Results 3,141-3,160 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services Funding (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise that the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is not here and I am taking this Topical Issue on his behalf. As Deputies know, I am a Minister of State at the Department of Health and I will, when asked, try to facilitate as many Ministers and Ministers of State as possible and come here on their behalf. On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, I thank...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services Funding (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I have little to add. I do not have any initial answers to the questions he asked. The matter raised centres on the provision of funding to avoid the closure of St. Aidan's care centre in Gorey and I do not know anything about why staff have not been paid.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services Funding (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I assure the Deputy that I will bring his very relevant concerns to the Minister on my way back up and ask for a reply to be forwarded to him. I have taken notes and will ensure that happens. However, I do not have the specific answers in the reply or even in the other material I was given.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services Funding (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I will relay his concerns when I go back up to the office.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Childcare Services (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: As the question relates to service matters, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Community (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 165 together. Health and well-being are not evenly distributed across society. There are socially excluded groups who experience extreme health inequalities. Such groups include Travellers, homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with addiction issues. Inequalities in health are reflected in the mortality and morbidity rates of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Community (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 166 together. Health and well-being are not evenly distributed across society. There are socially excluded groups who experience extreme health inequalities. Such groups include Travellers homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with addiction issues. Inequalities in health are reflected in the mortality and morbidity rates of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Budget (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The 'Drugs Initiative' allocation of €6.987 million in the Department of Health's Vote for 2018 and 2019 was determined as part of the 2018 and 2019 budget and estimates process approved by the Government. In 2018 over €5.25 million was allocated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces by the Department of Health under the 'Drugs Initiative'. It is expected a similar amount will be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Budget (8 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The HSE's National Service Plan 2018 sets out the type and volume of health and social care services to be provided by the Health Service Executive in 2018, having regard to the funding allocated. The HSE's allocation to Task Forces in 2018 is in the region of €22.6 million, this includes one off funding of €0.25 million. In addition, Task Forces are being consulted by the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: As I will take this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, I asked the Deputy whether she wished to withdraw the matter but she did not. I understand that the Mater Misercordiae University Hospital has experienced some difficulty in recruiting both permanent and temporary specialist oncology nurses for the oncology day unit in the hospital. Due to a combination of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: We all understand there are problems in the health service, particularly with the recruitment of staff for hospitals across all departments. I want to impress on Deputy O'Sullivan and others in the Chamber that both the Minister, Deputy Harris, and I believe that those working in the services in hospitals across Dublin do a fantastic job. Sometimes they find themselves pushed and can work...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on behalf of Minister Harris regarding the ambulance service in Leitrim. The national ambulance service operates from two locations in Leitrim, namely Carrick-on-Shannon and Manorhamilton. However, services in Leitrim are not exclusively provided by staff based at these Leitrim stations. This is because the national ambulance service is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The Deputy has raised a number of specific questions to which I do not have a response. I will, therefore, have to go back to the Minister and ask him to respond to the Deputy on a personal basis. I understand the Deputy's frustration and the concerns he raised. He has outlined the difficulties that arise when people who have suffered an injury are not transported by ambulance immediately...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. False self-employment is consistently brought up by Deputies as a prevalent issue. If any Deputy is aware of any particular cases, the Minister strongly urges them to bring these to attention of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to ensure they can be investigated. ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: There is a commitment in the programme for the Government to address the increase in casualisation of workers and to strengthen employment regulations. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 is currently going through the Oireachtas and it addresses several workers’ rights issues, including prohibiting zero-hour contracts in most circumstances and requiring the terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The remit of the Drugs Task Forces was extended to include the problem of alcohol misuse in 2014, in view of the central role they play in coordinating the response to substance misuse at local level. The 2014-2016 Dormant Accounts Action Plan provided a budget of approximately €1m to support the Task Forces in undertaking work at local and regional level to address the alcohol...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The remit of the Drugs Task Forces was extended to include the problem of alcohol misuse in 2014, in view of the central role they play in coordinating the response to substance misuse at local level. The 2014-2016 Dormant Accounts Action Plan provided a budget of approximately €1m to support the Task Forces in undertaking work at local and regional level to address the alcohol...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Health Action Plan (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: Health and wellbeing are not evenly distributed across society. There are socially excluded groups who experience extreme health inequalities. Such groups include Travellers homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with addiction issues. Inequalities in health are reflected in the mortality and morbidity rates of the population. Rates of chronic diseases are another...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Daly. He is in a committee. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is at the Cabinet meeting. I am standing in today. I thank Senator Clifford-Lee on behalf of the Minister and the Minister of State. I know how important this Commencement matter is to the Senator. I will read the written reply and then come back in at the end. Immunisation is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: As a parent and grandparent I understand the importance of any vaccination given to children. I believe all vaccinations should be given to children when they are very young and in school. As the Minister's statement has outlined, however, at present this vaccination is not part of the national immunisation programme. In saying that, I will take the Senator's concerns and views back to the...