Results 4,341-4,360 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (17 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: The promotion of physical activity has been a priority for my Department in the context of the implementation of Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025. This was evidenced by the publication of Get Ireland Active - the National Physical Activity Plan(NPAP) in 2016, and its subsequent implementation. The NPAP contains 60 actions intended to promote...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (17 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 951 and 952 together. The issues raised by the Deputy relate to services matters. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I welcome this opportunity to update the House on drug and alcohol services and health supports for people who are homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic. Not everyone faces the same risk from Covid-19. People who use drugs or alcohol in a problematic way are at heightened risk due to underlying health and social factors. These are compounded for...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: Deputy Gould talked about addiction and gambling. It is a very serious issue that I share an interest in with the Deputy. It is also a Department of Justice issue. However, it crosses into our area. I would be happy to meet the objectives and work with them. There are other issues that we need to address and I can send the Deputy a paper on those.

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: Yes. I will get the Deputy a written document with the up-to-date position on gambling. It is a cross-departmental matter, given that it is for the Department of Justice but also a public health issue. I have not seen the Bill, but I would support its gist. A great deal can be done. The Deputy is right, in that the pandemic has increased online gambling. I know that myself. Many young...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: Since the onset of Covid-19, 900 additional people have been seen by the opioid substitution treatment programme. They are being retained as part of the existing service level. Some €4.2 million has been provided for the service's continuation in 2021. I have met all of the drugs and alcohol task forces and we are allocating funding. However, there are many initiatives, for...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I have met many of the stakeholders. It is not rhetoric. I am informed that in 2020, some 1,006 single persons exited emergency accommodation into homes in the Dublin region. A lot of work has been done regarding rough sleeping and long-term users of emergency accommodation. It is not perfect but much good work has been done and we are putting a...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy. I had a speech prepared that would have taken 15 or 20 minutes but, as the Deputy very rightly said, I had to remove something because I only had ten minutes. Regarding drug-related intimidation, I am very aware of such activity. An active illicit drug market leads to intimidation and a frightening environment for families and communities. A key action of the national...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I have made more than €1 million available for local drugs task forces. We also have up to €460,000 for targeted initiatives which we are seeking from various task forces. Again, I pay tribute to the great work the task forces are doing. I am aware of the awful situation in the Deputy's constituency, and the Deputy raised it with me previously. I am looking forward to a...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: First, I agree with the Deputy regarding the ring-fencing of funding. My colleague, Deputy Richmond, and others have been to the forefront in that regard, so perhaps it is time for a debate on the subject of putting the money put back into the local drugs task forces or into addressing the issues. On the funding, in November 2020 I approved one-off funding of €20,000 for each task...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for the measured way in which he put his views forward. We come from different perspectives, but between us we try to get the best possible answers to this very difficult problem. The national drugs strategy sets out a health-led approach to drug use and it promotes a more compassionate and humane response to people who use drugs, with drug use treated as, first and...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Department of Health harm reduction element of the health diversion programme provided €100,000 in 2020 to develop a national harm reduction campaign to raise awareness of the risk associated with drug use. The campaign will be delivered in 2021.

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: On the 24-7 drugs line, there is a drugs helpline in the UK that we have been trying to mirror. It is called Talk to Frank but it will not be called that here. There is a budget allocation of €170,000 for the service and the recruitment of three addiction counsellors is under way. It will not be 24 hour but it will be expanded to what we think will be needed, based on advice from...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy. Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe is an acute general and maternity hospital that delivers a patient-centred, quality-driven, focused service and provides a wide range of diagnostics and support services. The hospital's catchment area includes patients residing in east Galway, Roscommon, the midlands and mid-western areas. As part of the winter 2020...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Homelessness falls under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, but the Department of Health and the HSE are responsible for the delivery of a range of health-related services and supports for the homeless. Under health legislation, and the Health Act 1953 in particular, the HSE has a statutory obligation towards...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Gender Equality (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Offices (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: Breastfeeding is important for the health of both mother and infant, and national health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 and the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020, emphasise the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland. The National Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: My Department does not have a policy for emergency preparedness for infant feeding protection. However we have agreed with our colleagues in the Department of Health in Northern Ireland that the facilities of the Human Milk Bank in Co Fermanagh will continue to operate as usual and mothers in the Republic of Ireland can continue to provide breastmilk and avail of breastmilk supplies as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: Expenditure by the HSE on drug and alcohol services has increased from €94 million in 2016 to over €103 million in 2019. This funding is used by the HSE to deliver a wide range of services, including early intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation. I have asked the executive to provide details of the funding it allocated to addiction support services in 2019, 2020 and...