Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with the first two. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, will take the question about children with disabilities.

On the minor ailments scheme, I am very glad that the Senator raised the issue because representatives of the Irish Pharmacy Union came to see me in the not-too-distant past. It has been a really constructive partner on Sláintecare and in coming up with ideas. It has also been an extraordinarily good partner on Brexit preparedness in the group chaired by the Secretary General that works with external stakeholders. I acknowledge that contribution. We have run a minor ailments scheme on a pilot basis and I believe it has shown very good results. If representatives of the IPU were here, they would be talking about the fact that it has been operated on a pilot basis for a long time and ask why it could not be expanded. It is a fair point. When I most recently met IPU officials, we asked that the IPU and the Health Research Board look together at how we could design a comprehensive minor ailments scheme in order that we could address exactly the points made by the Senator. In return for doing this for the pharmacies, it would have a benefit for the hospitals. I will check to see the exact stage the conversations are at and revert to the Senator in writing.

On the issue of step-down facilities, again, I agree 100% with the Senator. There are two answers to his question. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who had to leave to take questions on promised legislation in the Dáil and the Minister of State, Deputy English, have pulled together a group in the areas of housing and health to look at how we can meet needs in communities. We do not just look at building houses; we also look at the position where, if we build what used to be kownn traditionally as retirement villages within communities, we can decide whether it actually helps to keep older people in their community and out of hospital. That is one body of work. The second is that in the new integrated regional structures we will be mapping out exactly what they wlill be. We talk about capacity a lot in the health service. There are real capacity constraints. One area in which we potentially have spare capacity, or capacity that could be better utilised is smaller hospitals and community nursing units. As part of the Sláintecare mapping exercise for each of the new regional organisations, that issue will be looked at.