Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The request has gone in. We would be delighted to get the Minister, Deputy Harris, if he can make himself available in the coming weeks, but it may be the Minister, Deputy McEntee, if it does not happen. We certainly get somebody on those important topics.

I would agree with the Senator that the level of reservists, in terms of the Reserve Defence Force and the Garda Reserve, and the volunteerism that we have benefited from as a country over so many decades is certainly in decline. Numbers have reduced considerably in both organisations to the detriment of communities and it is in all of our interests to make sure that those organisations work.

The impact of the housing crisis and the accommodation being given to Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants is putting considerable pressure on the tourist sector. I believe that was on the front page of the Irish Independentyesterday. It has been raised in many local authorities. There is a particular issue in my own area as well, in County Mayo. I am aware that in Kerry and Donegal there are significantly higher numbers because of the timing of it. We faced the most pressure in terms of people coming into the country at a time when, because of the seasonal nature of the business, many hotels in these counties had vacancies and had beds. Needs must. We had to give people somewhere to stay, and to house people. However, it will put pressure on. Obviously, those providing the accommodation are getting paid. They will get paid from the Department. It is lucrative, from what I understand, and it is consistent. It is quite easy to manage.It is an easy space to be in for accommodation providers. The issue is with the ancillary or knock-on business such as the coffee shop, souvenir shop, pub or restaurant. They rely on tourists coming in with money in their back pocket to spend locally. I think we can all accept that for this tourist season of 2023, we are where we are and that accommodation is not going to be available this year. We need to hear from the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as to what her plans are for the tourism sector for next year and the year after and what the plan is for housing people so they are not taking up tourist accommodation. The request has gone into her office and we are awaiting a response. I have requested that she come before the House next Thursday, as she is not available on the Wednesday. We will get a date for that debate, be it in the form of statements or motion. We will ensure the issue is heard because many Members raised it again yesterday. We have foresight now on an issue that will become an even greater problem next year. We should do something about it when we have the opportunity to do so. I understand that the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media is also dealing with the matter and it is being debated by members of that committee as well. We will look to get that addressed in the House.

Senator Paddy Burke asked for a debate on health services. We will get the Minister in at the earliest opportunity. There are significant issues in many emergency departments across the country, Castlebar being one of them. I am aware of the calls for people not to come into the hospital unless they absolutely have to. We should not really be telling people to stay away. If they need to come in, they need to come in. There is also an issue with cancer services in the region. There was a public meeting in Galway on Monday night last, which I attended with many Oireachtas Members and councillors from across the region, where the need for a new facility in UHG was raised. That hospital serves the entire region, from Galway right up to the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal and everywhere in between. The most complex care is provided in Galway for those patients but the facilities are outdated and not fit for purpose. The staff and the care are second to none but the facilities they are operating out of are not. I encourage Members to visit if they can because it is quite eye-opening to see the mismatch of prefabs and buildings that were supposed to be temporary or were put in 60 years ago or more and are still being used.

There are calls locally for a brand-new cancer centre. I am pleased that it is the only cancer centre in the national development plan. There has been progress in advancing the site. The HSE board has signed off on the strategic assessment for the site and that is now with the Department of Health for progress. We await the appointment of a design team and funding for same, hopefully in the coming weeks. We would hope to see the project progressed at the earliest opportunity. It brings into question the onerous task of moving through the public spending code because this is a project that will cost well in excess of €200 million and will be required to go through all stages. It takes far too long - a minimum at the minute of seven years - to bring a project to its beginning. That is not to completion; that is to start a project. This is something we need to look at. If we want to develop key strategic infrastructure like health services, we need to move through the public spending code at a faster pace. Under the auspices of saving money for the public, we end up with projects costing more because they take longer to deliver. We are not serving anybody with that type of delay.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of the family resource centres and the important work they do. They have been doing fantastic work in many communities, as he rightly said, in assisting those who have come looking for shelter in our country, including Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants. They have been great in reaching out to those families who are very vulnerable and who are trying to get set up in a brand-new country. In my own town of Castlebar, we have a fantastic centre and that is also true right across the country. The request for an increase in core funding is reasonable. The money being talked about is minor in the grand scheme of things. It might be good to table a Commencement matter in the next couple of weeks, just to get the debate started, but I have no doubt that we will debate this in the context of the budget in the coming months.

I take on board the Senator's point about the Tesco workers. I am not familiar with those cases so again, that may be one for a Commencement matter to see what the Minister with responsibility is doing to assist those workers with that particular matter.

Senator Black raised the issue of Israel and Palestine. She said she will circulate a pledge for Members to consider and that there will also be a demonstration that she is asking Members to consider attending.

Senator Wall raised three different issues, including the Not Her Fault campaign and apartment defects. There was a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in recent weeks so it will be some time before we get him back in on that but I know he is working extremely hard to get that scheme moving. It has been funded. It is up and running but I understand there are some teething problems in terms of access and getting it moving at the pace people need it to move at.

The Senator also called for sports facilities to be part of every town plan and said that towns with a population of more than 5,000 should have a sports facility assigned in the plan. He also raised the issue of national register for AEDs and the important role they play in keeping people safe in communities.

Senator Keogan spoke about the pre-legislative scrutiny of the safe access zone legislation. That work is being done by a cross-party Oireachtas committee. We can take it that that work has been done diligently, which I note it has been. It is a contentious issue. There will never be agreement on this. There are calls for safe access zones, not to restrict people's right to assemble, freedom of expression or speech or freedom of religion, but to protect people accessing health services. If someone is going to debate the legitimacy of public policy or legislation, the place to do that is where that policy and legislation is put together and that is here, not outside hospitals. I understand there are different views on the issue and I respect that.

Senator Carrigy spoke about the GAA and the premium pay service. This issue was also raised yesterday. Most Members yesterday took a different view to him but I respect the level of involvement he and his family have had with the GAA over many years.

Senator Maria Byrne wished the three students of Laurel Hill Secondary School well. They are heading on to the final now so I wish them well on that. Hopefully they get all the way. I agree with the Senator's comments about TII saying it would take years to bring in contactless payments. That is unusual because even at the smallest level, local sports clubs can do contactless payments now when they are doing a raffle. If they can manage it everywhere else, I do not understand what the delay is there. Maybe there is a cost issue but people expect to be able to pay by card now. If someone is paying by cash on the bus they sometimes pay a bit more and there is probably a little bit of extra money coming in because of it because they do not do change. I do not know if that is a factor but there is no excuse for taking so long.

It is great to see that the pyrite scheme in Limerick has been successful and that 18 homes are being remedied. I send my best wishes to those individuals and families who are getting their homes corrected.

Senator Boylan asked for statements on the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. We will get those statements at the earliest opportunity. I commend Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, who is the chair of the assembly and the citizens who took part in that work. I heard her on the farming segment on RTÉ radio a few weeks ago discussing the work. I know a lot of work went into all of the hearings. Many hours of work went into putting that report together and it is a really important piece of work. They did a fantastic job. I look forward to that debate in the House. I think there will be a lot of interest in it, in debating the report's findings and even in the negative comments. We need to hear that stuff and hear what we are not doing well and what we can do better.

Senator Lombard asked for a debate on food inflation and called for primary producers not to suffer when getting food costs back down to where they need to be.

Finally, Senator McGahon spoke about rural regeneration and the millions of euro from the Department of Social Protection that have gone to communities across the country. He suggested that there should be open competition between villages and towns to access the money. I disagree with the Senator on that front. Local authorities should have a coherent plan based on evidence and reason and there should be a reason a project is advanced in a particular area. It should be done in consultation with the local community. It is not a good idea to pitch one village against another that may be slightly better organised but that may not be the best place for the project. It is a matter for the local representatives to work with council management in ensuring every part of the local authority area gets its fair share of funding and the projects are advanced everywhere, not just in those areas that speak the loudest.