport issuing organisation, PIO.
As referenced by Senator Boyhan, the census is required in order to comply with the provisions of EU animal health law, EU regulation 2016/429, which requires that the Department records the details of the premises where all equines resident in the State are habitually kept. Unlike other farm species, equines move on a frequent, often daily, basis for training, exercise, breeding, racing, competition, shows, etc. It is recognised that real-time recording of their every movement is not feasible due to the frequency of movement of horses. Accordingly, the EU legislation regarding equine traceability is based on the creation of a link between the horse and residents where it is habitually kept.
The concept of a habitual residence is generally regarded as referring to the place where an equine has resided for a period of more than 30 days. By creating a link for the first time between each equine kept in the State on census day and the premises where it is kept, the census is the Department's first step in capturing the habitual residence of equines in the country.
The 12,500 census returns received last year have been converted into holding profiles in the Department's central equine database. As outlined, keepers will have access to the central equine database through the census portal, equine census 2022 on agfood.agriculture.gov.ie to which they can make a return. Those who submitted a 2021 census return will be presented with the information they submitted last year and can choose to access information and use it as a base for their return. This removes the need to re-enter the 15-digit passport numbers on equines that remain on the premises, information which is kept and recorded on the Department's system. Keepers keeping large numbers of equines, even where they are capped across a number of different premises, can choose a bulk upload option or submission of a spreadsheet on agfood.agriculture.gov.ie.
While paper returns will be accepted for census 2022, the Department strongly encourages people to submit their 2022 census data online to through the dedicated census portal using their dedicated user name and PIN. I, along with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, encourage everyone keeping an equine to submit a census form. Census data provides valuable information for disease prevention, addressing public health concerns and dealing with lost, straying or stolen horses. There is extensive information on the Department's website for anyone with more questions.
In more general terms, equine traceability continues to be enhanced. The system is centred on the equine database, which was established in May 2013. The database is part of the Department's annual identification movement. The database records and registered details on all equines issued with a passport by approved PIO, in Ireland. It also records the registration details of equines resident in the country issued with a passport by approved PIOs outside the Status.
I thank the Minister of State. It is a classic example of an excellent response to a Commencement matter. It is exceptionally detailed. The response even referred to me. I know the Minister of State is delivering the response on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Department. I thank the Department for taking the time to advise me yesterday that the Minister could not be here. It is a measure of attention to detail and focus by the Minister and Department. The response is exactly what I was looking for. I ask the Minister of State to convey that to the Department and Minister.
The Senator has summed it up very well. I will pass on that information. I agree with him that the Minister has provided an excellent piece of additional information. It shows that the Department is dealing with the matter very well. It is an important area. As the Senator said, this is an important industry in Ireland, not just in my county but across the country. It is worth significant revenue to the Exchequer and is a significant employer. In that regard, the Department has been very considerate in ensuring that the equine database is kept up to speed and moves with technology.
Environmental Policy
I thank the Minister of State for being here today. As Senator Boyhan said, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue contacted me to say that he could not be here because he is launching an important climate action strategy. It is important that a member of the Green Party is taking this Commencement matter. I ask that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine update the House on the actions of the Department to audit and calculate the current carbon sequestration of agricultural land and farm holdings.
The Minister of State knows this issue is important. I have been talking about it for years and I am very frustrated by the lack of clarity. We have had crazy debates, some of which involved bullying, over the summer with regard to carbon budgets for agriculture. The narrative by some media and elected representatives around the conversation shows a level of misunderstanding by the majority of Irish agriculture and, as a result, often threatens and downgrades Irish agriculture. Such a narrative can be very difficult for farming families.
The agri sector people speak about is not an anonymous entity. Rather, it comprises the farm I grew up on which my family farms to this day and my neighbours. Many people struggle to make ends meet. While trying to keep farms going they are hearing that we need to cut emissions. They agree with that, but they feel taken advantage of because farm holdings big and small are the carbon sink of the nation and there is no acknowledgement by the State of this. Trees, grass, soil and even sheep's wool sequester carbon. Some 400,000 km of hedgerows across this country are carbon sinks and biodiversity havens.
The lowly, common hawthorn can support more than 200 insect species. That alone is something that should be acknowledged.
We are entering an era that could be an exciting time for farmers. We could be empowering our farmers and we could be giving them control in working towards net-zero agriculture. We could also be allowing them to send energy from solar panels back onto the grid. There are acres of roof space across the country, but for some bureaucratic lack of will they are denied the ability to do this. I passionately believe the science will back me up when I say that many of our farmers are actually farming at net zero.
As the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is probably well aware, a private enterprise, an agri-tech company named Devenish, has launched the ground-breaking sustainable farming initiative which helps to decarbonise the global agricultural sector by supporting farmers to continue to produce nutritious meat and milk while dramatically improving their carbon balance. Knowing one’s carbon balance sheet will help one identify the actions that will help the wider agricultural sector to reach net-zero carbon emissions and beyond, boosting environmental credentials for producers and processors at every point along the food the chain. Accurately measuring on-farm carbon emissions and carbon sequestration will create a new value for farmers across the island of Ireland and will substantially accelerate the achievement of climate goals while improving biodiversity, water quality and overall farm resilience.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland is doing this on a voluntary basis on dairy farms. There are already many farms across the country that are undertaking this work through various initiatives, but they are doing mitigation in the dark. Knowledge is power, and it is vital that we empower this industry to understand the baselines and to drive improvements in its efforts to mitigate climate change.
I thank the Senator for raising this important question. I highlight that it is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to prepare the reports on emissions and removals associated with land use activities on an annual basis to the EU and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC. However, there are many projects, as the Senator said, and work that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is undertaking that will benefit the improved reporting of the land use, land use change and forestry, LULUCF, inventory.
In Ireland, due to a temperate climate and to the prevalence of sustainable farming and forestry practices, we are fortunate to have a wide range of high-quality soils with stable reserves of soil carbon. The many beneficial roles of soil carbon are well known. Soil carbon increases resistance to soil erosion, improves water retention and fertility while also acting as a reservoir for biodiversity. These are all essential ecosystem services that we rely on for our overall health and wellbeing. We are looking at the co-benefits of carbon, soil and water quality. Therefore, increasing the rate of atmospheric carbon sequestration on our mineral soils is a priority of the Minister and our Department in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, for which accurate measurement will be important.
Towards this goal, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has provided funding for the formation of a nationwide network of best practice demonstration and research farms under the Teagasc SignPost programme. This network will allow farmers to view novel approaches to carbon sequestration activities such as multi-species swards, liming, clover incorporation and improved fertiliser management. It will involve accurate measurement and baseline setting to allow continuous monitoring and verification.
However, carbon sequestration is only one small part of the overall approach. The reduction of soil-based emissions is important to deliver the reductions in the overall carbon balance and the Department has delivered several projects to address knowledge deficits in this area. The RePEAT project will help to accurately identify the extent of organic soils under agricultural management while investment in European innovation projects in the midlands will seek to develop a results-based agri-environmental model to reward farmers for implementing sustainable management practices on peat soils.
Recent investment in carbon flux monitoring infrastructure, located on a range of soil types and agricultural management systems throughout Ireland, will provide accurate measurements and scientific evidence for both farmers and policymakers on the climate beneficial results of improved on-farm management decisions. This proposal will comprise approximately 30 greenhouse gas flux towers across a range of soil types. The resulting national agricultural soil carbon observatory will place Ireland at the forefront of EU carbon sequestration research.
Teagasc will shortly complete a research project called “farm carbon”, which provides a deeper understanding of hedgerows as carbon stocks - I know the Senator referenced this - in agricultural landscapes and will allow researchers to identify approaches to maintain and enhance this contribution. In addition, the soil sampling programme aims to establish a comprehensive national baseline on the soil organic matter, nutrient and soil pathogen status of our soils across all farming systems and geographic areas.
As the Senator will appreciate, the knowledge gained from research and technological infrastructure establishment activities pursued through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will not only demonstrate the continued viability of our agrifood sector but it will also allow for the refinement of our reporting to the national inventory further emphasising the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
Our Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, work in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine around some of these projects, particularly on carbon-rich soils and peatlands.
I agree with the Minister of State that much work has been done. I will go back to my point that farmers still have no baseline and they do not know what they are doing on the farms. I will stress that knowledge is power. If the McGreehan farm knew what tit was putting out, then it could reduce and understand what it needed to do best. It could buy into that and could work with the Department on the soil and hedgerows. It could add to it while understanding what it is that it needs to do because at the moment farmers are in the dark on that.
The Minister of State also said that the calculations are the responsibility of the EPA but the EPA is a State body. I would urge the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, as well as the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which has a responsibility in this area too, and the EPA to work together to work to make sure farmers know what they are emitting, what they are sequestering and what they have to do to reduce that balance.
I take on board all the points the Senator is making. Certainly, the research is ongoing and establishing baselines is critically important. As I said in my opening remarks, that work is very much being addressed. There are other issues I think are of value, such as looking at the value of semi-natural grasslands which, in many cases, I do not think have been given enough consideration. We have lost quite an amount of our semi-natural grasslands over the past 20 to 30 years. We are losing hedgerows at an alarming rate and, in many cases, they are poorly maintained. They are being overly manicured. They have a significant role to play, and I would like to see benefits accrue from that, from the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, and from other measures.
A nature restoration law is to come from the European Commission. We are developing an Irish Government position on that, which will have co-benefits for water, carbon and biodiversity. In the few seconds I have remaining I will say that the last thing that we want to do is to scapegoat farmers for this. It is critically important that we work in partnership with the farming sector. We think there is a valuable partnership to be had and that there is a great opportunity for farming to be centrally involved in this massive transformation that needs to take place.
Health Services
The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is more than welcome. I appreciate her attendance her. This morning I raise the significant issue that has emerged with CoAction in west Cork in the last ten days. I know the Minister of State's office has been made aware of it. This is the significant issue in terms of what is happening to the services CoAction provides locally in west Cork. It pertains to the plans for Bayview House, which is to be renovated, and how that is to be moved forward. The proposal, which has been brought forward, is that it will use the child and family centre, which is a purpose-built family centre that cost €1.3 million, the majority of which was fundraised locally, on a permanent basis. The residents of Bayview House will be relocated to that site on a permanent basis. It has created a ferocious furore in west Cork, and rightly so. People depend on the services that are provided in this wonderful complex on a daily basis. They fundraised for it and it is a part of their community. It is a purpose-built building that cost €1.3 million and now it going to be renovated so that it can be changed for another use. That will cost another considerable sum of money.
There is a knock-on implication. There are several complexes, including two buildings in Castletownbere, which are idle at the moment. They can be part of the solution.
There is great disappointment with the communication between the CEO and board of CoAction and the residents. We have had a week of no information. The only significant information the residents got was from a Gaeltacht programme yesterday which featured the CEO and a patron of the services. That created a ferocious furore because there are users who are Irish speakers, but some are not. They find it hard to get the information back and have it translated. There are major issues with communication. The board and CEO of CoAction need to communicate with patrons of the service. That communication has not happened in the past ten days. An AGM to which I was not invited was held in Skibbereen last week. The information came out before and during the AGM. We learned of the knock-on implications a week later but there has been no communication from the board. We need clarity. The Minister of State knows better than I do that parents whose children need these services are to the pin of their collar. Any change in services is a huge issue for them. The lack of interaction and understanding and the failure to provide the support they require feed the rumour mill. For this reason, people in west Cork do not have clarity about the next step.
I am delighted the Minister of State came on short notice to the Chamber to discuss this issue. I am aware there are several people watching because it is such a significant issue. The Minister of State's party colleague, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, has been very strong on this issue. As a Government, we have been doing our best to provide these services but we need information and clarity. The Minister of State's intervention this morning is very much welcomed.
I thank the Senator for raising this matter and welcome the opportunity to provide an update on it. I am told this morning that the proposal to repurpose CoAction child and family centre in Bantry into a residential for adults is in response to several recent HIQA reports which highlighted unsuitable premises at the Bayview-Seskin residential unit. In light of this, the HSE requested that CoAction review properties for rent or sale in Bantry and the wider area as an alternative to repurposing the existing administration building. The HSE also maintained contact with CoAction with regard to existing HSE buildings in the area. The HSE has stated that it is advised that appropriate housing stock in the area continues to be extremely limited. Timelines involved in bringing potential properties to a standard that will meet appropriate regulations are also a consideration given the pressing nature for placing of residents in safe and appropriate accommodation. I am advised that the completion of the residential unit refit in Bayview, when coupled with the repurposing of the administration building, will keep vital residential services in the area and create an additional capacity of up to six residential overnight respite placements.
While I appreciate the pressure CoAction may be under, I do not agree with the removal of children's services from their current location. I cannot be clearer. I have seen the building, and it is an impressive asset to have. I understand great upset was aired by families at CoAction's AGM last week and I can entirely see why this has left families upset, concerned, frustrated and taking to social media with their children to tell their stories and outline why they need to retain this service. While I compliment CoAction on an excellent, efficient service in children's teams, the removal of that and the weaponising of children to lobby to keep a service is wrong.
I will share something that is still in draft mode. I have the progressing disability services, PDS, roadmap in front of me. It states that, as an example, the CDNT team in west Cork, which was established in 2013, reported no vacancies in October 2021 and, at the end of August 2022, had no child waiting longer than three months for an initial contact. When I first received that information, I asked if we could check it with the HSE and also check the parliamentary questions to make sure it was accurate. Within a week, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan told me what is unfolding in Deputy Lombard's area. I again make clear that there can and will be no closure of children's services. I will work with the HSE and CoAction to ensure children's services remain in place while we address HIQA concerns at Bayview and undertake repurposing to ensure the users have the best purpose-built building, but not at the expense of the children.
Before I call on Senator Lombard, I welcome the friends and family of Ronan Scully to Seanad Éireann today. Ronan received the Human Dignity Award and he and his friends are here as guests of Senator Mullen. It is great to have them here today.
I thank the Minister of State for her passionate and powerful response. For the families affected by this issue, particularly in the past ten days, it has been upsetting to say the least. I have been understated in the terminology I am using about the implications of what has happened and how it has knocked confidence in system. It would be wonderful if the Minister of State could find time in her diary to meet the parents in question. They are a wonderful group of people. They are passionate and courageous and are doing their utmost to make sure their families and children are protected. If the Minister of State could find time in her diary to meet them, it would be a wonderful gesture. Her statement gives us great hope that there will be no change to the service or the location. That is what the general public and these parents are fighting hard for and want for their families. I thank the Minister of State for coming at short notice. I deeply appreciate her statement.
I would like to be associated with welcoming of Ronan Scully's family to the Gallery. Ronan lives in Galway, so I am proud to have that connection and I acknowledge the wonderful work he does.
Let us be clear about this. Recently, the HSE informed me that the work CoAction is doing in west Cork under PDS is one of the better examples around the country. I struggle to find good, so is it not great to find it in west Cork? Is it not great that I can point to it and say that is what good looks like? If someone is thinking of putting that at risk, it will not be on my watch. I need to have good because I struggle to find good in the 91 teams.
I am delighted the Senator brought up the issue in Castletownbere, where we have properties standing idle. Why not put a plan in place to retrofit and repurpose those houses while we transition the development of the house needed at Bayview? With a little bit of logical, proactive thinking from all concerned, including my Department, the HSE and CoAction, we can find a solution.