Results 4,661-4,680 of 6,056 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (9 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Joint Committee on Health 's report on addressing vitamin D deficiency as a public health measure has four recommendations and my Department is responsible for delivering on the first two recommendations. Recommendation (1). With regard to recommending daily Vitamin D supplements to the entire adult population, the current policy advice on vitamin D supplementation is aimed at three...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (9 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: Since November 2019, HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is available, free of charge through the HSE, to those at substantial risk of acquiring HIV through sexual activity. PrEP is delivered through approved services that meet the National Standards for PrEP Service Delivery and is being rolled out in a phased manner. There are currently thirteen public and nine private approved PrEP service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (9 Sep 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: Tax Code (9 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1177 and 1181 together. The Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax was introduced on 1stMay 2018, and has now been in operation for more than three years. The introduction of the tax was an important action in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, with the aim of combatting obesity through reducing consumption of added sugar in drinks and encouraging reformulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: The majority of indoor activities are still restricted given the current high level of Covid-19 infection. However, the Dept of Health has supported the continued operation of drug and alcohol support groups and treatment programmes given their importance for the health and wellbeing of participants. It is committed to continue to provide bespoke guidance for this important health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (9 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: My Department is finalising Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Services developed in consultation with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Standards will be available in early October. While these Nutrition Standards recognise that there are instances where the food provided varies due to the location or the nature of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (9 Sep 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: Health Services (9 Sep 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 Funding (9 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: In Budget 2021, the Department of Health provided funding of €10 million for new measures under the National Drugs Strategy. The details of these measures were subsequently outlined in the HSE National Service Plan 2021. In line with existing practice, an element of this funding was held back in the Department of Health. The level of funding released during the year for delivery of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (9 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: Following the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, a Working Group on Access to Contraception was established in April 2019 to consider the range of policy, regulatory and legislative issues arising in relation to improving access to contraception in Ireland. The Group’s report, which was published in October 2019, identified the barriers...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (9 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: The cost of ten wholetime equivalent Lactation Consultants is €659,608 On 11 May, funding of €1.58m was announced to provide the additional 24 Lactation Consultants across hospital and community settings, that are required to implement the National Breastfeeding Action Plan and ensure timely skilled assistance for mothers who wish to breastfeed. It will also support enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (15 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580, 583, 607 and 625 together. It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last eighteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (15 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: Prior to the development of the Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland- Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021, my Department commissioned the Health Research Board to carry out two pieces of research to help provide an evidence base for actions that would favourably promote an increase in breastfeeding levels in Ireland. These reports were 'A review of practices that increase breast...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (15 Sep 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: Substance Misuse (15 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: The High Court in a recent judgement set aside the decision of an Bord Pleanala to grant permission to Merchants Quay Ireland for a supervised injecting facility and provisionally proposed to remit the matter to the Bord for reconsideration. It is understood that the matter is to be further considered by the Court in October, following submissions by the respective legal teams, including...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Mental Health Services (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Butler, has been regularly liaising with the HSE on this very important matter, since it was announced. The HSE has affirmed that in the context of the closure of the centre, the needs and preferences of each resident are of paramount importance. On 28...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Mental Health Services (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy again for raising these very important issues. Improving all aspects of mental health service delivery is a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, the Government as a whole and the HSE, in line with the national service plan for 2021. This includes continued collaboration between the relevant agencies to ensure that quality and standards in our mental health...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this important issue and for the way in which he has articulated it. At the outset, I acknowledge the stress that overcrowded emergency departments cause patients, their families, and the front-line staff working in very challenging conditions in hospitals throughout the country. I acknowledge the work and commitment of staff in ensuring the uninterrupted...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: We expect 14 additional nursing staff to start in the emergency department in the next two months. We will work together to ensure that it is progressed as quickly as possible. The health service capacity review 2018 was clear on the need for a major investment in additional capacity in both acute hospitals and the community, combined with a wide-scale reform of the manner and the location...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Home Care Packages (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I recognise that it is a very complex issue. I know from personal experience that trying to get carers is a difficulty. It is a key priority of the Government to enable more people to engage in services that allow them to remain independent and to live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. In order to advance...