Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is also working for many families and people living on their own. This week, the Government removed another potential barrier around medical card eligibility. That was important, as people should not fear losing their medical cards if they are renting out a room in their house to help us with housing supply and to provide shelter to people. I welcome that.

The Senator mentioned two specific areas about which she has been passionate for a long time. I am excited to be involved in and to represent a sector that is coming up with innovative and diverse ideas. When our Department sought expressions of interest and asked universities what more they could do to meet some of the key needs of our public services, particularly in healthcare and veterinary medicine, it is fair to say that we were overwhelmed and enthused by the quality and diversity of the programmes that came back. The University of Galway has provided 22 of the extra 120 medicine places. It is showing considerable leadership. The universities came to us with diverse options for doing more, including the Senator’s proposal on a rural and remote medical programme in the University of Galway. It would include prolonged immersion in rural and remote general practice and placements in integrated care hubs. It is a good project.

The honest answer is that we are in negotiations around the capital plan. We will work with the Minister for Health and his Department on that process, which I expect will conclude in the first quarter of this year, to see what projects we can move forward and in what order. The Senator can take it that we and our colleagues in the Department of Health find this idea very appealing. That is how that decision stands now.

I enjoyed meeting Dr. Curley. Her enthusiasm is infectious.