Results 321-340 of 5,911 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on Second Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022. This is an annual technical Bill comprising eight sections, all focused on the specific area of health insurance. This legislation is required each year to revise the amounts of credits and levies, ensuring not only that the risk...

Drugs Policy: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I very much welcome the opportunity to debate the Labour Party motion in respect of drugs policy and to highlight the progress we have made in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. As Deputies are aware, it is a health-led approach to drug and alcohol use in Ireland from 2017 to 2025. As Minister of State, I am responsible for co-ordinating...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fuel Poverty (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy. The issues affecting customers of group heating schemes is primarily a matter for the consumer and the energy provider. The package of financial supports made available under budget 2023 includes the electricity emergency benefit scheme and will assist vulnerable households in the context of the cost of living. I do not have the detail regarding clarity but we will be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The HSE is aware of the expected retirement of the GP concerned and is taking appropriate steps to arrange for the continued provision of GP services for affected cardholders until such time as a replacement GP is in place. The HSE's focus is on ensuring continuity of care. It is currently engaging with local providers to implement a plan for services in the interim. As the Deputy stated,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fuel Poverty (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government is supportive of district heating because it contributes to the diversification of the fuel supply for heat and decarbonising the heat sector. Across Europe, the term "district heating" is generally applied to networks that serve neighbourhoods, towns or cities and cover a mixture of customers including public buildings, industrial...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As he is aware, GPs are private practitioners, although most hold contracts with the HSE to provide services under various health schemes. There are currently more than 2,500 GPs with General Medical Services, GMS, contracts for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit cardholders. As they are private...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play an important role in addressing problem drug and alcohol use within their geographical areas. The Department of Health does not collect data in relation to the funding of drug and alcohol services on a county basis. The financial information in the attached spreadsheet reflects the Department of Health allocations to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces only. As...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (29 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (29 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 is currently being developed by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I will bring the Deputy's views and concerns back to the Minister. Engagement on the three schools the Deputy referred to in Raheny is ongoing and no decision in respect of the transfer of patronage from the Catholic patron to a multidenominational one has been made at this stage. As part of the structured engagement process, information meetings with the facilitator have been set up with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: As the Deputy knows, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to the schools reconfiguration engagement process that is ongoing in a number of pilot areas nationwide, including a number of primary schools in the Raheny area. In March this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He talked about issuing medical cards quickly and people having to supply information again. He has a unique view on the hospital making a decision. A time of illness is difficult and a cancer patient experiencing trauma, for example, needs compassion and needs the State to act as quickly as possible. Person-centred care is a core value of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I will bring the Deputy's views to the relevant section immediately. As he said, we need to alleviate some of the burden on people with serious and terminal illnesses. We do as much as possible to support people with difficult illnesses, including, where appropriate, through the provision of a medical card. Every effort is made by the HSE within the framework of the legislation to support...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The cross-party Sláintecare report of 2017 articulated a new vision for healthcare, including the provision of elective-only hospitals, providing protected capacity for elective care. This policy has also been informed by a number of subsequent policy documents and Government decisions including the 2017 Sláintecare report, the Sláintecare implementation strategy 2018, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: As I said in my opening remarks, I am conscious of Deputy O'Sullivan's desire for the new elective facilities in Cork and in particular that they are delivered as soon as possible. Producing this new delivery capability into the public healthcare system will benefit the good people of Cork and indeed the whole population. I am as keen as the Deputy that they get to work as quickly as...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. It was raised in the Dáil this morning too. I extend my sympathies to the workers in the Butcher's Block, who are now suddenly facing job losses. The way in which this was handled was cold and lacked compassion. It is no way to treat hardworking, loyal workers. We have to protect and support workers. The Government and I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Deputy has outlined many different issues, including the tip jars, holiday pay and back pay. I will bring those concerns to the Minister. The Debenhams Bill, or legislation like it, does not come under the remit of my Department, but I will bring the Deputy's suggestion to the Minister. The Government appreciates the impact this dispute has on the affected workers, and the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: A citizens' assembly, as committed to under the programme for Government, is being initiated and is due to happen early in the new year. Preparations are ongoing.

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: General Practitioner Services (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Government recognises that there are significant challenges facing general practice and that those challenges can limit access to GP services in certain areas and negatively affect the timely provision of care. We all know that is the case. Some issues are specific to certain areas. There is no doubt there has been a general...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: General Practitioner Services (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator. I hear what she is saying in respect of practices closing down after Covid. Many things have changed. However, general practice is providing more to the community and, although demand for services has increased, steps have been taken to increase GP capacity and support general practice and those steps are having a positive impact. The increased investment in general...