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Seanad Éireann Vol. 267 Wednesday, No. 9 9 October 2019 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 09/10/2019A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 520 09/10/2019A00300Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 522 09/10/2019A00350Childcare Services Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 522 09/10/2019C00200Hospital Overcrowding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 525 09/10/2019D00250Hospital Staff Recruitment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 528 09/10/2019D00550Army Barracks Closures � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 529 09/10/2019G00100An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 532 09/10/2019Q00200Health and Childcare Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Order for Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � 552 09/10/2019Q00600Health and Childcare Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 553 09/10/2019T00250Health and Childcare Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � 560 09/10/2019AA00100Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Decisions on Supervision Measures) Bill 2019: Committee and Re- maining Stages� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 562 09/10/2019BB00300Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019: Order for Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 564 09/10/2019BB00600Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 564 09/10/2019GG00700Parent’s Leave and Benefits Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 575 09/10/2019KK00100Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 576 09/10/2019LL01600Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 579 09/10/2019LL01900Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 579 09/10/2019SS00400Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Committee Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 590 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 9 Deireadh Fómhair 2019 Wednesday, 9 October 2019 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 09/10/2019A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad 09/10/2019A00200An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee that, on the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to make a statement on the planning process for the provision of childcare facilities� I have also received notice from Senator Kieran O’Donnell of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the measures being taken to address the overcrowding in the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick� I have also received notice from Senator Maria Byrne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on the appointment of a neu- rology clinical nurse specialist for the UL Hospitals Group� I have also received notice from Senator Diarmuid Wilson of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Defence to make a statement on his plans for the former Dún Uí Neill Army Barracks in Cavan town� I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the introduction of the pharmacy-based minor aliment scheme� I have also received notice from Senator Colette Kelleher of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to make a statement on the gaps in ac- cess to school places for children with autism, with particular reference to the data compiled by the National Council for Special Education� 520 9 October 2019 I have also received notice from Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the review of the inclusion of the FreeStyle Libre in the reimbursement of medical devices under the community drug scheme� I have also received notice from Senator Kevin Humphreys of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to make a statement on the purchase by Iarnród Éireann of additional carriages for the Intercity network� I have also received notice from Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on the consultation process undertaken by his Department following applications for aquacul- ture licences in a special area of conservation� I have also received notice from Senator Catherine Noone of the following matter: The need for the Minister of State with special responsibility for local government and electoral reform to provide an update on the review of the role and remuneration of local authority elected members� I have also received notice from Senator Jennifer Murnane O’Connor of the following mat- ter: The need for the Minister of State with special responsibility for disability issues to provide an update on the provision of a new building for the Holy Angels Day Care Centre in Carlow� I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to make a state- ment on the current status of the final accounts for Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and the potential financial exposure to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as a result of the transfer of the company to the council� I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the acquisi- tion of a new site for Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile, Kinsale, County Cork. I have also received notice from Senator Lynn Ruane of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to make a statement on the continua- tion of Colasite Lú, County Louth, as an Irish medium school. Of the matters raised by the Senators suitable for discussion, I have selected Senators Clif- ford-Lee, O’Donnell, Byrne and Wilson and they will be taken now. I regret that I had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Noone on the ground that it is a repeat of a Commence- ment matter raised on 28 May 2019� The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise� 521 Seanad Éireann 09/10/2019A00300Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters 09/10/2019A00350Childcare Services Provision 09/10/2019A00400Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, for coming in. I hope he will not mind me saying that I am disappointed the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, is not here. I believe she has a budget press conference at 12 noon but it is only 10�30 a�m� I would have hoped that she would have come into the Chamber to discuss this important issue but I thank the Minister of State for his presence� I hope he will be able to give me some answers and maybe convey the message that I am going to relay today� I live in north County Dublin, which has the youngest and the fastest growing population in the country� There is a severe issue there in regard to the provision of childcare facilities� When I talk about childcare facilities, I am talking about full-time childcare facilities and not sessional facilities. We have some of those, although we could do with more. We have good coverage of the part-time ECCE-funded facilities but I am talking about full-time crèche facili- ties� North County Dublin has a very young population that is growing rapidly� Much hous- ing is being built in the area, particularly in Donabate, where I live, and in Lusk. That brings families, people starting families or people who have children. They are moving into areas in the expectation that there will be crèche facilities but that is not the case. What we are finding is that developers have been granted planning permission for hundreds of houses on the basis that they will provide a crèche in the development� People buy their houses, and spend a lot of money on them, with the promise that there will be a crèche on their doorstep� What is happening is that the second phase of a development might have to go to An Bord Pleanála and the requirement for a crèche is being taken out at An Bord Pleanála level, or at local authority level. Instead, a proposal for more and denser housing provision is submit- ted and, suddenly, the community is without the childcare facility it expected to have. When that happens three or four times in
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