Results 15,241-15,260 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: I have decided to appoint a chairperson and have a person in mind. I will announce that person's name in a matter of days. The Government will be informed of my plans for the appointment of the chairperson and the composition of the task force by 26 July next. That is the date I have set for myself. The Deputy is right when she says we cannot let this go into August. I am working on a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: I know that the Deputy will do so.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: I can confirm that there will be a seismic shift as we reform the services provided for people with disabilities. I am pushing forward a strong reform agenda. The key issue for me is that the entire plan for disability services will be centred on the person with the disability, regardless of whether he or she has an intellectual or a physical disability. I want to change the mindset in...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Accommodation Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Naughton for raising this issue and I welcome this opportunity to outline the up-to-date position on recent health infrastructure developments at University Hospital Galway. These developments recognise that demand for health care is rising, with our elderly population increasing at nearly double the European average. Other factors, such as the rise in obesity, chronic...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Accommodation Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: I accept some of the comments made by Deputy Hildegarde Naughton on these issues and that there are questions to be answered. I welcome the fact that the Deputy welcomed the 75-bed single-room unit. Of course, we must examine how we spend capital funding. The Deputy made a very positive point on the problems with the city development plan and the car-parking issue. I am listening to...

Topical Issue Debate: Voluntary Sector Remuneration (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: I congratulate Deputy Gino Kenny on his election to the House. It is great to hear different and new voices raising important issues, particularly with regard to services for people with disabilities. It is important to outline what has taken place thus far in order that we can address the specific issues that have arisen. In June 2012, the Health Service Executive's internal audit...

Topical Issue Debate: Voluntary Sector Remuneration (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: I agree with Deputy Kenny in respect of some of the points he raised. I also believe we have to change the mindset with regard to services for people with disabilities. We have to start talking about it. Part of my vision as the new Minister of State with responsibility in this area is to deal with the whole idea of rights and equality for people with disabilities. We want to get away...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commissions of Investigation (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: I wish to assure the House that I am fully committed to the establishment of a Commission of Investigation into this matter. I am very concerned about the issues which have been raised in this case and cannot stress highly enough that the safety and protection of all vulnerable people in the care of the State is paramount. The previous Government's approval to the establishment of a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: The Disability Act 2005 provides for an assessment of the needs of eligible applicants occasioned by their disability. The assessment of need must commence within three months of receipt of a completed application and must be completed within a further three months. The HSE works towards completing the assessment within three months unless there are exceptional circumstances. Applicants are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Special Educational Needs (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Respite Care Services (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: In the case of means-tested payments from my Department, such as disability allowance (DA), applicants are assessed with any cash income, property other than the home, and investments. Within all means-tested schemes, there is an initial amount of capital that is disregarded for means assessment purposes. For most schemes this disregard is €20,000 but, in the case of DA, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Payments (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 27th May 2016. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the applicant. Applications are processed in date of receipt order....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 28th April 2016. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the applicant. Applications are processed in date of receipt...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Payments (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 16 September 2015. The first payment was made by his selected payment method on 10 August 2016. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable). I hope this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: The partial capacity benefit (PCB) scheme is designed for people who are on illness benefit, for at least six months, or on invalidity pension and who have retained some capacity for work and wish to work. If awarded, PCB will allow them to continue to receive, in addition to their earnings from employment, a percentage of their illness benefit or invalidity pension payment while working. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: The reasonable accommodation fund for the employment of people with disabilities assists employers to take appropriate measures to enable a person with a disability/impairment to have access to employment by providing a range of grants. These grants and supports include: -the workplace equipment and adaptation grant, -the personal reader grant, -the job interview interpreter grant, and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 13 January 2016. The first weekly payment shall issue on 20 July 2016 by their chosen payment method. Disability allowance arrears have issued by cheque on 11 July 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person return to employment if they have reduced capacity for work, and to continue to receive a payment from my department. A person who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a Medical Assessor who expresses an opinion on the degree of partial capacity. A person assessed with a moderate...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (12 Jul 2016)

Finian McGrath: The person in question appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) a decision by a deciding officer to disallow her application for disability allowance (DA). Following due consideration of all the available evidence, the appeal of the person in question was disallowed by an appeals officer (AO) on 14 June 2016. She was notified of this decision in writing by the SWAO...