Results 66,261-66,280 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I thank our witnesses for coming before the committee. I would like to congratulate and thank Mr. Paul Reid for his work in the health services over the past years, and particularly in the face of the Covid crisis. It was an extremely hard call and task. It was fulfilled with great efficiency. It is a great model for the future of the delivery of the health services. I thank Mr. Reid...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: What I am trying to get at is that for a long time there has been a shortfall for the end of the year. There is a shortfall after six or seven months or whatever the case may be. Can we come to grips with that? Can we accurately project what is required to do the job or is it such a floating issue that we cannot? In which case, we are all coming in on the back foot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: When it comes to the imponderables, the floating targets as it were, we should still be in a position to project what the requirement is much more accurately than we do. Other health services in other countries do so to a greater extent than we do. I would like a quick response to that. Are we not competing? Are we not capable of catching up? Are we not capable of projecting the likely...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Is it not possible to have a contingency figure encompassed in the budget in such a way as to be able to call upon it as required without having to seek an increase in spending?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: No, it would not be that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: What Mr. Watt is saying is correct but in some cases we underspend and in other cases we overspend. That puts on its head the argument that Mr. Watt is putting forward. Let us move on to something else if I might. In general there are particular pinch points throughout the health services in terms of delivery, whether it is in CHO7, in mental health, and in children and adult's mental...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: The only problem with that is I have been hearing for 20 years that 2038 would be the real hit year. The problem still remains. We are not really catching up on it or passing it by despite that a huge influx of young, tax-paying people into the country came in that period. The incoming population has doubled, to say the least. It goes without saying that the extra tax-paying population who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: Where are the incoming working population who are taxpayers brought into the equation? It is a huge number. I do not see them in this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I do not see them referred to in any of the replies. That does not mean that the HSE does not know about them, although it surely must. The incoming working, tax-paying population has doubled in the last few years. To move on to something else, there are a number of issues that beset the delivery of health services. I know that Covid is one issue. I think the HSE did extremely well...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I resolved the particular problem at the time, but it took me four days to do it. I would hate to be in the position of a patient who is waiting in vain for something to happen. Can I ask one last question?

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (29 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I have listened carefully to the previous contributions. I have listened to many contributions on the same subject over many years. The usual clichés used to be trotted out, such as "Too little, too late". Somebody resurrected that phrase again, with some encouragement, in the past few days. The phrase "Opportunities lost" is now a fable. We were told we could have done more and did...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 161. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if planning requirements will facilitate the building of wooden or chalet-type houses in specified areas on a temporary basis to alleviate the housing shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47606/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 163. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the degree to which housing policy can be modified to deliver the product at an accelerated pace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47608/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 166. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way urgent housing needs can be best met in all areas throughout the country within a reasonable time; if emergency measures may be considered to achieve these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47611/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 164. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the quality and size of housing developments that is sufficient to modern requirements and standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47609/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 194. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration may be given to an alternative to the school dinner scheme, including the possible option of hot and cold meals depending on the time of year, in order to facilitate energy savings and eliminate waste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47442/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (28 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 243. To ask the Minister for Health when appropriate treatment will be made available in the appropriate hospital location in the case of a person (details supplied) who has been treated in James Connolly Hospital and is being referred to Beaumont Hospital; if the necessary arrangements will be made without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47413/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Priorities (29 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 21. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to liaise with cultural and artistic groups in County Kildare and throughout the country at large with a view to encouraging interest in the arts, sports, Gaeltacht affairs and cultural activities, given the importance of these issues by way of recovery after Covid; and if she will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (29 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 23. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which an awarding of further sports grants is anticipated in the coming year; the extent to which those who were beneficiaries in the past three years and found themselves unable to complete the works can be accommodated by time extensions or top-ups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47511/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Industry (29 Sep 2022)

Bernard Durkan: 140. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she and her Department continue to engage with the tourism sector in order to ensure full recovery following Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47838/22]