Results 1,061-1,080 of 6,080 for speaker:Frank Feighan

National Maternity Hospital: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: In closing, I thank the Deputies for tabling their motion. I fully recognise the importance of Government and the Opposition thoroughly scrutinising the issues under consideration. The level of interest in the development of the new national maternity hospital is a clear reflection that everyone, right across politics and across our health service, shares the same goal when it comes to the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Kyne for raising this important issue. Approximately €616 million of Exchequer capital funds has been provided for national roads through Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Tll, to local authorities in 2022. The 2022 funding allocations are made having regard to the National Development Plan 2021-2030, which balances investment in transport against other priorities of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator. As I mentioned previously, the N59 Clifden to Maam Cross improvement project remains on the list of projects included in the NDP. While funding has not been provided to progress planning and design of the scheme within the current year, subsequent phases will be progressed later in the plan. However, I agree with the Senator that these things should be kept alive. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Funding (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Sherlock for raising this issue. The Commencement matter, which asks if the Minister will confirm that the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force will not be allocated funding in 2022, approaches this matter from an unusual perspective. The drug and alcohol task forces play an important role under the national drugs strategy in co-ordinating services to assist...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Funding (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I will get the Senator further clarity on the operational funding. Regarding the email that was sent out, I can only go on the information I have and I will try to clarify that as well. I am committed to addressing the drug and alcohol issues affecting the north inner city. It is really for the local community and the statutory agencies and voluntary service providers. This has been...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising these issues. It gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education, to outline to the House the Department’s position on the Ennistymon community school and Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna, building projects, as well as the Department's approach to climate action in new-build schools. The Department is at the forefront of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I will try to determine what exactly the Department means by a natural ventilation system. Work is ongoing on a decarbonisation option for new schools, with a focus on the standard of required design criteria and specification to achieve a net-zero-energy school building and on establishing the trajectory for the integration of suitable solutions on a phased basis in a risk-controlled manner...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position relating to Gaelscoil Áine's school accommodation on behalf of the Minister. Gaelscoil Áine opened in 2019 and was established in vacant accommodation in the OPW building known as Coláiste Chaoimhin, St. Mobhi Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. The Department facilitated...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I would again like to thank the Senator for giving me an opportunity to outline to the House the position in regard to Gaelscoil Áine. As I said, the Department has identified a site and I know the Senator agrees with the point on confidentiality. Nonetheless, I would have thought the school principal and the school would be consulted. In regard to a meeting of the Department with the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education, to clarify the current position regarding Meán Scoil Mhuire in Longford with which I am very familiar. Meán Scoil Mhuire is an all-girls Catholic school that is under the trusteeship of CEIST, which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1861. The enrolment...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline the position in terms of Meán Scoil Mhuire to the House. I note that the Senator mentioned two things. I will convey to the Minister his request for a meeting to be arranged between the two local Oireachtas representatives from County Longford, the local authority and officials. The Senator also stated...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Oireachtas Committees (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Joint Committee on Health 's Report on addressing Vitamin D Deficiency as a Public Health Measure has four recommendations and my Department is responsible for delivering on the first two recommendations. Recommendation 1 is for daily Vitamin D supplements for the entire adult population. Current policy advice on vitamin D supplementation is aimed at three population groups; infants,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (20 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Department of Health provides €2.2m for the provision of community-based drug and alcohol services in the north inner city, in association with the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force. This funding will continue to be provided for frontline services in 2022 though the HSE and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board. I understand that the HSE has met with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: The work of the national oversight committee is ongoing. The Deputy spoke about nurses. I hope to meet the nurses committee in the coming days. There have been a few issues that we need to resolve and I hope to meet them. The civil society forum will be open and transparent. I would like to think the national oversight committee has been open and transparent. There have been issues and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Irish chapter of the nurses society was disappointed. Perhaps there were one or two issues of a lack of correspondence. I will meet them next Thursday. We have already appointed a chair of the national oversight committee. Everything that we do will be above board and will be open and transparent. I really appreciate the Deputy's interest in this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I will not say there is a change in direction but there is a change in the way we are doing it. Of course everything evolves. The vast majority will be accommodated. There will be different structures but I would like to think we will be able to accommodate all the people who have shown an interest. Sometimes people are afraid not of change but that a different process would be in place....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: On the Deputy's first question, the community and voluntary networks will be retained on the national oversight committee. Again, there are one or two groups that are anxious to get onto that. I believe that they will be accommodated in an ongoing process. The process has been hugely significant and most people have bought into it. Funding is guaranteed to the north inner city. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: Crack cocaine use is a huge issue. The drug has become more prevalent in Ireland, with 2.3% of the population reportedly using the drug. The national drug reporting system shows an increase of more than 400% in crack cocaine use between 2014 and 2020. There has been a huge problem with cocaine use in Ireland and the emergence of crack cocaine use in certain marginalised areas. I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: Exactly. The action is targeting interventions in these disadvantaged areas, and a few areas come to mind. There are or five different areas that can put in proposals. That €850,000 will be delivered over three years, along with other funding. We have given €240,000 to various community health organisation areas around the country. There are other ways to access the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: As I have said, this is a recurring funding over three years. The calls for the €850,000 fund will be coming in the next few weeks. I might bring in our HSE director, Dr. Eamon Keenan, to elaborate more on this funding.