Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

Could the Leader obtain a brief on developments in primary care in the community from the Health Service Executive, especially with regard to primary care teams? I am anxious to know what supports and incentives are in place to encourage such developments. I understand that many professionals are participating in discussions on how the primary care teams can work together and develop but that there are difficulties regarding the details of the cost of the development and whether we are expecting the professionals not alone to provide their professional services and supports but also to come up with the money for ensuring these developments proceed. A huge amount of discussion is taking place but I understand there is no clarity about the financial package for such developments. I hope the Leader can obtain details about this.

I have raised the issue of housing and the homeless on numerous occasions in the House. I am especially concerned about recent media reports regarding bed availability and the concerns of some of the service providers about funding. My understanding is that there are many beds and plenty of money in the system but there are service shortfalls due to pressure points and bottlenecks in the system that must be dealt with. These are not necessarily concerned with the substantive issue of homelessness and providing a bed or a roof for a person living on the street but with dealing with vulnerable people such as those with intellectual disabilities, addiction problems and so forth. There are many issues involved.

Will the Leader arrange a debate on housing, homelessness and the issues I mentioned? We need to talk to the people providing the services on the street and participating in the outreach programmes. They have their finger on the pulse and know what is required. We can discuss the issue in the House but we need to bring those people in. I listened with interest to Senator Leyden's comments about reforming the procedures of the House. Perhaps the Leader will come back to Members in the future with an updated report on Seanad reform. I concur with the view, however, particularly with regard to a discussion on homelessness, that we must bring in the service providers who can give us an accurate account of the issues we must address to resolve the problems.