Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government contains commitments on home help hours and packages for carers. Information released to Fianna Fáil has revealed that the average processing time of applications for carer's benefit and carer's allowance is over 18 weeks and that the appeals process can take a further 23 weeks. This means that carers may have to wait for more than nine months before they receive payments. I suggest that in National Carers Week the Government need to reaffirm its commitment to carers. Delays in processing applications can cause additional stress for carers who are already under immense pressure because of their caring roles. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Government's commitment to carers will be realised? In particular, will he confirm that there will be a dramatic reduction in waiting times in the processing of applications for carer's benefit and carer's allowance?

The programme for Government also contains a commitment to address the future sustainability of rural GP practices. We have been warning about this for a long time. We have spoken about the lack of services in rural Ireland in the past five years. We have highlighted the crisis that is developing in general practice in many rural areas. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to examine the use of tax instruments and other incentives. The programme provides that "the HSE will be mandated to employ GPs on a salaried basis where needed".

Will the Taoiseach confirm if work has begun on these tax incentives? Has the HSE been mandated to employ salaried GPs in areas such as Bansha, west Clare and other rural communities?

I refer to Deputy Howlin's comments earlier and the heads of the domestic violence Bill which were published last July. What is the scheduling for this Bill?

The health information and patient safety Bill has been on various legislative programmes for more than a decade. What is remarkable about it is that it has made it every time on to the schedule. Its durability and resilience is due to the consistency of some official in the Department of Health. However, it never has made it beyond being listed. Will this legislation be published before the summer recess? What is the story with it?

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