I welcome the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to Seanad Éireann. I officially congratulate, on the record, County Mayo on winning the all-Ireland football title. It is a bit delayed but the county is celebrating since the victory. We are a humble people in County Kerry and we are willing to wait another year for our 40th title. I congratulate County Mayo on its title after only 75 years. I thank the Minister for being here today.
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Men's Sheds
Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. Gabhaim buíochas leis as a bheith anseo.
The Minister is very welcome to the House. The topic of men's sheds is one he and I have discussed previously. We are all aware of the truly wonderful organisations they are. The sheds are a place where men can come together in a safe, comfortable environment where they can meet new friends, perhaps reconnect with old friends, learn a new skill or simply put the kettle on and have a cup of tea. It is a wonderful organisation. In my own neck of the woods of Cavan-Monaghan, we have ten sheds in County Cavan and four in County Monaghan. I understand there may be more springing up in both counties shortly.
From a funding perspective, in the overall Government spending pool the amount of funding allocated to men’s sheds is relatively modest but nevertheless, hugely significant to the sheds, which have very limited financial resources to keep going. The funding they get from the Minister's Department each year is hugely significant in that it helps them to keep the lights on, pay for rent if that is an issue or to pay for light or heat or whatever the situation may be. I have been contacted by many sheds in my neck of the woods because some concern or a degree of confusion has arisen in relation to funding for 2026. They are fearful that funding will not be forthcoming and that could potentially result in them having to close shop altogether. That is something that is causing an awful lot of annoyance and concern.
The people who run these sheds are all volunteers and do their best to keep the show on the road. It is hugely important that the Minister has said that the confusion that has arisen in relation to the funding is not factual as the funding is ring-fenced. However, there is some confusion to which I hope the Minister will bring some clarity. He has met the Irish Men’s Sheds Association and another meeting is scheduled for this evening where perhaps we can put the confusion to bed. I would be grateful if the Minister could share that information with me and give reassurance and confidence to the men's sheds both in Cavan and Monaghan and the length and breadth of the country that there is no issue with funding for men's sheds going forward and all his Department is trying to do is streamline and simplify the process whereby men's sheds get funding, which is in everybody's interest.
I wish the Minister well in that regard. We are looking for an assurance that there is basically nothing to see here.
I thank the Cathaoirleach, Senator Daly, for his good wishes and place on the record of the Oireachtas my congratulations and thanks to the Mayo team for the lift they have given us all this year. For a Kerryman to do that is particularly special but even more special is to see Senator Goldsboro back looking hale and hearty. It is so good to have her back and it was great to see her coming in there.
I thank Senator Gallagher for raising the important issue regarding men's sheds and I will include women's sheds in my response. There is no threat to the ongoing funds to local sheds from the Department. We are supportive. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I, and our Department officials are working closely with men's and women's sheds. In fact, we are meeting the Irish Men's Shed Association, IMSA, this evening, which is a long-standing commitment. I am conscious of the role they play. The Senator touched on it and I know it in my locality. I have also engaged with a lot of sheds across the country.
Under the programme for Government, there is a commitment to continue to fund men's and women's sheds and to that end, in addition to the core funding provided by the Department to men's sheds through the IMSA, it is important to note that we provide a range of other supports to individual men's and women's sheds through the local enhancement programme, the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and LEADER.
Since 2018, under the local enhancement programme and its various supports, men's and women's sheds have been allocated over €2.7 million to assist with capital works, building upgrades and the purchase of equipment. We also provide funding directly to the IMSA under the scheme to support national organisations, SSNO. The current iteration of SSNO started a few weeks ago on 1 July last with funding of €297,766 made available to the IMSA over the next three years and six months. In addition, the funding that Senator Gallagher referred to has provided over €2.3 million in current funding directly to the IMSA for onward distribution to individual men's sheds. That figure includes about €700,000 which was paid out earlier this year between January and the end of April.
The IMSA and the Women's Sheds of Ireland have submitted funding proposals to the Department and we are currently reviewing them. However, the Senator spoke about the concerns of volunteers and about the extraordinary work of volunteers in men's sheds across the country. Some of my engagement with them has pointed to the frustration at the form filling and the level of bureaucracy that comes with the funding, as well as the delay in getting that funding directly to men's sheds. We are engaging with the IMSA as to how we can reduce the delay but also how we can control the funding, which is taxpayers' money, while also reducing the bureaucracy and the burden on volunteers. We received a new proposal from the IMSA late last night and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I, will be working through those proposals.
In terms of 2027, as the Senator knows, all funding programmes are subject to the annual budgetary Estimates. They are costed to provide ongoing funding to these groups as part of the negotiation, and I will be in a position to give clarity on this after 6 October. However, I can assure the Senator of my commitment and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer. I also want to put on the record my thanks to the officials in the Department who have worked exceptionally hard on this scheme over the last number of years through challenging times to get funding to sheds and to local sheds in particular. That commitment is real. That commitment from the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I is real and I look forward to my meeting with the IMSA this evening and to building a relationship with the new women's sheds association.
I thank the Minister for that comprehensive and clear response to my question. It is reassuring to know the Minister is a huge fan of men's and women's sheds and I know this from past experience. It is great to see so many of them springing up throughout the length and breadth of the country.
I welcome the fact that proposals have come forward from the Irish Men's Sheds Association, which the Minister is looking at, and he is due to meet them again this evening.
His comments will bring reassurance and clarity to the men's sheds in Cavan and Monaghan that I have been in contact with. I am hopeful we can see a more streamlined process going forward where the funding can get directly to the sheds involved.
I thank Senator Gallagher and the Senators who have approached me. My priority and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is to ensure the allocation and the application process is streamlined for local sheds, that the funding is targeted and is distributed effectively and efficiently. We really want to reduce the stress on volunteers but at the same time this is taxpayers' money that has to be managed and controlled. I look forward to working through the IMSA proposals and bringing absolute clarity to this situation as soon as we can.
I thank the Minister.
Student Visas
While we are waiting for the Minister, I will take this opportunity to give a warm welcome back to Senator Goldsboro. It is great to have her back and I hope she gets plenty of work done over the next few months. It is good to see her back. She is looking very well.
This morning I went to the dentist as I had to get a filling. He gave me an injection. It did not work therefore he gave me three injections so I am half paralysed on my face. He assured me that even an anaesthetic will not shut up a Senator so I will give it my best shot. I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important matter. I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Palestinian ambassador, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, intended to be present but something came up. However, in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, we have Dr. Emma Stokes, who has certainly worked hard on the Palestinian student visa issue, and my colleague, Cillian Walsh, who also is passionate about this issue.
As a university Senator, I am seeking clarity from the Minister for justice on the significant increase in refusals of long-stay student visas for Palestinian nationals, particularly those from Gaza, during 2026. At present, 58 students from Gaza, who have secured their places in higher education institutions and have full practical and financial supports in place, have been refused visas. Of those, 28 hold full university scholarships while others have equivalent support through donors, family sponsorships, fee waivers and other arrangements. It is particularly concerning that 12 recipients of the Government of Ireland scholarships and Ireland-Palestine scholarship programme have been granted visas, while many others with similar or even stronger supports have been refused. These students are attempting to leave a war-torn area to pursue education in safety and their circumstances cannot be compared with those of other international students applying from stable jurisdictions. Yet, they appear to be assessed through the same process. Irish universities and colleges have worked to meet their obligations under our international commitments regarding displaced students and the recognition of the qualifications, however, many of the students are now facing appeals and that can take up to a year. Effectively, that denies them the opportunity of studying in the present academic year.
I have three questions to put to the Minister of State. First, what explains the very significant increase in refusals of Palestinian student visas between 2025 and 2026? In 2025 there were 25 refusals and in 2026 there have been 115 refusals. Second, will the Minister of State examine whether applications from Gaza require a more appropriate approach to documentation and evidence that recognises the extraordinary circumstances in which the students who have got their scholarships are living presently? Third, and perhaps most urgently, will the Minister of State examine a way of expediting the process for appeals so that the fully funded students, whose courses have already commenced or are about to commence, can know the result of their appeals? These are young people who have their whole lives ahead of them and they have earned their university places. They have scholarships and accommodation and they have financial support.
I know from talking to the various institutions – Dr. Emma Stokes has worked with Trinity College for years – that the institutions are waiting to welcome them. We can do so much more in this regard. I thank the Minister of State.
I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. His dentist obviously did a very good job because he was well able to communicate.
I am very much aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza. My Department continues to work closely with our colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure we have a co-ordinated national response to this situation. The Irish Government has been at the absolute forefront, particularly among European governments, in supporting Gaza. The genocide that is taking place in Gaza is appalling and I condemn it in the absolute strongest possible terms. Ireland has been very steadfast in its commitment to the people of Palestine, and that support will continue.
Palestinian nationals are required to have a visa and must have a valid Irish visa before they seek to enter Ireland. It is important to note that visa applications are part of a screening process. I know the Senator is aware of that. The process is designed to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. All such applications undergo this process. There are no special arrangements for Palestinian students, or indeed students in any other conflict zone. There are other conflict zones that somehow do not ever seem to attract the same attention. No change has been made to the criteria that are being applied to the applications. That is the most important thing to put on record here.
Palestinian student visa applications are assessed against the same immigration requirements that we apply to all visa-required nationals seeking to enter Ireland. Each application is considered on its own merits, having regard to all the information, the documentation submitted, the circumstances of the applicant, the purpose of the proposed travel, previous immigration history where relevant and the requirements of Ireland's immigration policy and legislation. It is important to put on record that each application is examined on an individual basis.
The Senator referred to the increase in refusals compared with 2025. The refusal rates reflect the individual circumstances of the applications received rather than any change that we made to the criteria. Applications from Palestinian nationals are examined at first instance by the Embassy of Ireland in Tel Aviv, which processes certain visa applications under delegated sanction on behalf of my Department. Officials in my Department's visa division are in regular contact with the embassy regarding visa applications for residents of Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Both Departments work together to ensure that visa applications from Palestinian nationals who meet the relevant criteria are, wherever possible, processed as swiftly as possible.
Between 1 January 2026 and 15 September 2026, 50 study visa applications from Palestinian nationals were granted. A total of 115 were refused. I cannot comment on individual cases. The reasons for refusal are set out in detail for each applicant. I point out, on behalf of the very dedicated and hard-working staff who do this, that the reasons are not flimsy. Applications are individually assessed and reasons are supplied. However, I believe we need to be sure we have absolute clarity when dealing with vulnerable people in relation to the granting of an academic scholarship to make sure that the understanding exists that the granting of such a scholarship does not mean an automatic right to come to Ireland. That has never been the case.
I remind institutions and their staff who are dealing with vulnerable people in Palestine or, if they choose to, in Sudan, South Sudan or any other conflict zone that we have a duty of care to vulnerable people to explain fully to them how the visa process works. In practice, what is being proposed is that we actually waive visa criteria for individuals who have been selected by third level institutions on criteria that they have set without consultation with the State. The principal factors arising in refused cases have related to applicants' ability to meet established immigration requirements, including documentation and financial requirements, English-language requirements and the conditions attached to a study permission.
It is open to any applicant to appeal the process. Visa appeals are processed by my Department in accordance with established procedures and are considered by visa appeals officers following a full examination of the information. A number of appeals have now been received in respect of recently refused Palestinian student visas.
I thank the Minister of State. I hear what he is saying about there being other war-torn areas, but today I specifically want to deal with the 58 visa refusals for people from Gaza. Yesterday, The Irish Times told the story of 19-year-old Hazem Faris from Gaza. He secured a full scholarship to study computer science in SETU in Waterford. His fees, accommodation and living expenses were covered. He came from Gaza where his home was destroyed. He had been displaced several times. He had lost all his friends and neighbours, yet his visa was refused. Basically, it was refused because there was insufficient documentation. There were gaps in his education, employment history and insufficient evidence of obligations to return to his home country. My fear is that this is a young guy whose home country has been demolished. He has not got the paperwork or the evidence and is therefore judged on that.
The Minister of State mentioned how all cases are treated the same and a scholarship cannot guarantee a visa. However, the Lisbon Recognition Convention, to which Ireland is a party, allows HEIs and other arms to take a different approach. When the Department is looking at a visa application from the likes of Hazem Faris, how does a 19-year-old living through the most awful circumstances provide all of the documentation needed? How does somebody explain their present circumstances when they are coming from the likes of Gaza? I agree that Sudan and other areas are similar, but it is something we have to address.
Unfortunately, I have to begin by saying what the Senator has heard me say quite a few times. I cannot directly address an individual case. It is unfair to a person who is an applicant. It is unfair to ever engage in that type of scenario. We have to have a rules-based system. I know that can sometimes cause people to ask why and why we are doing that, but there has to be an understanding that there is fairness, clarity and a process in place. It is so that if people can go through that process to qualify that they get it and it is not a response to protest, loud voices or the media, but they are getting their visa having followed a due process.
That said, I want to put on record that I would love to see a better system in place when it comes to dealing with this. I would love to see co-ordination between the sectors, and between my Department and the Department of foreign affairs, to look at how we can build out an approach to dealing with this so this type of event does not happen next year or the year after, whether it involves Gaza or any other part of the world. It behoves us all to try to work towards generating that type of solution. We have a rules-based system but I would certainly like to see us working with others to develop a system that helps us deal with this, so we are not back here again in 12 months' time.
I thank Senator McCarthy. That is a really important issue. He mentioned that Irish universities are looking forward to welcoming students. The Irish public is also looking forward to welcoming students from Gaza.
Bus Services
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, for being here. I know he is very committed to rural transport and making sure we have connectivity, which is so important. It does not matter what age somebody is; there is a need for connectivity. The town buses are a wonderful example of that. We have had successful pilot schemes in places like Drogheda, Mullingar, Carlow and Portlaoise. Newbridge, the town I am making the case for, is now one of the largest towns. It is growing and developing rapidly. We have quite good inter-city connections and into Dublin with buses and the railway station.
However, there is a serious lack of connectivity within the town itself. Because of the nature of Newbridge, someone can live in the town but be three miles from the railway station, for example. Anybody living on the bigger estates such as Curragh Grange, Liffey Hall and Belin Woods who wants to commute to Dublin would need to have a second car to go to the train station. Parking spaces in the train station are getting congested. The small travel distances of just a few miles are congesting our roads and streets. It makes absolute sense to have a commuter bus to link the train station, our places of education and work and our shopping and health facilities. I was at the five-year celebration of KDP Ireland in Newbridge last week. One of the directors had driven down from Dublin. He made the point to me that he wanted to come by public transport, being a believer in public transport. He could easily have gotten to the train station but then he would have had a gap of four miles. He would have had to get a taxi, so he drove. In a town bus, I am not just looking for a convenience. It would be a strategic investment in mobility, the economic vitality of the town and safety and social inclusion. There is a strong case for the need for this, which I have outlined. There is a strong case for the benefit. I have spoken to people who keep a second car because they need to be able to access the railway station. There is clear evidence and feasibility there. Thousands of people access the commuter train from Newbridge every day. We want to do everything we can to reduce car dependency. A town bus would support local businesses, cut emissions and improve access to services. I am thinking of people who cannot drive and those who are older or who have a disability. People need to have the second car to access the main transport networks. Not having to get a second car for that speaks for itself. I will hand over to the Minister of State.
I thank the Senator for her ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Newbridge. She makes a very strong case for the town bus and is 100% correct on reducing car dependency. Like her, I am very passionate about accessibility of services and enhanced connectivity, in this case for people of Newbridge to the town. She makes a very good case in respect of the hinterland, which must also be listened to as part of this debate.
The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for the policy piece, but funding and delivery are matters for the NTA. The Senator is right and I will work with her on this. Connectivity is so important and rural transport has been a success. The town bus and commuter bus in Newbridge is, I hope, the next piece of that jigsaw. Working with the NTA and the operators, I hope we will see the delivery of the services. The NTA has that responsibility. I assure the Senator that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney and the whole of Government are committed to providing all of our citizens with reliable, realistic, sustainable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of that goal. In our budget for this year, we have seen significant funding of €940 million for the public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland Local Link services, which has been an increase on the €658 million provided in 2025. More importantly, we are engaging with the NTA on the existing levels of service, in respect of resilience and an issue with driver shortage, which must be addressed to ensure that we can plan for strategic decisions around new routes. The informed debate and decisions will be about that engagement with the NTA.
While we have seen a significant increase in funding to €31 million in 2026, which is a 38% increase, there are gaps.
There are 11 town bus services in Ireland. They are in Kilkenny, Drogheda, Navan, Athlone, Clonmel, Carlow, Portlaoise, Sligo, Balbriggan, Dundalk and Mullingar, and Ennis is planned to start operating next month. Would it not be great to have that in Newbridge? We will look with the NTA at a potential Newbridge town bus service as part of our town bus programme. The NTA is planning new town bus services in both Newbridge and Naas. Public consultation will commence in October and the NTA will provide an online briefing for representatives before that public consultation. I thank the Senator for her advocacy, work and support on that. Representatives of the NTA service planning team will be in Newbridge and Naas for an in-person information public service during that consultation period. There will be an elected public representatives-only slot on the day of one of the public information sessions. This will give those representatives an opportunity to meet the team on more of a one-to-one basis.
The connecting rural Ireland mobility plan is about investment in new and improved public transport services for rural areas, including County Kildare. Under the programme, almost 600,000 people have access to useful daily public transport services for the first time, with 188 new and improved rural regular services provided, resulting in a huge - I think it is fivefold - increase in passenger numbers on rural services. The services provide new transport connections to 41 higher education facilities and 61 healthcare facilities, as well as offering 71 connections to rail services, allowing passengers to connect to the wider TFI network and negating the point the Senator made about the need to buy a second car. The Senator's work and advocacy allow us to make decisions on future programmes and to prioritise the delivery of existing programmes in areas like Newbridge.
I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate his supportive words. I am pleased to hear him say that the NTA is planning new town bus services in Newbridge and in Naas, which is another growing town, and that public consultation will begin in October. It is important that the NTA does a briefing for all public representatives. We all get a lot of responses in relation to this. I look forward to that piece and to the implementation.
Once we have that, I will be looking for a service for Kildare town, which is another growing town. It has nearly a bigger problem because of the car parking spaces at the railway station. If you get there after 7 a.m., you have no parking space. They did some works and actually took away car parking space. There is a huge problem there.
I reassure the Senator and the House that I am fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for current and future generations. The Senator is right that it is about getting away from the car and enhanced connectivity.
The NTA is planning for further phases of the town bus programme, which include Newbridge and Naas, with public consultation taking place in October. I am committed to the expansion of the public transport network and to increasing the service throughout the country, including County Kildare. Congratulations on having the ploughing next year in Rathangan.
Woo-hoo.
The Senator mentioned Kildare town as well. The funding for the new and enhanced services in 2027 will be considered as part of the annual Estimates process.
My good friends, Deputy Michael Murphy in the Public Gallery and Senator Maria Byrne, are here. I would not wish the Deputy to be in the Seanad, even though it is a great place to be.
It is important that we get rural transport and connectivity right in the budget.
The Senator has been a strong champion of County Kildare. I have an affinity having spent five years studying in the county. The Senator is right that Kildare, with Cork, is one of the fastest-growing places in the country. The population base is there. That connectivity piece is there. Deputy Murphy and Senator Byrne will argue for Tipperary and Limerick and Senator Andrews will argue for Dublin but the map will show Kildare and Cork are fast growing.
I want to support the Senator on this. I hope that the Ministers, Deputies O'Brien and Chambers, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, will do so as well. I thank the Senator for what she has said this morning.
I will let the Minister of State off, seeing as it is early in the day.
Excuse me. I did take advantage of the clock.
I am always tripping up with it as well.
I was beating the offside trap.
Like a good Cork footballer.
I welcome Deputy Murphy and his guests to the Visitors Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit. Usually, when visitors are very young, we let them off homework. Do not judge me for making this statement but I suspect they do not have homework, but I am sure he will buy them lunch in the bar or somewhere.
Dental Services
I thank the Minister of State for coming in to answer my question today, which is to do with the funding of oral and dental health. I want to raise the issue of the future of oral health promotion and prevention in Ireland and specifically the work done by Dental Health Foundation Ireland, which is a registered charity. A lot of that work is done on behalf of the Government, where the organisation goes into schools to promote oral health and to teach children the importance of brushing their teeth properly. For almost five decades, the foundation has worked alongside the Government on this. We do a lot of talking in this House about early intervention and keeping people healthier. That is where I am coming from in raising this. I believe that oral health should be treated the same as any other type of health. I sit on the health committee and I note that prevention and early intervention come up as common themes at all our committee meetings. The foundation has been doing a lot of work and the Government's national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte, recognises oral health as an integral part of overall health and well-being and rightly places an emphasis on prevention. Dental Health Foundation Ireland is already doing the work that supports these objectives.
My request to the Minister of State is about the core funding solution for Dental Health Foundation Ireland because I understand it is running out of funding. If it does not receive funding it will have to wind down the work it is doing. It has funding until around November. My concern is that while the foundation is doing great work with children in schools and working with dentists, and is doing great work in promoting the best type of oral health, core funding needs to be distinguished from once-off funding for projects. I ask the Minister of State and the Department to work with the HSE to urgently examine how core funding can be secured for the Dental Health Foundation to continue to do that great work. Recently at the health committee we heard that because of a shortage of dentists they do not get to the school in time and some children go through school without seeing the public dentist unless they go to a private dentist.
I see that intervention piece as being crucial in the interim.
I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address this important issue on oral health promotion and prevention services. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Minister acknowledges the importance of health promotion and disease prevention, and the need for our services to reflect this. The Dental Health Foundation, which the Senator spoke about, is an independent registered charity with a key aim: to support improvement in oral health in Ireland through advocacy and oral health promotion.
The Minister would like to acknowledge the important work that the foundation carried out in its function as the secretariat to the Irish expert body on fluorides and health from 2004 to 2023. The expert body was put in place as an independent group to advise the Minister for Health on issues relating to community water fluoridation in order to discharge the Minister's obligations under the Health Act 1960 to monitor the general health of the population who are receiving fluoridated water. Since 2023, the fluoridation surveillance working group has acquired this function in line with best practice for public health surveillance.
The national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte, which the Senator mentioned, aims to radically reform oral healthcare services, recognising the need for an entirely new approach to oral healthcare to meet the needs of the population into the future. The policy is in line with the 2024 WHO global strategy and action plan on oral health, which has a focus on oral health promotion and prevention.
While reform is progressed through the national oral health policy, the Minister is determined to ease the pressure that people are facing in accessing oral healthcare. In practical terms, this means improving access to the public oral healthcare system, especially for children and medical card holders. Officials in the Department of Health and the HSE are finalising a focused two-year action plan to deliver real improvements on the ground. It will aim to respond to sustained service pressures, workforce constraints and long waiting lists, particularly for children and people with additional needs. It will focus on a small number of clear priorities, including reducing waiting lists in the school dental programme, orthodontics and expanding the access programme for people with additional needs and disabilities. Over the next two years, the aim is to stabilise services, reduce waiting times and make access measurably better for patients while laying the groundwork for longer-term reform.
The HSE has responsibility for operationalising oral health promotion and prevention services and is funded by the Department to do so. Included in this is the need for keeping up to date with modern evidence and best practice. The HSE currently funds the Dental Health Foundation through a grant-aid agreement under sections 38 and 39 of the Health Act 2024. Therefore, matters relating to additional funding for the foundation are appropriate for the HSE to consider in line with business needs, avoidance of duplication, value for money and budgetary processes.
I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response on behalf of the Minister. I appreciate that, at the end of the day, the responsibility lies with the HSE. Nonetheless, I have a concern.
While oral and dental health services are being streamlined, better value for money is being sought and new ways of doing things are considered, my concern is that if the Dental Health Foundation is wound up, there would be no body there to oversee things in the interim period between now and whenever new ways of promoting oral health are in place. There should be some sort of funding to manage that. The Minister of State might bring to the attention of the Minister and the HSE the important work that is being carried out to ensure our children have good dental and oral health. It is really important that the whole education effort should continue.
I have listened to and taken on board the points the Senator raised, including on early intervention, keeping people healthier and, which was her core point, the need for some kind of core funding solution for the Dental Health Foundation. I assure her that improving access to oral health promotion and prevention services is a priority for the Minister for Health and her Department. I restate my recognition of the important work carried out by the foundation as part of its function as secretariat to the expert body on fluorides and health. The foundation played a key role in assisting the Minister for Health in discharging the duty to monitor the health of the population receiving fluoridated water.
The HSE has responsibility for managing oral health promotion and prevention services. As I outlined, that includes the Supporting Smiles initiative, support for patients in residential homes and an upcoming initiative on oral health promotion in early childhood, which is currently in development. The oral health action plan reflects the importance of health promotion and disease prevention. The Minister is carefully considering that plan. I will convey directly to her the points the Senator raised today.
I thank the Minister of State.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 1.52 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 2.01 p.m.
Sitting suspended at 1.52 p.m. and resumed at 2.01 p.m.