Results 6,201-6,220 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Stations Refurbishment (5 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I will make further inquiries as to the difficulties and how they can best be resolved.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Visa Applications (5 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank Senator Clune for the opportunity to outline, on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, the numerous positive developments that have taken place with regard to the Irish visa regime since the Government came into power, in particular the developments relating to China. The available evidence indicates that visitor numbers to here from China grew by 26% last year. Such a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: The HSE, through its Occupational Guidance Service, works with schools, service providers, service users and families to identify the training needs of people with disabilities. The Occupational Guidance Officer provides one to one advice, support and guidance to enable individuals with a disability aged 16 to 65 years, including those with high functioning autism, to make an informed choice...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospice Services (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 216 and 228 together. As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Suicide Prevention (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I have received a copy of the recently published Report on the All-Ireland Young Men and Suicide Project and I am currently examining the recommendations contained in the Report. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm is a priority for this Government. Reach Out our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention recognises the youth sector as a high...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Voluntary Sector Funding (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I echo the thanks expressed by the Minister to the committee for the opportunity to discuss the issue today. As he outlined, the issues with these schemes are complex and ultimately resource limited. While we are continuing to work on these issues I too would sincerely welcome any constructive input the Members of the committee may wish to propose as to how the matter may be resolved. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I understand that we are all here to offer solutions. The committee is coming to it in this type of detail for the first time but we have been looking at this for a considerable time. The €200 million is in regard to the motorised transport grant, which is different. These are "guesstimates"-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: Yes, €100 million for the other one. In terms of what is available now, as the Deputy rightly pointed out there are 4,700 recipients of the mobility allowance. There are approximately 300 applications per year for the motorised transport grant. If we were to comply, our best guess is that the number of recipients of the mobility allowance would increase to a possible figure of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: Of course. The figure for the mobility allowance is 4,700 recipients, and the figure for the motorised transport grant is 300 applications per year. If we were to comply, the mobility allowance figure would increase to 63,500 recipients and the figure for the motorised transport grant recipients would increase to 19,250 per year. There is a different application system for the motorised...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: In terms of Government and the private individual, I always take the view that I am spending his or her money and they are spending their own money. That is a clear distinction. In terms of anyone taking a case for which we have had to compensate them, we have not. The Department of Health does not have a laissez-faire attitude towards the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman's findings are correct;...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I was hoping the Deputy would have a few suggestions but obviously not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: This is not about having someone to take a look at the scheme. We know the difficulties with the scheme. What we are doing is inviting someone in to draw up a new scheme. There are options, some of which we do not want to take. We could find a solution in the morning but we want a compassionate solution and one that works. That is the reason we are inviting somebody in to draw up a new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: It is because we do not have the money.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: No, it is not. If the Deputy listened to my contribution he would have realised that we are inviting somebody in to devise a new scheme. That is the other option. We hope that scheme will continue to protect the people most in need of the service. I have said that three times - in my opening remarks and in response to questions. We do not know yet the shape of the scheme but we hope it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for his contribution, which was very positive. I should have said it at the outset but this meeting was never meant to worry the section of society that relies on this payment. If we could have found a solution to this issue, we would have. It is because we are conscious of the needs of people and how much they rely on particular grants that we have been so careful about...