Results 6,801-6,820 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Can I outline what the Department of Education and Science says? It states that all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments for their pupils either directly——

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I listened carefully to Deputy Rabbitte.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte asked a question about the service and I would like to give the answer. He said he was concerned about the parents, who I agree are unfortunate and want to know if the service is there. When I give the answer, his colleagues shout me down. I will repeat for the third time that I am informed by the Department of Education and Science that all primary and post-primary schools...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The schools which do not currently have——

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Will the Opposition listen to the answer and then disagree with it, rather than disagreeing with it before I say anything? Schools which do not have NEPS psychologists assigned to them avail of the scheme and have assessments carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved and paid for by NEPS. In the ten months to the end of October 2006, over €1.25 million was...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Nonetheless, I am happy to report that the number of NEPS psychologists has trebled since we set up the service.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are currently 127 psychologists in NEPS and four psychologists have been assigned to the national behavioural support service. A total of six psychologists are in the process of being recruited. On top of this, there has been a one fifth increase in funding for NEPS in the Estimates for next year, which have already been published. It allowed for 400 additional posts last year,...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: All I was trying to do was put on record some——

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They are Department of Education and Science facts which should have been included in a programme that was looking at the issue. I accept that——

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I accept that there is a plan outlined to 2011 which means that we must get up to 1,800 posts. The plan was published last January. A total of 400 of these people have been taken on this year. We must establish eight additional teams this year. We know there are service inadequacies. It is not true that these have not been set out. They are being published in a report. The tribunal was...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Ceann Comhairle is very familiar with this issue. Deputy Higgins's quotation was correct in that I agree with my Senator colleague who stated we should not close any of the services in Monaghan General Hospital until we provide better services in the region. That is what he said and that is the position. I met the Monaghan action group, the staff and some of the general practitioners...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It has set down the services it believes it will keep in the longer term.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is a period of several years.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have talked to Professor Drumm and senior individuals in the HSE and they have said clearly and put it in writing, having attended the meetings in Monaghan, that the existing services will not be closed until a better service is available.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I know Deputy Connolly has been arguing the point for a long time. HSE officials attended meetings in Monaghan and met the Oireachtas Members. They have said they will not close any service until they provide a better one elsewhere in the region.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is what they have said.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I can only quote what they have said.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: They have given an undertaking on foot of that position. It is only where there is an issue of safety, in respect of which I mentioned the 15 patients per annum who pass through the high dependency unit, that patients will be treated elsewhere. I honestly believe——

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——that everybody, on both sides, rather than having a go at each other, albeit through legitimate protest, would be far better off if they set down to discuss what both sides are saying to try to reach agreement on the matter. The more it is talked up, the more difficulties will be created, and the problem will not be resolved. The Teamwork Management Services report, commissioned by...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I honestly believe that if there were calmness——