I thank the Minister of State for coming in.
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Meals-on-Wheels Services
I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter and welcome the Minister of State to the House. We are all familiar with the magnificent meals-on-wheels services throughout the country and I am particularly acquainted with the service in my own area of south Kildare. The service is operated by a list of great operators including Rathangan Daycare Centre, St. Conleth's Daycare Centre, Newbridge Daycare Centre, Monasterevin Daycare Centre, Kilcullen meals on wheels and meals on wheels from St. Vincent's, Athy. These organisations are critical to sustaining our older population in their homes and it is important to thank everybody involved in these services. Many people volunteer their time and collect money and necessary finances to support the services that are ongoing in south Kildare.
The issue that I want to raise with the Minister of State today is the need for further investment and resources for the services in south Kildare and, as a knock-on effect, for the surrounding regions. I have recently been contacted by a large number of families who wish to avail of the service for their loved one. In many cases raised with me, the person has just been discharged from hospital or has unfortunately suffered a bereavement and finds him or herself in urgent need of a good daily meal during the week. The reason I raise this today is that unfortunately, there seems to be a waiting list for services in south Kildare. Having spoken about this with colleagues, I have also been told that there are waiting lists in other areas as well. The Minister of State is well aware of - and I do not need to outline - the benefits of providing a daily meal to those who find themselves in such a situation.
I will give two examples of cases that demonstrate what is going on for certain people and why they urgently need assistance and the services of meals on wheels. One is a gentleman who has been in hospital for almost a year on and off and who has just been discharged. He will need care and attention but unfortunately, the vast majority of his family live out of the country. The nearest relative he has is not in a position to visit him on a daily basis. His family are very concerned about his health and welfare. The second is a lady who unfortunately suffered a bereavement in the last few months. Her husband, who is now deceased, was her carer. She is not in a position to look after herself and again her relatives are either living out of the country or are not in the Kildare area. I have heard a number of cases like these in the last number of months. People are being told that there is a waiting list when they contact these magnificent services.
I know there has been some funding in the past. I want to mention the Monasterevin Daycare Centre. We have a new building opening there and were additional funding provided to them, they would be in a position to provide more services in that area.. I would appreciate it were the Government to consider that. I will conclude by putting on record my thanks to all those who operate the service. They are great services and additional funding and resources from the Government would create huge opportunities for those who are suffering, as well as their loved ones. Most importantly, as we all want, it would keep many people out of nursing homes and accident and emergency units in hospitals. I thank the Government for its support for meals on wheels and look forward to a positive reply.
I thank Senator Wall for raising this issue. It is great to have a Commencement matter like this put down because I can point out what we have done and what we are trying to do to support people who fall outside the areas.
It is a key priority for me and the Government to allow more people to engage with services, thereby allowing them to remain independent and able to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. I speak every day about the triangular supports of homecare, daycare and meals on wheels within the community setting. These include dementia-specific supports. They are a key factor in supporting older people to age well in their own homes.
When I came into this post in 2020, the budget for meals on wheels was €3 million. This year, it is €6.25 million. I have doubled it. We have also done so much more. Working with Irish Rural Link, which is a phenomenal organisation, we now have the National Meals on Wheels Network, which is really important. I launched an interactive map. You can go online. Some 307 organisations come under this umbrella now. You will see exactly where meals on wheels are available.
Last year, 2.7 million meals were delivered across the length and breadth of the country. I, like the Senator, want to thank the organisations, the day centres, the meals on wheels centres, the volunteers, those who work on community employment schemes and Tús schemes, and all of these people. It is just like an army on the move every day of the week. It is so much more than a nutritious meal. I cannot tell the Senator how passionate I am about it. It is a knock on the door, a social connection, and it might be the only person someone sees that day. These wraparound supports are vital to prevent loneliness and social isolation, and to maintain positive overall health and well-being.
Regarding the couple of cases the Senator mentioned, we all know such cases that fall outside the catchment area of where the meals are being delivered. Most of these organisations tell me they have more capacity. The real challenge is in having them delivered. There are two areas overlapping and a little area in the middle that nobody is covering. I recently met the National Meals on Wheels Network. I have spoken at its annual conference every year since it started to happen in 2022. We are looking at expanding the service. We are looking at areas we would see where there is no service and we are working on that.
I want to speak specifically on the Senator's area. The HSE has advised that the total funding for meals on wheels services in the Kildare area is just under €250,000. This funding is divided across 11 meals on wheels services in Kildare, including two HSE-delivered meals on wheels services and nine section 39 agencies funded through grant aid agreements. These meals on wheels services are currently being provided to 460 people in Kildare every day. The funding provided to south Kildare makes up approximately half of the funding allocated to the Kildare area for meals on wheels services, with south Kildare receiving €130,000 in funding for these services. Meals on wheels services in south Kildare are located in Athy, Kildare town, Newbridge, Monasterevin and Rathangan. The Senator spoke about Monasterevin day care centre and how it has more capacity. I suggest that it write to its local HSE office in its CHO to propose a business plan saying that it could do an extra 20 or 25 meals per day.
Every single meals on wheels centre this year, whether it is working out of a day centre or not, should see an uplift in funding. There was an extra €1 million this year for 320 or 330 organisations. I know it is not a lot when divided up, but I have spoken to many that are seeing an uplift of approximately €20,000, and I hope it starts filtering down to them.
I thank the Minister of State for that positive reply. I note her passion about this great service. It is something I share with her. The day care centre in Monasterevin is a new one that the Minister of State would be familiar with. It has capacity and I spoke to people there yesterday. They would love to talk to someone. I will take that up and get them to write in to the HSE services. I am sure that will form part of the new services in Monasterevin. The issue with Athy is that it is probably at capacity. Most people I spoke to there are living in the general Athy area. It is unfortunate that there is a lack of capacity in St. Vincent's hospital for the wonderful service. I am enthused by the Minister of State's reply. It is great that Government has recognised this and that the Minister of State has recognised the important social context of this as well as the health context. I thank her for her reply and look forward to the expansion of the services under her remit. This is a very positive reply and I thank the Minister of State for it. Maybe I could write to her about the couple of cases I had, so that she may take them up with the HSE. I appreciate her enthusiasm and work in this area.
If they are able to put a business plan in place, could the Senator copy me on it? We are trying to identify areas around the country where people just fall outside coverage. I have spoken to many families. They find that some of the organisations can provide the meals but not delivery in that area, especially for loved ones whose families might have moved abroad or be living in other counties. As I said, last year was phenomenal. Some 2.7 million meals were delivered. It is so much more than a nutritious meal. Today, as we stand here, 54,000 people, or maybe 55,000, will receive home care. The home care, day care and meals on wheels are keeping people out of nursing homes. That is where my focus is at all times and why the budget has been increased. It is important to say that every single meals on wheels group should see additional funding this year. If they do not, I will follow up on it for the Senator. I thank him for his interest in this subject.
Health Services
I welcome the Minister of State. I want to ask the Department of Health to ensure accessibility to healthcare for all patients accessing and engaging with healthcare providers. I ask that all patients are corresponded and communicated with in as accessible a manner as is technologically and physically possible, taking into account the various disabilities within our population. I want to stress the critical importance, which I know the Minister of State understands, of ensuring accessible information and correspondence for individuals, particularly those with disabilities. It is our ethical and moral responsibility to guarantee that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully access and comprehend information essential to their health and well-being.
This Commencement matter debate is inspired by two people, a young woman, Niamh Kilcawley, and my sister, Lorna McGreehan, who are both visually impaired and find it really difficult to access healthcare in a fair and equitable way. For example, Niamh contacted me this week. She had received a letter from the hospital. Niamh cannot read the letter. If I closed my eyes and lost my notes, I would be lost. Imagine a scenario where a young woman receives a letter. Her mother rang the hospital and asked if there was no other way that her daughter, who is visually impaired and cannot see this piece of paper, can communicate with the hospital. The answer was "No". She must reply via post. There was no way of emailing it. In this day and age, it is ridiculous, with all the technology we have.
I speak to my sister quite regularly on her interaction with healthcare providers. It is on her file that she is visually impaired, yet when she goes to an appointment, people might wave at her down the hallway. My sister, sitting there, cannot see and feels stupid. She feels abandoned and does not know where she is going. Imagine doing that to somebody when that is on a person's file, with no concern about it. Niamh and Lorna are unfortunately not alone. If it happens to them, it happens to so many more.
We and all our healthcare providers have responsibilities under Article 25 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is the right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination. Under the public sector duty section, section 42 of the Act that set up the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, the performance and functions of the public sector must eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and treatment of its staff and persons who it provides a service to. We can see that the public sector is not upholding the legislation and obligations that these Houses put on it. I would like the Department of Health to mandate this and to ask IHREC to do its duty to uphold section 42, because there have been no cases under the public sector duty section. It has the right to take people to court. There is a complaint procedure. There was a complaint but not a resolution. When people complain to hospitals about not being able to access their own healthcare information, files and so on, it is a complaint procedure, not a resolution.
I thank the Senator very much for raising this issue. It is funny - I will not say funny - but I was wondering what the context behind it was when I was reading the response from the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, who is currently attending an Oireachtas committee hearing. He apologises for not being here. I want to thank Niamh and Lorna for raising this with the Senator. This is not lived experience. This is actually living experience. This is what they are living with every day of the week when trying to navigate things we just take for granted. I am not sure whether the response will really give the Senator any assurance at the moment. There is a lot of work being done, but it does not seem to be to specific people; it seems to be in general.
Patients and service users ask the health services and healthcare professionals to be clear when they give them information about their health. Content for HSE.ie for the general public and HSE social media channels is created in partnership between content designers who are trained in writing in plain English and user-centred content design, alongside relevant subject matter experts who, working together, ensure content is easy to read and factually accurate. That is all very welcome. We all acknowledge that.
As the Senator may be aware, the EU web accessibility directive sets out several requirements that public sector bodies must meet to provide people with disabilities with better access to websites and mobile apps of public services. A dedicated HSE web accessibility group was established to identify issues, work to address these issues and raise awareness about how to best meet the needs of users with various accessibility requirements. That is where Niamh and Lorna and the other people around the country come in. Interestingly, I spoke with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, last night, who, as the Senator will know, has special responsibility for disability. She is at the moment setting up communication boards across all parks, playgrounds, wooded walks and different places for people who do not have the capacity to read them in the normal way that we would so that they are accessible to all. That is really positive.
The HSE has several guidelines, processes, tools and standards in place to provide digital content in a format that is easy to read. Again, we will go back because we did not really understand that the question was from a visual perspective. Other examples of areas where the HSE has delivered improved accessibility are the use of sign language and subtitles as standard on public health advertising concerning vaccinations, health and well-being messages, as seen throughout the pandemic; the HSE Live information line 1800 700 700 is available to the public to provide information and non-emergency assistance and can be suitable for those who do not wish to communicate in writing; and the publishing of some communication materials in Braille and audio formats.
The Department recently published Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030. That might be worth looking at with regard to the situation Senator McGreehan raised. If she has any suggestions from the living experiences of her sister Lorna and Niamh in that respect, I would love to hear them. These are the everyday issues we as Oireachtas Members pick up about people's day-to-day living experience. It is about how to make life that little bit more accessible for somebody who has some form of a disability.
Go raibh maith agat. I appreciate this is a general response with regard to accessibility. Absolutely, there has been an awful lot of positive work done with regard to the EU web accessibility directive and we are working through that as a State. Healthcare providers have responsibilities under the existing legislation, which goes back to 2014. People have the right to access healthcare. It is not only for those with visual impairment. I have heard of people in wheelchairs who have problems accessing BreastCheck and women who have problems getting a smear test.
We have a whole lot of work to do with regard to accessibility to healthcare for people. We have the big picture with the Minister of State's response, however. It is absolutely 100% welcome and proper. People deserve their autonomy. If I might make a suggestion, the staff in every single hospital and all healthcare staff should know their responsibilities under public sector duty and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and they should be trained. If someone has "visually impaired" written on his or her file, the staff should be able to understand that, walk up to that person and make him or her feel absolutely welcome. If someone rings up and says they cannot see a letter and to please email it to them, in 2024, with everything on our smartphones and online, surely, our hospitals can go beyond snail mail and send things via email.
I thank the Senator very much. She raised a very valid point. I was just thinking as to how we could correspond with people who are not in a position to receive material because of sight loss or sight issues. One in seven older people has a challenge with reading and writing. It is something I have been looking at at the moment. It is hard to believe, but there are quite a lot of people out there who are challenged and they might find some of the language hard to navigate.
I will go back to the recently published Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030. This framework acknowledges the need for a joined-up national approach to health literacy to empower everybody in Ireland with the knowledge, skills and confidence to be active partners and advocates for their own area. This involves an integrated approach across healthcare, education and in our communities to enable, encourage and educate people to make informed choices about their own health and have a voice in their own care.
The framework identifies, and this might be important, “Patients as an empowered partner” as a key principle. We acknowledge that patients can find it challenging to navigate through the health and social care system. I will bring back what the Senator said because if it is on somebody's file that he or she is not in a position to read something, having it emailed to them so that the computer can actually-----
It is amazing what they can do.
The audio piece would make a huge difference. I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It is something we will certainly have to pursue.
I thank the Minister of State.
Road Projects
I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter this morning. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to the House.
I wish to raise the matter of a relief road for Claregalway. I can go back to 2008 to when my then colleagues, Pádraic McCormack, former TD, and Fidelma Healy Eames, who was a Member of this House, both raised this matter with the Department of Transport. At that stage, the bypass at Claregalway was being talked about in the context of the Gort to Tuam motorway, which was due to open in 2012 but opened in September 2017. That was obviously a very important development at that time. It has made life along the west coast more tolerable for those coming from Limerick and Clare up to Tuam and onwards. It has provided some relief for Claregalway, but nothing of the level that is required.
Claregalway is a growing area. It has three schools in the heart of its community with more than 1,600 pupils. There are thousands of cars travelling each day. Back in 2008, there was talk of a relief road. Galway County Council had sought a relief road in advance of the motorway being opened. Obviously, that did not happen. Since then, there has been talk and it has gone away, and then there was more talk and it went away. Obviously, there were down times and good times. Now, it seems that there is a little bit of talk again. I am looking for an update regarding the provision of a relief road.
The plans were to have a road from Kiniska on the Tuam side of the village to Cregboy on the Galway side crossing the River Clare. I have seen following the opening of the bypass in Moycullen what a difference it makes to a community. It really just makes it quieter and safer. It makes it more accessible for those who want to do business. It improves air quality. It just gives a different feel to a community than having a constant stream of cars, particularly at peak times. I want to see for Claregalway something similar to what was achieved in Moycullen. I want to see a community being freer and safer to allow for the necessary developments that are going to take place in the community anyway because we need housing and facilities and amenities for people as well.
Along the main road - the main national route in Claregalway - we have housing estates like An Mhainistir, Lakeview, River Oaks and Gort An Ghabhann. We have the Claregalway Hotel and The Arches Hotel. We have pubs, garages, supermarkets, commercial units and a church.
There are roads like the Montiagh road, Cahergowan, the R381 to Oranmore, and the corporate park. It is a very busy place but, unfortunately, it is built around a national road under the jurisdiction of Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The people of Claregalway and commuters going through Claregalway deserve better. They deserve a more efficient journey home, safer streets and a more hospitable place to live, work, do business and be educated in. A relief road will provide the impetus for a more livable Claregalway and that is what I want to see. I am looking for an update on engagement between Galway County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the provision of a relief road for Claregalway.
I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP.
The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes. The Senator is right about relief roads. I recently travelled to Macroom to open a dementia café and that town has had a bypass built. The difference it has made is phenomenal. There is less congestion and a faster journey for people who do not have to go through Macroom. Approximately €411 million of Exchequer capital funds have been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2024. In total, almost €15 million in Exchequer funding has been allocated to Galway County Council in 2024.
On the Senator's specific point, a funding application has been made by Galway County Council in relation to the N83 Baile Chláir-Claregalway relief road. This project is aimed at removing through traffic from the village and improving the environment for residents and visitors in the village centre. The project will include the construction of a new bridge over the River Clare. Production and submission of the project outline document is awaited from Galway County Council. This document will set out the issues and identify a range of potential solutions in line with the national investment framework for transport in Ireland and Government policy. In the meantime, funding of €500,000 has been made available in 2024 to progress drainage, pavement and safety works on the N83 within the town.
I welcome the fact a funding application has been made by Galway County Council. Unfortunately, we heard the same thing in 2008 and on numerous occasions since then. I am concerned this is another stalling position and after the series of elections will still have made no progress. The people of Claregalway need to know this will progress, go to TII and be funded. The concern is we hear anecdotally and from different parts of the country that there is a slowdown on capital spending on road projects. I know the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is not overly enamoured of new road projects. It is important we get greater clarity from TII on this project.
My understanding is there were issues in relation to judicial review. An Bord Pleanála was involved. The Senator can correct me if I am wrong but that is what I am seeing in front of me. When we go down that line, these things hold up everything. The most important thing is that €500,000 has been made available in 2024 to progress the drainage, pavement and safety works on the N83 within the town, which shows this work is commencing at some level. For towns and villages it sometimes takes a long time to get a relief road but it is important it happens, especially for the people living there.
A major priority in the NDP, in line with the Department's investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network. In relation to the funding provided, the greater portion becomes available in the second half of the decade. This means there is constraint on available funding for new projects this year. However, most national road projects in the NDP will continue to be progressed in 2024.
I note production and submission of the project outline document is awaited from Galway County Council. Until that is received, there is a small barrier there. I understand the Senator's frustration, however, because these things take a long time.
Rail Network
I thank the Minister of State for coming to discuss this issue. It is not her direct area of responsibility but I appreciate her addressing it.
The Limerick to Foynes railway line is a 42 km stretch that was opened in 1858 and closed in 2001. Now it is being reopened, which is leading to the expansion and development of the port and which is welcome. I call for extra funding for national, regional and local roads and the provision of sound barriers to protect the estates of Glencairn, Ballycummin, Slugaire and Springfields.
I note the last Commencement matter was about a bypass. When the Government announced it was looking to bypass Adare, it cited quality of life, less noise and air quality. The lives of residents in the estates I mentioned have deteriorated. It is a 2 km stretch behind the four estates. Iarnród Éireann workers came along. There were trees behind residents' garden walls. To put it in perspective, the rail line is outside their back garden and a motorway beyond that. I stood in one person's house. They have triple glazing but the vibrations in the bedroom were unbelievable. The noise level is terrible.
The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, came to visit the site with me in the past and acknowledged the noise levels. He could see the issues the residents were having. Workers came along one day and cleared the trees at the back wall which left back gardens exposed. Next thing there were people climbing in over their walls off the rail line, which is not open yet but is in the process of being opened.
Fencing has been put up since but there are no sound barriers. Residents' quality of life has deteriorated. They are trying to get sleep but there is noise from the motorway and workers on the line. What will it be like when the train goes back into operation? We have written to the council and to TII. The Minister of State came and saw it at first hand. There is no joined-up thinking and none of them are saying they can work with each other to provide sound barriers. A solution has to be found because it is not right. Residents bought houses in good faith. There was no rail line opened at the time. They knew the motorway was going outside but the trees were keeping down the noise levels. Things have deteriorated and TII, Iarnród Éireann and the council need to come together to provide quality of life for the residents.
I thank Senator Byrne for her question. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with Members of the House today on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I thank the Senator for articulating so well the unintended consequences of reopening the Limerick to Foynes railway line, which runs at the rear of the houses at the Glencairn and Ballycummin estates. I am delighted to hear that the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, went there with the Senator to understand the issue. This is everyday living for many communities, families and children trying to navigate that particular issue.
I understand that the Senator's question relates to the current funding allocations for the protection and renewal of the national, regional and local road network, with a particular emphasis on the Limerick city and county region, along with a query about the Limerick to Foynes railway line.
The Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing road network. The construction and operation of national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Ireland's road network spans over 102,000 km and so requires significant funding to ensure it remains fit for purpose, safe and resilient. This year, €444 million was allocated to national roads projects while an additional €658 million was allocated to regional and local roads. Of this funding, Limerick City and County Council is in receipt of over €37 million for national roads as well as over €38 million to fulfil the council's statutory responsibilities in maintaining its local and regional road network. This €38 million is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities' own resources.
Due to the vast scale of the network, the Department of Transport employs an array of grant types to target investment. Within the budget available, State grant funding is allocated on as fair and equitable a basis as possible to ensure that all local authorities are in receipt of funds to maintain their networks. The allocation of the three biggest Exchequer grant types for regional and local roads is based on the length of road within a local authority’s area, with additional weighting based on contributing traffic factors in specific areas. In this regard, Limerick receives an equitable share of State funding.
Regarding the noise issues along the Limerick to Foynes railway line in the Glencairn and Ballycummin areas close to the M20, it has been identified as a hot spot for further assessment in Limerick City and Council's noise action plan. TII had a role in the implementation of noise mitigation measures during the construction stage of the M20, with the installation of sound barriers required at certain points on the route. TII also has a role in the environmental noise regulations for the preparation of noise maps for major national roads to assist local authorities developing noise action plans. However, the development of noise action plans and the provision of sound barriers and other mitigation measures are matters for the individual local authorities. I understand that Limerick City and County Council has undertaken to make information on the progress of its noise action plan publicly available and to keep residents' groups informed.
The Minister of Transport recognises the importance of funding provided for the renewal and protection of the road network. The main issue the Senator is raising today relates to the problems with the noise these residents are enduring every day of the week. As the Minister's answer makes very clear, that is a matter for Limerick City and County Council.
I thank the Minister of State for setting that out very clearly. There was considerable confusion and passing from Billy to Jack going on between the three organisations. This written answer clearly lays out the criteria involved. While I understand that TII has said it helped with the noise barriers, Iarnród Éireann then came along and removed those noise barriers. There is no joined-up thinking between different organisations. The residents' quality of life has greatly deteriorated. We will go back to Limerick City and County Council. I thank the Minister of State for the response. It has listed the criteria clearly and I hope the noise action plan can be put in place. We will be putting pressure on the council to do so.
I am given to understand that there has been some clearance of planting and vegetation along the M20 at the Glencairn and Ballycummin estates as part of the work on the restoration of the Limerick to Foynes railway line. A replanting plan is currently being developed by Irish Rail and other stakeholders. At the same time, while incorporating vegetation may provide some visual screening to the M20 motorway, as we all know it is not anticipated to mitigate the noise from the M20 motorway. While it will look well in time, it will not prevent the noise.
Local authorities need to use the results of noise mapping exercises to develop noise action plans and implement the measures identified in these plans to mitigate such noise. As such, it is for local authorities to fund and implement these measures.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 10.16 a.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 10.33 a.m.
Sitting suspended at 10.16 a.m. and resumed at 10.33 a.m.