Results 5,561-5,580 of 6,058 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: General Practitioner Services (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Government recognises that there are significant challenges facing general practice and that those challenges can limit access to GP services in certain areas and negatively affect the timely provision of care. We all know that is the case. Some issues are specific to certain areas. There is no doubt there has been a general...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: General Practitioner Services (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator. I hear what she is saying in respect of practices closing down after Covid. Many things have changed. However, general practice is providing more to the community and, although demand for services has increased, steps have been taken to increase GP capacity and support general practice and those steps are having a positive impact. The increased investment in general...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. It was raised in the Dáil this morning too. I extend my sympathies to the workers in the Butcher's Block, who are now suddenly facing job losses. The way in which this was handled was cold and lacked compassion. It is no way to treat hardworking, loyal workers. We have to protect and support workers. The Government and I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Deputy has outlined many different issues, including the tip jars, holiday pay and back pay. I will bring those concerns to the Minister. The Debenhams Bill, or legislation like it, does not come under the remit of my Department, but I will bring the Deputy's suggestion to the Minister. The Government appreciates the impact this dispute has on the affected workers, and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The cross-party Sláintecare report of 2017 articulated a new vision for healthcare, including the provision of elective-only hospitals, providing protected capacity for elective care. This policy has also been informed by a number of subsequent policy documents and Government decisions including the 2017 Sláintecare report, the Sláintecare implementation strategy 2018, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: As I said in my opening remarks, I am conscious of Deputy O'Sullivan's desire for the new elective facilities in Cork and in particular that they are delivered as soon as possible. Producing this new delivery capability into the public healthcare system will benefit the good people of Cork and indeed the whole population. I am as keen as the Deputy that they get to work as quickly as...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He talked about issuing medical cards quickly and people having to supply information again. He has a unique view on the hospital making a decision. A time of illness is difficult and a cancer patient experiencing trauma, for example, needs compassion and needs the State to act as quickly as possible. Person-centred care is a core value of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I will bring the Deputy's views to the relevant section immediately. As he said, we need to alleviate some of the burden on people with serious and terminal illnesses. We do as much as possible to support people with difficult illnesses, including, where appropriate, through the provision of a medical card. Every effort is made by the HSE within the framework of the legislation to support...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: As the Deputy knows, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to the schools reconfiguration engagement process that is ongoing in a number of pilot areas nationwide, including a number of primary schools in the Raheny area. In March this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I will bring the Deputy's views and concerns back to the Minister. Engagement on the three schools the Deputy referred to in Raheny is ongoing and no decision in respect of the transfer of patronage from the Catholic patron to a multidenominational one has been made at this stage. As part of the structured engagement process, information meetings with the facilitator have been set up with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (24 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The WHO European Regional Obesity Report, published earlier this year, warns of the serious health risks associated with rising levels of obesity. In the European Region, overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions, with prevalence levels higher among males (63%) than among females (54%). In Ireland, overweight and obesity pose an increasing challenge, with one in five children...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The WHO European Regional Obesity Report, published earlier this year, warns of the serious health risks associated with rising levels of obesity. In the European Region, overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions, with prevalence levels higher among males (63%) than among females (54%). In Ireland, overweight and obesity pose an increasing challenge, with one in five children...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response. Upon arrival, refugees from Ukraine are granted temporary protection status. Under this measure, they are considered ordinarily resident in Ireland for a limited time period and are entitled to access health care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Official Travel (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: Ireland is represented at the COP27 climate conference, which takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh from 6 to 18 November 2022, by a national delegation led by Mr Eamon Ryan, T.D., Minister for the Environment Climate and Communications. This delegation includes representation from six Government Departments, including two officials from the Department of Health. The final costs incurred from...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: As previously advised to the Deputy, the Department of Health continues to provide €2.249m per annum to community-based drug and alcohol services under the remit of the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NICDAFT). No funding has been withheld. The City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB), and the HSE (CHO Dublin North City and County) act as channels of funding for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The National Drug Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, commits to strengthening services to support families affected by substance misuse. It is a priority for the remaining period of the strategy to strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use and the associated harms among children, young people and families. The HSE funds a number of organisations that provide family...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: Minister Donnelly and I engage in an ongoing basis on the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy, and the 6 Strategic Priorities for the remaining period of the Strategy. These new priorities will strengthen the health-led approach to drug use, as agreed in the Programme for Government, and align with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan. The six strategic priorities for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 605, 721, 723, 724 and 765 together. 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: Healthcare Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Government is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government. A model of care for transgender children, adolescents and adults was developed by the HSE Quality Improvement Division. The HSE model of care is underpinned by a local response...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: Community healthcare services are provided to applicants for International Protection on the same basis as Irish nationals, including eligibility for the provision of a medical card. Persons who hold a medical card can avail of the following services: General Practitioner (GP) services, a home nursing service, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient and out-patient public hospital...