Results 11,461-11,480 of 11,762 for speaker:Mary Butler
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for this important question. Eating disorders are complex and individual. They are the mental health illness with the highest mortality rate. The first model of care was devised around 2018. At the time, it was expected that approximately 50 people would present with an eating disorder. In 2024, 562 people were treated through HSE services. The national clinical...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy. He is right that eating orders are complex and individual. They are the mental health illness with the highest mortality rate. Every case is different. I acknowledge the advocacy groups, including Bodywhys and Cared Ireland. They provide enormous support to people with eating disorders and I acknowledge that. There are currently only three adult eating disorder...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: I hope, with the support of the Minister and Cabinet, to look for funding in the Estimates process when I have the report at the end of June. These premises exist. We will also consider any new approved centres. Five will be rebuilt and we will potentially look at putting some beds in there. We will have to grow this incrementally. Everything we do is incremental because we need...
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2025: First Stage (14 May 2025)
Mary Butler: No.
- Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)
Mary Butler: I am pleased to be here in the Seanad to discuss the very important topic of mental health and suicide prevention. This month is mental health awareness month, and today is “Hello, how are you?” day, when we mark the annual campaign led by Mental Health Ireland which encourages meaningful conversations and reminds us of the power of this simple question. The message of the...
- Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)
Mary Butler: There were five last year, down from 18 six years ago.
- Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)
Mary Butler: A lot of issues were raised today and many comprehensive and supportive comments have been made. I have to take offence at a few and I will go through them one at a time. It is great we are all here today discussing mental health. That is the most important thing. Every time we speak about mental health, we lessen the stigma. I cannot respond to any individual cases. I will not respond...
- Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)
Mary Butler: I do need more time because I have to speak about the Limerick community access support team, CAST. I am conscious that two of the Senators sitting in front of me are from Limerick. Limerick CAST is a pilot project. It is a partnership between An Garda Síochána and the HSE. I was thrilled to launch it last year. The CAST pilot became operational in January 2025 and is already...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 May 2025)
Mary Butler: As this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (15 May 2025)
Mary Butler: As the Deputy will be aware, arising from the Maskey Report, and on the back of the associated file identification process and sample file audit of North Kerry, the HSE established a Lookback Review, to review the files of young people then under the care of North Kerry CAMHS as of 21 November 2022. The Review was commissioned on 23 January 2023, led by Dr. Colette Halpin and supported by...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: I recently met with Waterford Comhairle na nÓg to update them on my efforts to establish a new youth mental health service for Waterford and the South East. Improving access to a range of youth mental health services remains a priority for me, for the Department of Health, and for the HSE. I received a formal proposal from Jigsaw in recent weeks to establish a youth mental health...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: The Community Access Support Team (CAST) pilot project in Limerick aims to compassionately intervene in crisis and trauma situations, providing a health response to mental health crises. This initiative, the first of its kind in Ireland, has been a priority for me, the Minister for Justice, the HSE, and An Garda Siochana. Since its launch in January 2025, the CAST team, comprising...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: I recognise that many children are facing mental health challenges, and I do not underestimate the impact that this has on children and families. It is a priority for me and for Government as a whole to ensure that children who need access to services can get them and get them on time. I know that there are issues in relation to this and that is why I want to simplify referrals, improve...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: Both Government and HSE acknowledge the importance of ensuring that all mental health services align with national policy and international human rights frameworks. Sharing the Vision, our national mental health policy, emphasises a recovery-oriented, person-centred approach that prioritises community-based care, social inclusion, and the protection of human rights. This is in line with the...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: It is widely accepted that Emergency Departments are an inappropriate environment for people in a mental health crisis, and that alternative care pathways and therapeutic environments should be developed. People experiencing mental health distress and illness often find busy Emergency Departments the wrong setting for their needs and evidence indicates this is often the reason some people...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: As the Deputy will appreciate, Eating disorders are very complex, very individual, and can be one of the most serious mental health illnesses. The National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed really well with 14 of the 16 teams envisaged by the Model of Care now funded. Most teams are fully operational and seeing people with ED every day; other teams are at different...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: As this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: As this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: I recognise that the Mental Health Commission (MHC) play an important, independent role in supporting and assisting in the development and improvement of mental health services nationally. The Commission’s 2024 thematic report focused on mental health care in hospital emergency departments. I recently welcomed the Chief Inspector’s report and I can assure the Deputy that I will...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)
Mary Butler: As this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.