Results 1,021-1,040 of 11,702 for speaker:Colm Burke

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I have been asked to take this Topical Issue by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. She apologises that she could not be here this morning. Funding for mental health increased to more than €1.3 billion in 2024. This is the fourth consecutive year of an increase for mental health services and highlights the importance this Government places on the mental health of those living in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: Again, I am stepping in for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I do not think anyone is sticking their head in the sand. As I outlined, there was a 33% increase in demand for services and a 21% increase in the number of new cases. That is a substantial increase. The Deputy said people had their heads in the sand. The number of people working in this area has increased substantially in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: It is important that we distinguish between suspicious and non-suspicious deaths. The former come under the State pathologist's remit. I have outlined that there are four in Dublin and one in Cork. Where there is a suspicious death, they become involved. In other cases of non-suspicious deaths, that matter is dealt with in the hospital and within the hospital area.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I have set that out but I think it is important that we get the message across that post-mortems are dealt with in two distinct ways. Post-mortem examinations in non-suspicious deaths under the remit of the coroner are directed to be performed by hospital-based histopathology consultants.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I did not interrupt the Deputy.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I did not interrupt the Deputy. What I am saying is there is co-ordination, as I understand it, between University Hospital Kerry and Cork University Hospital with regard to the provision of services. If there were delays, I will check what the reason is for those and revert to the Deputy. I will also get him the average time it takes for post-mortems. The figures I have for 2021 show...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, on which I will update the House on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I extend my sympathies to the families who have experienced a waiting period for the carrying out of a post mortem. I understand the concerns raised about the delay in post mortem services in Kerry. I appreciate that the current situation may...

Carers: Motion [Private Members] (18 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. In coming back in response, it is important for me to state that I too have been involved in trying to work out support for people who reside at home. The challenge is that people are living longer and life expectancy in Ireland has increased by six years over the past 20 years and, therefore, we have a lot more people living longer. For...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: 149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a Stage 2B submission will be finalised and a school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review, as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25994/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (18 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: Sexual health is a priority for the Department of Health; the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 (NSHS) was developed as a core policy under the Healthy Ireland Framework and is a priority under the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025. Implementation of the Strategy is led by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP). It was extended until the end of 2022...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (18 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: 394. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application by an organisation (details supplied) to Pobal for funding for an additional full-time worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25995/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (11 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: The Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Housing are committed to working collaboratively to enhance access to healthcare and drug treatment services for people who are homeless. The Department of Health has allocated dedicated multi-annual funding of c €47 million to the HSE for the provision of healthcare services for people who are homeless. This includes additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (11 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: 908.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider expediting a review of the SOLAS statutory apprenticeship which requires that certain apprenticeships applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses, particularly considering the most recent technological advances that have been made in such lenses; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (30 May 2024)

Colm Burke: The Department of Health and HSE are co-ordinating the provision of healthcare services for more than 107,000 Ukrainian refugees (Beneficiaries of temporary Protection) together with a further 35,000 International Protection applicants who have arrived in Ireland since 2022. €50 million has been made available for the provision of healthcare services for refugees and migrants in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections (30 May 2024)

Colm Burke: Following a successful initial pilot in Cork, Kerry and Dublin, funded by the Sláintecare Integration Fund in 2021, the free home STI testing service was gradually expanded in 2021-2022, and launched nationally in October, 2022. €3.5m was allocated to support the scheme in 2023. The scheme has been very successful, adding approximately 33% to national testing capacity....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2024)

Colm Burke: 225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to address the substantial shortfall of educational places in Cork city for children with autism spectrum disorder, and if she will set out her proposals for dealing with this shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23861/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Female Genital Mutilation (28 May 2024)

Colm Burke: Action 2.4.12 of the Implementation Plan for the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based violence is the responsibility of the HSE and as such, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (28 May 2024)

Colm Burke: As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (28 May 2024)

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

Seanad: Protection of Private Residencies (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I will outline a few points in relation to the Bill. The Minister will, obviously, be looking for this legislation to be referred to the Joint Committee on Justice.