Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise today in anger and frustration. I am sure every Member of the House feels the same about the ongoing saga of the spending of taxpayers' money on infrastructure associated with this complex. I am talking about the bike shelter and "security pavilion", as it is being described. It would be laughable if it were not so serious. I am furious and livid over this. I am dealing with community groups, families and individuals who are struggling with the cost of living. It is entirely unacceptable that the OPW or any arm of the State would spend taxpayers' money with such a laissez-faire attitude and abandon. The OPW is charged with looking after our State facilities and has a huge responsibility, within which is the Moore Street national monument, which it has yet to demonstrate real and obvious progress on. This House needs to bring the Minister with responsibility for the OPW in here to engage with us on this very serious matter, which is engaging all of our citizens.

I commend the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who is today bringing to Cabinet proposals to amend the adaptation grant. These grants are incredibly important for people who are living with disabilities and want to continue to live independently in their own homes. The State steps in and helps them financially to adapt their homes and make them comfortable and fit-for-purpose. Grant and threshold incomes are to be increased and the means test is to be amended. This is welcome news and I commend the Government on it.

I urge the Government to push forward on the great progress it has made on women's health. Over the course of its term, we have had free contraception and IVF, gynaecology clinics and the establishment of menopause clinics. The next step that needs to be taken in respect of women's health is to introduce free HRT in the budget next week. I urge the Minister and Government to introduce free HRT so the continuation of a woman's fertility is supported by the State and Government.