Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As this is my first time to rise since the recess it would be remiss of me not to mention the biggest issue we face, not just as a country but globally, which is the cost of living. We acknowledge that the Government has very successfully led the country through Covid and that we have emerged in a stronger and more economically viable position than we thought we would have. A lot of this was down to the prudent management of our finances and, of course, the leadership of the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin. We need all of that energy, drive and support now to support families, households, businesses and community buildings such as schools through the energy crisis. We need to have a very significant package announced in the upcoming budget to be able to support all of those. I have every confidence we can, but we need to send a very strong message here that we need every level of support we can possibly give to all those I mentioned.

This month is World Alzheimer's Month. I thank colleagues who gathered together this morning to show cross-party support for investment we need at budget time also. When we consider the impact of dementia in Ireland, almost 500,000 families are affected. Every day 30 people are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and some of those are in their 30s, 40s and 50s. It is very important we continue to invest in day care, homecare and extra supports that families and those living with dementia need. There will be a Memory Walk next Sunday, 18 September, throughout the country. I encourage Members of this House and of the Dáil to get involved. Our own walk in Kildare will be at the Curragh, starting at 3 p.m. We are doing it in memory of a very special lady, Marie Conlon, who was the former chair of the Kildare branch of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and whose own mother had dementia. We are doing this in memory of Marie and to raise funds for our first full-time permanent Alzheimer's centre, which will be in Kildangan. We look forward to that and I encourage anyone who can to get involved.

The other issue I want to mention is around Therapists For Change. Thousands of psychotherapists who are very qualified live here in Ireland. Unfortunately, unless they have a secondary degree, the HSE will not give them work. We therefore have a situation where people who have qualified and trained at their own expense cannot be contracted by the HSE for the very vital and important hours we need. We are all aware and hear about the waiting lists in our communities for people to access the talk therapy they need. In many instances we find that people are being given medication, which should not be the case. Talk therapy should be first. CORU has been tasked with registering the psychotherapists and so on but nothing has happened. It has not opened for registration. It is particularly difficult for students who are studying these courses now and do not know whether they will have an opportunity to have a career in this area. It is important to ask CORU to open that registration.