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Extra.ie
12 hours ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Fury at ‘goodies' for Independents who voted against the Government
Government backbenchers are irate that Independents who have voted against the Coalition are set to be rewarded with 'constituency goodies' in the National Development Plan (NDP). has learned of growing frustration among the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rank-and-file as NDP negotiations intensify, with all TDs 'anxious' to see the needs of their constituents addressed. Many have voiced their discontent with the fact that Barry Heneghan, Gillian Toole and Danny Healy-Rae still 'have the ear of ministers' and what might be perceived as greater leverage in securing NDP commitments despite voting against the Government in recent weeks. Independent TD Barry Heneghan. Pic: Tom Honan One Fianna Fáil TD said: 'This can't be an a la carte arrangement where they support the Government when it suits. 'They have the ear of ministers, they're getting more goodies than backbenchers and they're apparently allowed to vote whichever way they want. They can't have it both ways.' A Fine Gael TD added 'We went through all of that strife at the beginning of the Dáil term over the speaking rights for them to turn around and start voting against [us]. It is not right. Independent TD Gillian Toole. Pic: Facebook 'The whip has not been cracked firmly enough.' The NDP is a ten-year plan encompassing all the State's capital spending. The current plan will run between now and 2030 and has been allocated a record budget of €165billion. Upon the formation of the current Coalition, it was announced that the NDP will be reviewed this year, with the revised plan set to be published in the latter half of this month. Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae. Pic: Alan Rowlette/ One source close to the Regional Independents said previously that the NDP review will provide an opportunity for the cohort to begin 'horsetrading' for constituency projects which did not form part of the Programme for Government negotiations. An additional €35billion will come on stream in that review, the source said in January, to be spent on projects across all Government departments. The source added: 'That is when the Healy-Raes can try to get their goodies for Kerry – likewise for other TDs across the Regional Independents, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.' In a radio interview at the beginning of the year, TD Michael Lowry, who led Government formation talks for the Independents, said the group's 'input' to the review of the NDP and the HSE Capital Plan will be 'central' to their work in Government. Independent TD Michael Lowry. Pic: Leah Farrell/ Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers began discussions with his Cabinet colleagues over additional funding for their departments last month, with Government figures saying the allocations are currently being finalised by civil servants. Regional Independents have kept tight-lipped about their engagements with Mr Chambers and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in relation to the NDP. However, one source was adamant that the decision taken by members of the group to vote against the Government has not impacted their position to negotiate in NDP talks. They said: 'We only have to vote with them on matters of the economy and confidence.' Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers. Pic: Fran Veale However, 'eyebrows were raised' in the two main Government parties after Dublin TD Barry Heneghan and Meath TD Gillian Toole voted with the Opposition motion to ban the sale of Israeli 'war bonds' through Ireland twice last month. Further questions about the strength of the Coalition surfaced when Danny Healy-Rae took the 'unprecedented' step of calling for a vote against a People Before Profit-Solidarity Bill to ban fox hunting at the 'first stage' of the Dáil. Typically all pieces of legislation are allowed to proceed to 'second stage' where they can be debated, with the Government voting to allow the legislation to progress. A senior Government source repeatedly told that 'constituency deals will play no role in NDP negotiations' – despite Mr Lowry's comments from the beginning of the year. Speaking to the last night, Ms Toole said: 'I am unaware of any adverse commentary by backbench colleagues. I'm an Independent TD committed to the Programme for Government; this puts me in the best place to deliver for the people of north Dublin who elected me.'
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
HSE allocates funds to begin move of maternity hospital to UHL seven years after announcement
Funding for the early stages of moving University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has been allocated, seven years after the move was announced. The plan is part of the Project Ireland 2040 policy, announced in February 2018. The policy indicated the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin and other standalone maternity hospitals including Limerick will move to share a campus with acute hospitals. UMHL was built in 1960 and designed for about 3,000 births every year. Now over 65 years later, it sees about 4,500 births annually. In addition to this 'significant capacity challenge', a hospital spokesman said it is also seeing 'the increasing complexity of pregnancy and childbirth' among its patients. He said the move remains 'a priority' as set out in 2040 plan, but also said there is no set commencement date. Funding of €200,000 was allocated in the recently published HSE Capital Plan under the title of maternity relocation to UHL. 'The relocation is a major capital project which is currently at appraisal stage,' the spokesman said. 'Indicative funding of €200,000 allocated in the 2025 capital plan is to cover professional fees including business case documentation and any other feasibility studies required.' Timing will be affected by factors including 'progression through the various approval stages and availability of capital funding", he added. Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said in the Dáil that this move is 'considered to be the next maternity co-location project' after the Dublin hospital moves. The Dublin plan 'is currently subject to a tender process to select the contractor to build that new facility,' she told Labour TD Conor Sheehan last month. Co-location can help avoid situations where a mother in crisis is transferred by ambulance to hospital while her baby remains at a maternity hospital. It will give mothers with complex needs direct access to specialist teams and emergency care. In the meantime, as pressures continue on UMHL it is also expanding some services. The HSE capital plan includes further funding for the neo-natal service in UMHL. The first phase is now complete, the hospital said. It includes a new parents' room, breastfeeding centre and clinical support areas. 'Phase two, to upgrade the neonatal intensive care, high dependency, and isolation facilities, is expected to be completed in early May 2025,' the spokesman said. It is expected this will improve care for the infant patients. He said it will offer 'a more family-centred environment with enhanced space and modern equipment". Other smaller projects also continue at the hospital on Ennis Road. Read More Two maternity hospitals to move to electronic health records
