The Daily Star Ireland
The Minister for Finance has made it clear that energy credits, which were introduced to ease pressure on households facing rising energy bills, will not become a regular feature and will not be included in the upcoming budget. Instead, the Government intends to shift its focus toward more targeted supports aimed at assisting the most vulnerable groups who are struggling with energy costs.
The announcement came after the Dáil was told that families and workers across the country will likely continue experiencing increasing energy prices over the next five years. During the debate, Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson, David Cullinane, highlighted the growing financial strain on households, pointing out that hundreds of thousands of people are already in arrears on their energy bills. He pressed the minister, asking how families are expected to cope with further price hikes.
The finance minister acknowledged the concerns raised, noting that the Government is fully aware of the uncertainty and anxiety caused by the ongoing global situation. He added that he sees those concerns reflected in his own constituency. However, he cautioned against what he described as cynical political point-scoring, emphasizing that such tactics do little to help people navigate the current challenges.
Review of South East Cardiac Services Nears Publication
Separately, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, confirmed that the long-awaited review of cardiac services in the south east, which was commissioned back in 2019, is finally close to publication. She expressed hope that the report would be made public shortly after her return from her upcoming St. Patrick’s Day ministerial visits abroad.
During a Dáil question and answer session, Deputy Cullinane asked why the report had been left sitting on the previous health minister’s desk for at least nine months. In response, Minister Carroll MacNeill assured the Dáil that the publication is imminent. When asked whether she would back the introduction of 24/7 cardiac care services in the south east, the minister said she is fully open to ensuring the region gets the best possible care. However, she avoided making any firm commitments, saying she wants to review the findings of the cardiac report before making any specific promises about the future structure of services in the area.
She also confirmed that she is currently reviewing the report herself and plans to meet with the authors of the review in the near future.
National Children’s Hospital Facing Yet Another Deadline
The health minister also faced questioning about the ongoing delays and uncertainty surrounding the construction of the National Children’s Hospital. During the same Dáil debate, Deputy Cullinane remarked that if the latest completion deadline of June is actually met, it would be the fifteenth deadline the project has faced, sarcastically describing it as “15th time lucky.”
Minister Carroll MacNeill responded by saying that she has been given reassurances from the construction firm BAM that the hospital will indeed be handed over by the end of June. If that happens, the hospital would be ready to begin treating patients next year.
Deputy Cullinane also raised concerns flagged in a letter previously sent by 12 paediatric surgeons, who warned that recommendations for 17 new surgical posts in the hospital might not be implemented. In response, Minister Carroll MacNeill said all staffing decisions would be made as part of the hospital’s broader workforce planning process. She added that ensuring the right resources and staffing levels for the hospital would remain a key priority as the project moves closer to completion.
