Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 11 Members for their contributions to the Order of Business. I agree with Senator Ardagh that we all need to take time to become familiar with the issue of the epidermolysis bullosa awareness week and the impact that it has on children. The Senator beautifully described them as butterfly children. We should all join with her in her advocacy and ensure that there is a pathway of care for young children with rare diseases and conditions. I commend the Senator for raising the matter. On the allocation of home help hours and home care packages, we all share the overarching desire to see people's quality of life improve, in particular older people. That is why the State values the home support service which is at the core of what the HSE is doing for older people. It is worth indicating that, in monetary terms, the home support service budget has grown from a base of €306 million in 2015 to over €420 million. In saying that, it is important to acknowledge that the need is growing and that more people are looking to have home help hours allocated to them, as well as extensive home care packages. The 2018 HSE service plan provides for the allocation of over 17 million home help hours to 50,500 people. The Minister for Health has also secured a significant increase in the health budget. I hope, therefore, that the Department and the HSE will continue to improve existing services. If there is a blockage - to be fair, many of us understand there is a delay in the approval of some home care packages - there is a need to streamline the application process to make it user-friendly. I hope we can make that happen sooner rather than later. The point made by Senator Ardagh is valid, but it is worth noting, as I said, that there has been a significant increase in the budget for home care services.

I join the Senator in highlighting the issue of domestic violence. While she did not reference the decision on sentencing in one of the courts yesterday, we must always encourage the victims of domestic violence or child abuse to come forward and speak with clarity and authenticity. While the ordeal of having to go before a court can be horrifying, it is important that all of us involved in public life support victims who as citizens of this republic deserve our support and empathy. They have a story to tell and need support to tell it. It is important that we encourage them to do so.

Senators Craughwell, Reilly and Lombard referred to a number of schools, in particular Ardgillan community college which is a source of major concern. I, too, commend the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, his Department and the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board for being proactive in dealing with the matter. It is of huge concern that a school built between 2007 and 2010 is today a source of worry in terms of the health and safety of the students and staff. The Minister's first priority is to ensure their welfare and safety. We all hope it was not a case of corners being cut or a compromise being reached in terms of the structure of the school. As Senator Lombard rightly said, parents and staff want to know promptly about the issues involved. It is welcome that the Minister having carried out a programme of safety assessments at the different schools, one of which is in my constituency. It is a source of worry and the utmost clarity is required. It is welcome that the Minister and the Department have engaged the services of a project manager and a full technical team to organise and oversee remedial works required arising from the assessments. I hope the cost will not be borne by the State, but that is not a matter for me to decide today.

Senator Craughwell referred to the Defence Forces. As he knows, in 2015 the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, commissioned the White Paper on the Defence Forces.It was a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces and defence policy and involved a major engagement with a variety of stakeholders. I welcome the proactivity of the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, who acknowledges that the Defence Forces face challenges in recruitment and retention. He does not operate in an ivory tower but is a hands-on Minister of State who is acutely aware of the importance and value of the Defence Forces. A public pay commission was established for this reason and it is also why members of the Defence Forces are rightly having their pay restored under the FEMPI legislation and some of the other pay agreements.

The Minister of State has also pushed for a White Paper to be published expeditiously to target the skills gaps in the Defence Forces. I think Senator Craughwell will also agree that the extra €47 million for the Defence Forces in budget 2019, of which €6 million is for the pay and conditions of our Defence Forces personnel, is to be welcomed.