Results 13,901-13,920 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: We are also losing-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: I am giving Deputy Michael McGrath a serious answer to what I thought was a serious question. We are also losing somewhere in the region of 300 staff through advanced retirement. We have been engaged in continuous planning but what we did not know until last week, and I hope Deputy Michael McGrath will take this as an honest answer-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----what I as a Minister and what the other Ministers did not know, while we could anticipate what the numbers would be like, and generally speaking we monitor them weekly, was the exact number until last week.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy Michael McGrath asked for a full financial analysis. That is being done at the moment. We have the internal figures but the Deputy should remember, and this the why he cannot be given a complete answer now-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: I am sure he remembers the original scheme.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: The actual confirmation of the retirements does not happen until the actual retirement date arrives. We have a very good idea now of what is likely to happen-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----but what has happened on other occasions-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----is that some people have not proceeded with their retirement. While unfortunately I cannot be exact and Deputy Michael McGrath will appreciate that my powers are limited to forecasting-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----in terms of an exact number.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy McGrath asked for exact figures-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----and I am telling him why I cannot be as exact as I would normally wish to be-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----because I cannot foretell what will exactly happen on the last day of February.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Although the final number of nurses availing of the scheme in the area of mental health and psychiatric care is not yet available, 436 mental health staff have indicated their intention to leave our mental health services by the end of February 2012. The HSE's service plan includes a commitment to reduce acute inpatient capacity by a minimum of 153 beds nationally in 2012, in line with the...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: I respect the Deputy's long-standing interest in the issue of mental health. I went to school beside St. Brendan's hospital and, like many Members of this House from all parties and none, I am concerned about utilising the limited resources we have in the best way possible for people with mental health difficulties. The €35 million is not imaginary money. It is in the budget for A Vision...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----as a good document. There is a long history on the north side of Dublin, between St. Brendan's and Portrane, of high standards of care and attention to patients, particularly by psychiatric nurses. I am very aware of that.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: As for what the Government is doing, apart from the commitment of €35 million, I am sure the Deputy is aware that a new mental health facility is being built in Beaumont at the moment. I am sure he is also aware that the Government has committed, in a tight capital programme, to correctly rebuild the Central Mental Hospital. I do not know why the Deputy should feel that the commitment of...

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----and it is their job, and that of the Minister, to deal with this. In fairness to the Minister, if the Deputy was talking to his predecessor, she would not have answered any of his questions, because she did not take any responsibility.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: Yes; but that was then, this is now.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: The Minister is responding to Deputies' questions about mental health-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Joan Burton: -----and we are setting out the commitments we made to this very important area, in capital and current budgetary expenditure.