Results 8,561-8,580 of 11,572 for speaker:Mary Butler

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (18 May 2023)

Mary Butler: As I said earlier, the HSE is now working through the planning phase for the new elective hospital in Cork. The Department of Health will consider the plans at decision gate 2 in the autumn before giving approval to proceed to tender. As the Deputy will appreciate, there are many complex factors involved in an infrastructure project of this size. The HSE's detailed planning will give a...

Dog Welfare Report: Motion (18 May 2023)

Mary Butler: Take your time.

Dog Welfare Report: Motion (18 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Kerrane and all the members of the committee for all their work. I also thank the Deputy for giving such a comprehensive overview of the report. She simplified it. It was great to hear that. Given that I am here on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, I think that answers the first question set out by the committee. The...

Dog Welfare Report: Motion (18 May 2023)

Mary Butler: No, I think we have said it all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I am pleased to join the Leas-Chathaoirleach and members of the committee and to contribute to this important debate on services and supports provided by the State for autistic people. I thank the committee for bringing this matter to the attention of the Seanad. I particularly welcome the opportunity to discuss access to mental health services and congratulate the committee on all the work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: The Deputy certainly did.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question. I give credit to him, in that when I was Chair of the Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation during the term of the previous Dáil, his attendance was always great. It is lovely to see him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: Does Mr. Higgins wish to come in there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Mr. Higgins for that. Might Mr. O'Regan be able to answer the specific question about disability and where the HSE outsources some of its supports?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I think the Deputy's final question was about access, that is, a child with autism trying to access a CAMHS team. Will Dr. Niazi answer that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: Ms Gray can answer the Deputy's question about the timelines.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I will ask Mr. O'Regan to answer that question. If it was a mental health question specifically, I would answer it. I know it is of great frustration to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, that 700 whole-time equivalents are funded but it is proving very difficult to recruit. Regardless of whether it is public, private or voluntary, we are all dipping into the same pool, whether mental...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: We know, and we know exactly where the Senator is coming from. I am sorry that people feel that way, as that is not the intention.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: As the Senator knows, the Mental Health Commission is undertaking a review of CAMHS. The HSE is performing an independent review of CAMHS as well. I have convened a series of roundtable meetings-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator. At the start, I complimented this committee, which has done Trojan work and which has rightly put a focus on children and people with autism. I was delighted to attend an event in Waterford with Deputy Ó Cathasaigh. Waterford is trying to become the first autism-friendly city in Ireland. It is a three-year campaign. It was on a Sunday afternoon and there were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Joan Collins for that. Nobody will disagree with her in relation to recruitment and retention and the challenges there. Previous Governments may not have the funding, but there are 700 whole-time equivalent staff who are now funded for disability services. There are approximately 400 who are funded for mental services and who are currently going through the recruitment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: We can hear the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Dr. Niazi for that. In the context of CAMHS, it is important, as Dr. Niazi noted, to state that we are looking at the model. We have 74 CAMHS teams that are not fully staffed. The question is whether we would be better off having fewer fully-staffed teams and a hub-and-spoke model in place. We are considering everything in this regard, and no decisions have been made. This is why...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: Obviously, I cannot comment on individual cases. If the Deputy wants to send on the details of that case, my two colleagues here will certainly look at it. Perhaps the broader picture is the issue whereby some young people are receiving supports up to age 18 and then age out. The Deputy referred to this young person as being 19. We are looking at that issue in respect of mental health....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: For everybody who is involuntarily detained in a mental health facility in our approved centres, of which we have 56 all over the country, the Mental Health Commission has a huge role to play. As Dr. Niazi said, each person is entitled to a tribunal with a solicitor and an advocate who is a consultant psychiatrist. The Mental Health Commission is in charge of these tribunals for every...