Results 5,761-5,780 of 11,518 for speaker:Mary Butler

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: To conclude on the previous point, each case will be taken on a case-by-case basis. I will give another example. A young adult, under 18 years, was admitted to a psychiatric unit in Donegal one night because it was not possible to transfer him to the CAMHS unit in Merlin Park in Galway. Sometimes a decision like that has to be taken. A person might only be admitted to an adult unit for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: No.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I acknowledge the Deputy has raised this issue with me on several occasions. Work is ongoing in the Department of Health to progress the development of a new statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes. Recruitment for 130 posts to support the national roll-out of international resident assessment instrument, interRAI, as a standard assessment tool for care needs is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: To go back to the point, the funding of home care is not the issue. We are all aware of the €666 million available. Delays are occurring at the moment because we have delays in providing home care workers into specific areas. As the Deputy said, weekends and rural areas, especially, can be very problematic. Notwithstanding that, the number has come down significantly over recent...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: The pilot scheme in the Galway area is operational. The pilot schemes in west Cork, Mullingar and the Dublin area are not. I will get the Deputy a note on that because it will outline exactly the areas being covered.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: The role of the cross-departmental strategic work force advisory group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders and to examine workforce challenges in home support and nursing homes. Potential areas will be recruitment and retention, training and the career development of home supports. I was updated by the chief officer yesterday on CHO 4, which comprises counties Cork and Kerry....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: We are, therefore, challenged but we are working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to look at different things to see that people on social welfare, for example, might be able to work a certain number of hours and students in receipt of the SUSI grant might be able to work enhanced hours. We are trying to throw the kitchen sink at this to resolve it.

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for tabling this Bill which seeks to address an issue of great importance to us all. I would like put on the record the apologies of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, who, as the Deputy mentioned, is attending the Cabinet sub-committee, but I understand the Minister engaged privately with the Deputy on the Bill in advance of this debate. I recognise his sincere interest in...

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: Only two of them are bringing forward the Bill. Did the Deputy notice that?

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Minister of State for her comments and for acknowledging that today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I thank the Deputies who contributed on this discussion, in particular the Bill's sponsor, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. I commend the goal of the Bill, which seeks to provide faster access for people to new medicines for the treatment of rare diseases. I...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the House on Second Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021. This is an annual technical Bill comprising nine sections, all focused on the issue of health insurance. This legislation is needed in order to revise the parameters of the risk equalisation scheme, which is a financial...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: That would not happen.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Home Care Packages (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I notice Deputy Joan Collins is also here and listening; we had a discussion earlier in the back corridor, and many other Deputies have raised the situation with me. The issue is not funding. If the issue was funding, I would be able to go and look for more funding and I feel I would secure it. My budget for home care for this year is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Home Care Packages (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I will go back to the cross-departmental strategic workforce advisory group. I announced a call for submissions last Friday to further identify key issues in recruitment and retention and to inform the establishment of the group in early 2022, which is January as far as I am concerned as it needs to be done as soon as possible. We are all aware that terms and conditions vary from the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question and for the constructive way he has phrased it. As he and I are aware, there are 19 residents living in the Owenacurra Centre and it is their home. I will not go over the history of it but in June 2021, the HSE notified the Department of its decision to close the Owenacurra Centre. The current building is not fit for purpose and cannot be brought to the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: Improving all aspects of mental health service delivery is a priority for me and that is what I try to do when I secure as much funding as possible, particularly for the recruitment and retention of staff. As we all know, the delivery of mental health services depends on the staff we have. Deputy Stanton referred to the fact that east Cork will be left without a facility like Owenacurra....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Eating Disorders (7 Dec 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: 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: Nursing Homes (7 Dec 2021)

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