Dáil debates

Thursday, 16 December 2021

Covid-19: Statements (Resumed)

 

1:45 pm

Photo of Patricia RyanPatricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh na hAirí ar deis leo thabhairt ar an ábhar seo.

I would like to raise the plight of community groups and the difficulties they are facing during the pandemic. They have kept operating, in most cases, in very difficult circumstances. The Government needs to do more to help them. They are saving the State a fortune and, in some cases, are saving lives. For instance, our first responders are ordinary men and women giving up their time to help communities to cope with the gaps in the ambulance service. I recently asked a parliamentary question about the funding provided to first responder groups throughout the country and the answer I received stated that community first responder groups fundraise for themselves within the communities in which they serve making them completely self-sufficient. The answer, in effect, is not one red cent comes from the Government to provide funding for those first responder groups. That is scandalous. What do they receive? They receive ambulance cast-offs for equipment and the odd voucher for training. Every community group is struggling to fund-raise. The first responders groups are no different and yet we expect them to get out of bed at 3 a.m. to provide assistance to somebody having a heartache. It is not right. It needs to be fixed. I know at first hand what it is like as I am a first responder.

Many groups that provide assistance and support to our older people have had the same difficulty with fundraising. Our older people have been isolated enough during the pandemic. Please do not continue to give them the cold shoulder. They should not have to rely on the crumbs from the property tax nominations of our councillors. There are groups helping our older people to age in place, which leads to better outcomes for everyone and saves the State money. Our older people have given a lifetime of service and paying tax and they deserve to see a return of that investment.

On the subject of our schools, we had an announcement of funding of sorts earlier this week. Clarity is needed. I believe the forms refer to 2022-23 expenditure. Schools need to know if they are to buy HEPA filters at the expense of next year's necessary repairs. Clarification on this would be appreciated.

Finally, we need to see some clarity from the Government. There are more mixed messages this minute than there are at supermarket tills before Christmas week. I have a gospel choir in Monasterevin where I live and they all sing off the one hymn sheet. The Government is singing off no hymn sheet. It is ridiculous. The confusion adds to the anxiety of parents, teachers and business owners. God knows, we have enough anxiety around as it is. The Government must get the messaging right. There must be fewer reactionary comments and more forward planning. It should share the science behind the decisions and perhaps people will be more understanding.

I wish everybody a very happy Christmas. Thanks for everything.

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