Results 2,001-2,020 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Community (31 May 2016)

Catherine Byrne: My Department does not currently have plans to update the All Ireland Traveller Health survey. The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Justice and Equality is leading on the development of a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy aims to provide a set of specific actions that need to be taken to bring about a real improvement in quality of life for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (31 May 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 750, 751 and 758 together. Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The overall objective of the Strategy is to continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (31 May 2016)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (31 May 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 and 754 together. As the issues raised by the Deputy are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (31 May 2016)

Catherine Byrne: The National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (NACDA) is the research arm of the National Drugs Strategy. Its main function is to advise Government on the prevalence, prevention, treatment and consequences of the use and misuse of drugs and alcohol in Ireland. It has been allocated €388,000 by my Department for research projects in 2016. In line with the National Drugs...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (31 May 2016)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (31 May 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 760 to 763, inclusive, together. As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (31 May 2016)

Catherine Byrne: The introduction of the Opioid Treatment Protocol (Farrell and Barry, 2010) is the first external review of the Methadone Treatment Protocol in Ireland, examining the regulatory process and oversight of methadone and opiate dependence treatment, focusing on both the 1998 protocol and the processes by which treatment is implemented and delivered. It recognised the importance of the role of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (1 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: It is a matter for the Taoiseach in the first instance to determine the approach to the allocation of portfolios to Ministers of State. Government has, in line with Programme for Government commitments, put a stronger emphasis on important policy areas, and particularly on the Department of Health, to which four Ministers of State are attached to work to deliver real improvements in this...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs-related Deaths (1 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I am aware of the report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction on preventing opiod deaths with take-home naloxone. The report examines the case for distributing Naloxone, which is an antidote used to reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine and methadone if someone overdoses. In May 2015, the HSE undertook a demonstration project to assess and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (1 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Community (2 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: My Department understands that the Health Service Executive intends to conduct a general evaluation of Traveller health services. The evaluation will be undertaken in consultation with the Traveller community and other relevant statutory agencies. The outcome of the evaluation will, inter alia, inform the operation of the Traveller Primary Healthcare Teams in order to address the health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (2 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: The Department of Health has commenced work on the development of a new Strategy for the period after 2016. This process will involve a comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders and the public on the current national drugs policy and future priorities. A Steering Committee with an independent chair has been set up to oversee the development of the new Strategy and focus groups...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (2 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: Government policy in relation to drugs emphasises the importance of providing the opportunities for people to move on from illicit drug use, through drug treatment and rehabilitation, to a drug-free life where that is achievable. The provision of harm reduction measures, such as needle and syringe programmes and methadone maintenance treatment, reduce drug-related harm and facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (2 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. A Steering Committee, chaired by an independent chair and with representatives from the Statutory, Community and Voluntary Sectors, has been established to advise on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy, which will cover the period from 2017 onwards. The terms of reference of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (2 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem. Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities. ...

Adjournment Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (8 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for his kind words. The Deputy will be aware that I have recently been given responsibility for the national drugs strategy, which aims to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society through the misuse of drugs. I am keenly aware from my own work at community level that the drugs problem is a complex and challenging issue that has far-reaching...

Adjournment Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (8 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy Murphy for his question. Every year there are 3.2 million outpatient attendances at our hospitals. A total of 100,000 patients have an elective inpatient procedure and 800,000 have a planned day case procedure. For those waiting to see a consultant or to have tests or surgery, the biggest worry is not the size of the list but how long they are likely to be on it. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Places (8 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.