Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

First, I welcome the establishment of the Citizens' Assemblies on the directly elected mayor for Dublin and biodiversity. However, I have raised previously with the Taoiseach the fact that key agencies such as the National Biodiversity Data Centre are underfunded and understaffed. They are not even underpinned by legislation. That needs to be sorted out as a matter of urgency.

Equally urgent is the need for a citizens' assembly on the future of education. That was manifestly the case during the whole leaving certificate debate and debacle. There is also the issue of a citizens' assembly on drug use. I am very concerned that there has been a notable row-back by the Department of Health, with intervention by the HSE moving key services and supports away from their community focus. I am very concerned at the lack of capacity and focus, particularly on the issue of recovery. For example, despite the lack of capacity in recovery care, the HSE does not plan to reopen Keltoi drug rehabilitation beds at St. Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park. That decision is madness at a time when one cannot get a detox or recovery bed for a person in dire need.

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