Results 21,921-21,940 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Allowance Appeals (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: Following a successful appeal, this gentleman has been awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 17 April 2019. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 11 December 2019. Arrears of payment due, will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable). I trust this clarifies...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Invalidity Pension Applications (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Illness Benefit Payments (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: The Person concerned is due to receive her payments each Monday, however if there is a delay in the Department receiving her medical certificate it can result in late payments due to late processing. A payment of €203 was processed November 15th and another payment of €203 was processed November 18th. Payment by EFT may take two to three days to appear in accounts. The Person...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Illness Benefit Eligibility (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: The Person concerned is not due to exhaust his entitlement to Illness benefit until 3rd October 2020, providing he still continues to satisfy the Medical criteria. A letter notifying him of this will issue to him prior to this date informing him of the alternative schemes he can apply for. The Person concerned is currently certified until the 28th November 2019 and he is fully paid up to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: It is a privilege to serve.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important issue and for the opportunity to respond on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. At the outset, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government does not have a funding stream available to address the precise set of circumstances relating to subsidence which the Senator...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I will bring this back to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank Senators Burke and Mulherin for raising this important issue. I also thank Senator O'Mahony for his support. The points they raise are relevant particularly to the recent debate in the Dublin area. On 8 February this year, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government announced details of the measures being funded through his Department under the Multi-annual Rural Water...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Senators for their questions and absolutely take the validity of their arguments. The original point made was about Letterbrick and the argument about how other parts of the country are treated is valid. I will bring the Senators' concerns back to the Department. The people of Letterbrick should be treated the same as the people of Lucan and I agree with that argument...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Refurbishment (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Senator for raising this issue as it gives me the opportunity to outline to the House the plans of the Department of Education and Skills for upgrading school buildings including St. Aidan's comprehensive school, Cootehill, County Cavan. St Aidan's is a co-educational comprehensive school under Catholic patronage. There are currently 493 pupils enrolled in the school. I know,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Refurbishment (21 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I take the point made about little or no investment being made in the school since 1998. Schools like St. Aidan's need extra things to facilitate their students. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the position of the Department of Education and Skills to the House. I understand that the application from St. Aidan's is under review and the Department will be in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabilities Assessments (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Murphy O'Mahony for raising this very important issue. The Disability Act 2005 provides for assessments of need for people with disabilities. Any child thought to have a disability born on or after 1 June 2002 is eligible to apply for an assessment of need, which will detail his or her health needs arising from any disability. Since the Act's commencement in 2007, there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabilities Assessments (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I am conscious that timely access to assessments and therapies is imperative in a child's development. I fully understand that delays in accessing services are a source of great concern for children and their families. While not addressing all needs, it is important that the process has begun. I accept the Deputy's point that it is very important we get in early when it comes to these...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabilities Assessments (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I take this issue very seriously and take on board the point the Deputy makes. It is essential we put these early intervention services in place. As I said, though, the key issue is that the staff numbers have increased dramatically. We are trying to deal with this. We have also set up the health service reform programme, which seeks to have health and social care networks in place. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Departments Services (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I know that for many years he has been a strong advocate for health issues, particularly for developing and supporting the services at Naas General Hospital. The Minister for Health acknowledges the difficulties overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families and front-line staff working in very challenging working conditions in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Departments Services (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I agree with most of the points made by Deputy Durkan. I take on board his question about how soon this will happen. I agree with him that we need a reliable health service. I will bring his point about a review at Naas General Hospital back to the Minister. We cannot have issues like that affecting families in that situation. I understand the impatience and concern of many of these...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Audiology Services Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address the issue of the difficulties and delays being experienced with audiology services in Laois and Offaly. Under section 67 of the Health Act 1970, the HSE is required to provide free audiology treatment and appliances to preschool children and children of primary school age, including those taught at home, who are referred from child and school...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Audiology Services Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: I will, of course, take back the urgency of the issue to the Department and I have a particular interest in this area as Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities. I absolutely understand the urgency and importance of the issue and I will bring the Deputy's concerns to the Minister and the HSE. There is an issue with recruitment and retention right across therapies. I have...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Sláinte), 2019: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Health) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: This is outrageous.

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Sláinte), 2019: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Health) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Nov 2019)

Finian McGrath: It is outrageous.