Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Just before the summer recess, and just after it, I asked that the Leader arrange a debate on perinatal care. A number of Senators from across the House attended a good briefing on the matter this summer. I wonder whether in the next couple of weeks the Leader could find time to schedule that because it would be an important debate. I will leave that with him but I ask him to try to find time for it.

I have raised on four occasions the vacancy in the area of paediatric cystic fibrosis at Temple Street Children's Hospital, where 94 children attend on a regular basis for cystic fibrosis physiotherapy. I raised it directly with the Minister, Deputy Reilly, when he was here. My colleague, Deputy Kelleher, has tabled parliamentary questions on the matter. As I stated, I have raised it here on two separate occasions with the Minister and also with the Leader. I am glad the Minister responded by saying that the vacancy would be filled, but he provided no timeframe. The post has been vacant since the start of September. The Minister also said, to this House and to me - this is where I want clarification - that children who require cystic fibrosis physiotherapy will be seen. A number of parents have been in touch with me about this, and that is not true at all. One of the parents with whom I was involved had an appointment on 10 October, and that appointment was cancelled. Other parents have also had their appointments for necessary physiotherapy treatment for their children cancelled. As anyone who is familiar with cystic fibrosis will be aware, early intervention can extend the lifespan of an affected child substantially. The only circumstance in which treatment is available to children at Temple Street hospital for cystic fibrosis physiotherapy is when the child presents him- or herself to the accident and emergency unit following an attack or if his or her ailment is deteriorating significantly. There is still no service available in the hospital for the 94 children who require this treatment. I have written to the Minister again today because in his Dáil reply and in the reply he gave here he stated that those children would be seen, but they are not being seen and their appointments are being cancelled. I ask the Leader, through his good office, to raise this as a matter of urgency. We all recognise the importance of looking after our children, particularly those with such a debilitating illness as cystic fibrosis. We need urgency injected immediately into this matter. I will seek further clarification from the Minister but if I am not getting responses, I intend to raise it continually.

On the so-called reforms of local government announced today by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, it is advisable that people get an opportunity to look at the report.

It was only announced today, between 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. I ask the Leader, well in advance of the legislation being published, to arrange for this House to debate in detail with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the findings and recommendations of the report. I also ask that the debate be arranged for this week, given that our schedule is light. There would be ample time on Thursday to debate these matters. The abolition of town councils and town commissioners is not reform. Reform of local government is needed. This would be the right Chamber in which to debate the report well in advance of the legislation being published. It appears that the report has been written as a sop to the Labour Party because it proposes an increase in the numbers of councillors in urban areas to offset potential losses the party might suffer in the 2014 local elections. Leaving all that aside, an early debate on this issue is appropriate and I suggest it be held on Thursday. We do not need to wait weeks to have the debate. There will be statements on social welfare on Thursday, following which at 2.15 p.m. the House is due to rise. The Fianna Fáil group would be more than happy to sit late on Thursday to debate the issue of local government reform with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.