BILL BREAST CANCER SCREENING MOTION SHORTAGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES

In 2020 Ireland had the 5th highest mortality rate for female breast cancer in the EU and the 8th highest incident rate. This is unacceptable and something we can change. Last September the European Commission recommended that breast cancer screening be offered to women between the ages of 45 to 74. At present, Breastcheck only screens women aged between 50 and 69. Recently I submitted a motion calling on the government to:

● Introduce screening for breast cancer from the age of 40 through publicly funded & run programmes

● Guarantee immediate access to diagnostics services for young women at risk of breast cancer & ensure access to a triple assessment for young women who present with possible breast cancer

A number of parents have raised the issue of the lack of public health nurses in the Dublin Mid-West area. Public health nurses play a vital role in aiding healthy development and detecting early illnesses in new-borns and infants through regular checkups.

The HSE has acknowledged that there is a shortage due to recruitment issues and as an interim measure, a cross-cover arrangement for priority cases has been put in place. The HSE will continue to recruit for these vacancies.

However, the concern that children will not receive their developmental check-ups because of staff shortages is deeply worrying.

Gino Kenny TD, as health spokesperson for People Before Profit, will continue to raise this issue with the government.

● Immediately revise the criteria for access to genetic testing so that all women at high risk of BRCA related breast cancer have access to genetic testing and counselling in the public health system

● Initiate a publicly funded education programme in schools around breast examination

These changes are vital and if implemented they will save lives. Cancer screening services have been severely impacted over the course of the covid pandemic. It is important that we make sure the Government prioritise women’s health.

Housing Crisis Continues

There are over 11,500 homeless people in Ireland at present. There are a further 60,000 on housing waiting lists. And there are 166,000 vacant homes—enough to house everyone in need twice over.

The Irish government facilitated vulture funds, cuckoo funds and speculators who have hoarded property in order to charge exorbitant rents and reap massive profits.

Asylum seekers are not to blame but this has created the conditions for far-right groups to stir up and misdirect anger among local people.

People Before Profit wants housing for ALL. To achieve this, we propose:

● A state-led building company to build social and affordable houses.

● 50% of private developments should be handed over to the state at reduced prices

● To take vacant homes into public ownership to house all people

● Rent reductions and a ban on evictions