Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
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Tá an chéad ábhar eile in ainm an tSeanadóra Cosgrove. Ní mór dúinn fanacht leis an Aire Stáit.

Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Higgins. The timing of my Commencement matter today could not have been more appropriate because this Saturday is World MS Day. This is observed worldwide, including in Ireland. World MS Day raises the awareness of the needs of people living with multiple sclerosis and their families. It is an opportunity to highlight the work of the professionals who work with and care for people with multiple sclerosis. It is also an opportunity for those with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones to acknowledge the full lives they still enjoy through events that will take place are all around the county. A lot will be happening all around this country this weekend.

I raised this a number of months ago. MS Ireland organised a briefing in the audiovisual room in Leinster House yesterday. I do not know whether the Minister of State was in attendance. There were many representatives on various different issues present. Two representatives were from Sligo, where there is a continued absence of services. Sligo and Leitrim are the only counties that do not have a dedicated multiple sclerosis community worker. This is alarming because Sligo, Leitrim and that region have the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the country. Yet, they do not have a dedicated community worker.

It is estimated that some 300 people in Sligo and Leitrim are living with multiple sclerosis. This is an estimate because most people become known to MS Ireland through a community worker who works on the ground. A total of 122 individuals have made themselves known to MS Ireland. They have been accessing services through neighbouring counties, such as Donegal. Donegal has been particularly generous with its resources to help these people.

Everyone’s experience of living with multiple sclerosis is different. There are different levels of support based on the different needs. The role of community workers - I know this from working as one - is pointing, directing and signposting people with diagnoses to available services and assisting with grant applications. Their role is important.

One of the first representations I received as a Senator was from a young woman in Sligo who has multiple sclerosis. She needed an adaptation for her car. As there is no dedicated community worker in Sligo, she reached out to me and I was able to link in with Donegal. There is a real absence in this regard. MS Ireland submitted a business plan to the Department in 2025. I wish to find out what stage that business case is at and whether there is any update on it. These people are being discriminated against based on their location, especially given that Sligo and Leitrim have the highest incidence of multiple sclerosis. The estimated cost – this has not increased in the year since it first submitted it - is €72,997. That is all it is looking for. Its role is vital in people’s lives, particularly when it comes to the initial diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. I am seeking an update in this regard.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Cosgrove for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity to respond. I met MS Ireland recently and we discussed the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sligo and Leitrim. The Senator is correct that an updated business case was submitted by MS Ireland for the recruitment of a multiple sclerosis community worker for the Sligo-Leitrim region. This was received and reviewed by local disability services management on 10 October 2025. The proposal was subsequently escalated to the head of service for disability services for consideration. At present, however, there is still no specific funding allocation within the HSE disability services’ budget to support the establishment of this post. It has not, therefore, been possible to progress recruitment at this stage.

Notwithstanding this, a range of supports are currently in place for individuals with multiple sclerosis in the Sligo-Leitrim area. The HSE physical and sensory disability service provides case co-ordination and social work support. While the case co-ordinator has been on statutory leave, it is anticipated that this leave will be ending shortly. Full case co-ordination service should resume from July.

The HSE physical and sensory disability service also provides for the delivery of home support and personal assistant services, based on assessed individual need. The MS North West Therapy Centre is funded annually by the HSE through a service arrangement. It delivers a comprehensive range of supports, including individual physiotherapy; telehealth consultations; exercise and rehabilitation programmes, including online classes; equipment assessments; psychological and well-being supports, including counselling and meditation; alternative therapies, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and reflexology; and peer support and foot care services.In addition, individuals may access a range of HSE community services, including occupational therapy and orthotics, as required.

Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for the response. It is disappointing to hear that the role has not been prioritised. Is it because we have such a wonderful MS therapy centre in the north west? It is fantastic. It is an amazing centre. It is a very different role from that of the community worker. Not only is the community worker's role about signposting and looking at resources; a community worker is also in charge of fundraising. The north west - Sligo and Leitrim - is missing out on significant funding. This weekend in particular there will be loads of fundraising activities happening all across the country, but because we do not have a community worker in Sligo we are going to miss out on that. It is a double whammy. I reiterate the importance of the community worker's role. I accept there is a physical and sensory disability team and the MS therapy centre but they are very different roles. I wonder if the Minister of State could do anything at all to push it up. It was very evident in the presentation in the audiovisual room yesterday how much of a disadvantage we are at in Sligo and Leitrim by not having someone in this role.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Senator Cosgrove is right. There are wonderful supports available through MS Ireland in her region. It provides a range of supports in the community for people with MS, but also for their families, which is really important too. MS Ireland plays an important role when it comes to supporting, educating and advising persons with MS and their families from diagnosis right throughout their journey. Specifically on the north west and Sligo and Leitrim in particular, I confirm that the HSE does remain committed to working with stakeholders, including MS Ireland, to explore opportunities that would enhance service provision for people in the region with MS. That is subject to the availability of resources.

I will just take a moment to wish people a very happy World MS Day on Saturday. I thank all of the volunteers and community support workers up and down the country who have given so much of their time to organise events that will be happening throughout the weekend in many counties. I wish them the very best of luck, every success and hopefully a little bit of sunshine for their events.