Results 1-20 of 11,470 for speaker:Mary Butler

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I am pleased to be here in the Seanad to discuss the very important topic of mental health and suicide prevention. This month is mental health awareness month, and today is “Hello, how are you?” day, when we mark the annual campaign led by Mental Health Ireland which encourages meaningful conversations and reminds us of the power of this simple question. The message of the...

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: There were five last year, down from 18 six years ago.

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: A lot of issues were raised today and many comprehensive and supportive comments have been made. I have to take offence at a few and I will go through them one at a time. It is great we are all here today discussing mental health. That is the most important thing. Every time we speak about mental health, we lessen the stigma. I cannot respond to any individual cases. I will not respond...

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I do need more time because I have to speak about the Limerick community access support team, CAST. I am conscious that two of the Senators sitting in front of me are from Limerick. Limerick CAST is a pilot project. It is a partnership between An Garda Síochána and the HSE. I was thrilled to launch it last year. The CAST pilot became operational in January 2025 and is already...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: As the Deputy will be aware, arising from the Maskey Report, and on the back of the associated file identification process and sample file audit of North Kerry, the HSE established a Lookback Review, to review the files of young people then under the care of North Kerry CAMHS as of 21 November 2022. The Review was commissioned on 23 January 2023, led by Dr. Colette Halpin and supported by...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2025: First Stage (14 May 2025)

Mary Butler: No.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 May 2025)

Mary Butler: As this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for this important question. Eating disorders are complex and individual. They are the mental health illness with the highest mortality rate. The first model of care was devised around 2018. At the time, it was expected that approximately 50 people would present with an eating disorder. In 2024, 562 people were treated through HSE services. The national clinical...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy. He is right that eating orders are complex and individual. They are the mental health illness with the highest mortality rate. Every case is different. I acknowledge the advocacy groups, including Bodywhys and Cared Ireland. They provide enormous support to people with eating disorders and I acknowledge that. There are currently only three adult eating disorder...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I hope, with the support of the Minister and Cabinet, to look for funding in the Estimates process when I have the report at the end of June. These premises exist. We will also consider any new approved centres. Five will be rebuilt and we will potentially look at putting some beds in there. We will have to grow this incrementally. Everything we do is incremental because we need...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: To be clear, since this model of care came in, no child under 18 has had to go abroad for treatment. Since 2019, 14 people have gone abroad for treatment under the auspices of the HSE. Other people may have gone under the cover of private healthcare, but we know that 14 people went abroad for very specialised treatment. Turning back to the Deputy's initial question, there were two...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question. We saw eating disorders grow exponentially during Covid, for example. This was especially the case among younger girls aged 14, 15 and 16. Last year, for example, the eating disorder clinical team worked with approximately 520 young people. Many of those were transferred back to a GP for further support. It is possible to recover from an eating...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for the question. I was expecting Deputy Clarke. Eating disorders are complex and individual and can be one of the most serious mental health issues. The national clinical programme on eating disorders is progressing well with 14 of the 16 teams envisaged by the model of care now funded and approximately 100 dedicated eating disorder clinicians working in teams...

Appointment of Cathaoirleach of Working Group of Committee Cathaoirligh: Motion (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 130(9), Deputy Seán Fleming be appointed as the Cathaoirleach of the Working Group of Committee Cathaoirligh.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank all the Deputies for their suggestion. I am happy to engage with the Opposition and we can discuss the motion in advance of the business meeting on Thursday morning and look at speaking times for next week.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I move: Tuesday's business shall be: -Motion re Withdrawal of Bills (to be taken without debate) -Motion re Appointment of Cathaoirleach of Working Group of Committee Cathaoirligh (to be taken without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) -Statements on Power of Higher Education, Research and Skills as an Economic Enabler in a Changing World (not to exceed 2 hrs 25...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Suicide Prevention (8 May 2025)

Mary Butler: It is a pleasure to be back in the Seanad. I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on her role. I thank Senator Andrews for raising this important issue. Every death by suicide has a devastating effect on the families, loved ones and entire community who are affected. Suicide and self-harm reduction are a priority for me as Minister of State and for Government as a whole. Just two days...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Suicide Prevention (8 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I look forward to walking on my own Darkness into Light walk in Portlaw this weekend. I normally attend the one in Waterford city but this time I am staying local. It is great to see all of these walks. Initially, they were in the big cities and towns but now they are in nearly every community, which has to be welcomed. I want to touch on some of the funding that has been provided. I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Education Policy (7 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his very interesting contribution. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. I agree with every word he said. As Minister of State with responsibility for mental health services, I am aware that extracurricular activities play a key role in helping learners to grow and succeed, both in and out of the classroom, and especially in regard to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Education Policy (7 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I certainly will take the Deputy's request to the Minister. At present, the Department supports a number of national extracurricular programmes through core funding, including €400,000 for the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, €200,000 for SciFest, €250,000 for ESB Science Blast and €43,000 for the Engineers Ireland STEPS Programme. That gives a total of...