Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the return of children to school, in particular, the 100% return of children with special needs. Parents of children with special needs require assurances. I do not think the union, Fórsa, acted fairly towards them given that children were off school for two months.This is almost the only country in the western world where that happened. The unions need to give assurances to parents that this will not happen again no matter what happens in the country and that we will not have a situation in which children with special needs are not in school. I have been speaking to parents and parents' groups. Parents want those assurances from the unions.

I would also like to speak on the issue of vaccination centres. A list was announced last week which included the Longford Slashers GAA complex in my county. I found out this week that the HSE said that complex is not suitable. County Longford is the only county without a vaccination centre in place or identified. The people of my county want assurances and want the issue dealt with immediately.

Planning permission was recently announced for a major extension project at St. Joseph's care centre in County Longford. An investment of more than €5 million was announced by the then Minister, Deputy Harris, two years ago. We met with Longford Hospice Homecare at that time and we got a commitment from the then Minister that there would be facilities for Longford Hospice Homecare in the building but that has not happened. Planning permission has been announced but there are not sufficient services for a voluntary organisation that does huge work in my county and throughout the country.

I ask the HSE meets with Longford Hospice Homecare and ensure it has the facilities it needs to look after the people and families in the county at a very tough time in their lives and that this is dealt with immediately.