Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to second Senator Gavan's motion on the Tesco workers. Shame on anybody who does not support it.

As regards Senator Leyden's point, the Dublin Mountains were to be sold off by Coillte. As a little reminder his colleague, Bertie Ahern, was involved in that about five years ago.

The Children's Rights Alliance launched its 2017 report card this morning as it has done this for the past nine years. It is a report on how children are faring in Ireland today. The CRA has given access to mental health services a grade D minus. Although it comes as no surprise, child homelessness gets a shameful grade E, which is bottom of the league.

Medical cards, which were a big issue about two years ago, got a grade D. Medical cards are now granted to all children who qualify for the domiciliary care allowance. This is a positive step, although it took a while for parents to obtain that right. However, the Minister should sort out the unnecessary and traumatising annual application process, given that they are subsequently allowed on appeal. In 2016, 1,198 applications were refused, while 90% of them were subsequently revised and allowed on appeal. This occurs year in, year out. It seems that the process is deliberately designed to sap the will of parents who are already struggling and exhausted. I ask the Minister to hurry up the HSE's plan for this scheme. The Minister should attend this House to update Members on the expected passage through the Oireachtas of the relevant legislation. If that could be done it would be much appreciated.