Results 7,481-7,500 of 9,471 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (21 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the House, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on the Second Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2023. This is an annual technical Bill comprising seven sections, all of which are focused on the specific area of health insurance. I will start with an overview of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (21 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: As this PQ refers to a service issue, I have sent to the HSE for direct reply. However, as the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (21 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. This year, the Dept of Health allocated €0.5m to the HSE to introduce a pilot treatment programme for gambling addiction. This will include information and resources on problem gambling and gaming, including prevention, treatment and support services. In Budget 2024, I secured an additional €0.5m to expand harm-reduction...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (22 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Reports (22 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: A Healthy Weight for Ireland, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025). It was developed in recognition of the growing need for a co-ordinated policy response to the increasing prevalence of obesity in Ireland. OPAP covers a 10-year period up to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Measures (22 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The policy instrument for addressing obesity in Ireland is “A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in September 2016, under the umbrella of the Healthy Ireland Framework, our national policy for health and wellbeing in Ireland. The OPAP covers a 10-year period, up to 2025, and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (22 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising a number of important issues, many of which are relevant to addressing the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity and the many different diseases that can be caused or exacerbated by overweight and obesity, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many cancers. “A Healthy Weight for Ireland”, our national Obesity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Healthy Ireland Survey is conducted annually, with a representative sample of the population aged 15 and older living in Ireland. The sample size is typically in the region of 7,400 - 7,500 people. Fieldwork to date has been conducted on behalf of the Department of Health by Ipsos B&A. The Survey, first published in 2015, gives an up-to-date, annual picture of the health of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (22 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland is central to the work of Government. The vision for Healthy Ireland in the Department of Health is where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential and where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level in society. To achieve this, a whole of society approach is required and it is widely...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (22 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, was launched in March 2013 and is the national Framework supporting the health and wellbeing of the country. It takes a “whole of Government” and “whole of society” approach to improving health and wellbeing. The Framework is based on international research, experience and thinking in...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to appear before select committee as it considers this request for a Supplementary Estimate. I am here on behalf of the Taoiseach. A €4.5 million Supplementary Estimate is requested for Vote 5, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. A technical Supplementary Estimate of €1,000 must also be requested for the Department...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions regularly communicates with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Its resourcing was increased by 10%, so there was an increase in funding for the Vote of €5.5 million, and that was agreed for 2024.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Many of these proceedings are demand-led and I think there is an understanding of that. As I said, there is constant communication between the office and the Department of public expenditure. Where resources are required, they will be provided.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Expenditure on the subhead regarding fees to counsel is demand-led and dependent on the level of activity in the courts. It is, therefore, difficult to accurately predict. In 2023, there were significant demand-led pressures on that subhead arising principally in the Circuit Court and Central Criminal Court due to the recent increase in the number of judges available to hear trials. This...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: No, it does not, if I am answer her question quite frankly. I can give the Deputy a breakdown of the spend if she wants. Staff numbers have also increased by 40 this year.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: No. On the breakdown, approximately 35% of the fees paid out relate to the Central Criminal Court. The Circuit Court accounts for 44%, with half of this relating to the Dublin Circuit Court and the balance to the country Circuit Courts. The balance breaks down as follows: hearings before the High Court and Supreme Court, 10%, before the Court of Appeal, 6%, and before the Special Criminal...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yes. As I said, the office is in constant contact with Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform about this, and there is the understanding that it is demand-led.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I can get the Deputy a further note on this, but I have been told that resources in the sexual offences unit have been increased.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: There has been a 28% increase in the number of prosecution files received by the directing division for decision between 2017 to 2022, with 17,359 files received in 2022. Over the same period, there has been a 28% increase in investigation files received for public order offences. There has been a 65% increase in misuse of drugs files received and a 54% increase in files related to criminal...