Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have some questions for the Minister. The national children's hospital has not been touched on today. Do we know how much it will actually cost? Earlier in the year some of the board members were before the committee to outline some of the difficulties they are experiencing. We are aware that compensation claims are coming through the courts and that building was closed down for a period. Do we have a ballpark figure or does the Minister know exactly how much it is going to cost? It will be a big figure in relation to the Estimates.

I do not raise this to frighten people but a conversation is needed around long Covid and people having difficulties with vaccine-associated illnesses. I am currently dealing with two cases in my constituency with vaccine induced clotting, or VPIT. This has required blood tests, treatment, in-stay beds, medication and an inability to work. One person developed a clot on the brain. There needs to be a conversation around this. They have told me they have spent a significant amount of money and they are getting bills, having been released from hospital or while still in hospital care. They are worried about being out of work and out of a job and about mortgages. Two of these people are women in their 30s. If a person gets a bill for €1,000 from a hospital, it is a lot of money.

It is only right that there be some sort of support scheme to address costs incurred because of the side effects of vaccination. When I recently asked a parliamentary question on the matter, the Department stated that a policy was being developed. Has any amount been set aside in the health budget for vaccine-related costs incurred by people who have suffered side effects? The State has indemnified many of the manufacturers and so on.

The Minister spoke about quarantining. I am told that there is an avalanche of cases waiting in that regard. Has funding been set aside for them? Is he worried about the cases coming down the track?

I have been on my local drugs task force practically since it was established. We seek funding every year. The major challenge this year for many communities, particularly so in Dublin but it is spreading to other areas, is the rise of crack cocaine and its impact. In November, there was a one-off funding bump of €480,000 for the whole of the State. That worked out at approximately €20,000 per area, which was a drop in the ocean. We know the challenges facing people. Deputies mentioned the impact of Covid. It is impacting on people who have difficulties with substance abuse, be it alcohol or drugs. In that regard, has the Minister considered increasing funding for projects for vulnerable people in many of our communities?

St. Michael's ward in Beaumont Hospital has been closed during Covid. It provided valuable work on the north side of the city. There has also been the closure of residential beds and support services in Keltoi in the Phoenix Park, causing significant difficulties. Alongside the question of funding, the issue of residential beds keeps arising at task force level. Has the Minister spoken to the Minister of State in this regard? The latter has been out in some communities looking at the challenges facing them.

When the Minister appeared before us previously, we asked him about the backlog in scoliosis procedures. Has funding been found in this Estimate for that group of people, many of whom are young children who, as the Minister is aware, are suffering the horrible effects of scoliosis on their young bodies? They could be left with deformities for the rest of their lives if their conditions are not dealt with sooner rather than later. The Minister referred to difficulties at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin in terms of staffing for the MRI machine.

The Irish Dental Association appeared before the committee recently. Its representatives spoke about hundreds of dentists leaving the medical card scheme. It was concerned that talks had not resumed. Has funding been set aside in the Estimate for a possible deal?

One of the positive things that the committee did recently was to publish a report on the impact of vitamin D on Covid and general health. The report made proposals in respect of nursing homes, front-line staff and areas with large Covid outbreaks and examined the role of vitamin D in building up people's immune systems. A report from the Department did not go as far as ours in terms of the age group, given that we considered a much younger cohort, but is there funding available in this regard?

I have asked the Minister a number of questions. If he cannot reply to them today, perhaps he will in future. These are some of the main issues that are still outstanding where the work of this committee is concerned.