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

I want to raise two issues that I have raised before on which progress has not been made. First is the imminent closure of the Mater Hospital long Covid clinic as a result of a HSE decision not to fund its work. Frankly, I find this decision inexplicable. I have written to the Taoiseach on this and I know Dr. Jack Lambart has done so too. The Taoiseach previously undertook to investigate the matter. What progress has been made? Is it the intention of the Minister or the HSE to respond formally to the Mater's request?

I also raise the transfer of disability functions from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. No progress has been made by either Department in the distribution of emergency one-off funding for services announced in September's budget as a consequence of the protracted delay in concluding the transfer. It was the Taoiseach's view last month that the transfer would be brought to a conclusion quickly and that the additional funding and resources would follow. That has not happened. The services concerned are in desperate straits. Will the transfer be completed by the end of this month?

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