James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I point out to Senator Billy Lawless that while optometrists can deliver very valuable services, there are also many that they cannot. Outpatients departments cover the entirety of services, which is why they provide a slightly more expensive service.

I would like to make some quick responses to the comments made by the leader of Fianna Fáil in the House on the issue of housing. Senator Catherine Ardagh claims that she has not seen a sod turned in her constituency. I am happy to report that I have seen numerous sods turned in my constituency, including for the many affordable and social houses being built in my village of Lusk, complete with solar panels. The leader of the Labour Party in the House meanwhile has stated the Government has missed an opportunity to invest in health services. The Department of Health will now have the largest budget in its history. There will also be an increase in the budget for housing and the Department of Education and Skills, with a huge increase of 1,000 in the number of new special needs assistants. There will be more teachers and a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio. As the Leas-Chathaoirleach requested, I will not labour too much on the budget, but there will also be a huge investment in mental health services. I call on the Minister for Health to ensure 16 to 18 year olds will all be catered for by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, CAMHS. Although this is HSE policy, it is not always the case and the position has to be corrected as a matter of urgency. Furthermore, there are children who are still being catered for in adult mental health facilities. This is not acceptable and must also be addressed as a matter of urgency.

I welcome many of the changes made in the budget, but I will stick to the ones I find particularly positive. Senator Billy Lawless mentioned the sugar tax and what had happened in Chicago. We must stand firm against the vested interests of the multinationals. As the Senator will be aware, it would not be the first time we were faced with legal and political threats from vested interests. I am not referring to the sugar industry in this instance but to the tobacco industry which has left no stone unturned in intimidating this and many other smaller countries.Our public health service and our public health policy is a matter for this country. We have a duty of obligation to protect our citizens, particularly our children. I welcome the sugar tax, the sun bed tax and the increased tax on cigarettes.

Last week, I raised the issue of prescription charges in the hope that they would be abolished or, at least, that progress would be made in that regard. I welcome that the Minister has commenced that process and I hope that he will continue on the pathway towards their abolition.