Results 15,641-15,660 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: The Deputy needs to get his facts right.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: The Deputy does not have his facts right.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: Deputy Martin needs to get his facts right.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: The Deputy needs to get his numbers right.

Other Questions: Occupational Therapy (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Murphy O'Mahony for raising this important matter. She has pushed this issue as well as that of speech therapy previously. The programme for a partnership Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. Community-based occupational therapy is a key...

Other Questions: Occupational Therapy (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I take the Deputy's points. As of May, there were 1,148 occupational therapist posts across mental health primary care and social care, representing an increase of 53 posts since May 2015 and 81 posts since May 2014. The recruitment of additional occupational therapist posts is ongoing. These figures do not cover section 38 bodies. Additional therapy supports, including speech and...

Other Questions: Occupational Therapy (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I reassure the Deputy on these issues. I accept that in the past, particularly in recent years, there has been a lack of investment in these services so we need to build and develop them to ensure that all children receive proper occupational therapy. It is a very important part of developing a forward-looking health service that includes everybody in society.

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I am not finished yet. There are a few more coming down the line as well. The Government recognises that waiting times for speech and language therapy have posed significant difficulties for families and their children. In 2016, €4 million was provided under the HSE’s national service plan to focus specifically on speech and language therapy waiting lists in primary and...

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: The number of speech and language therapists appointed by the national recruitment service from 1 June 2016 to 5 August 2016 is 92. The appointments in 2016 to date have resulted in an increase of 86 whole-time speech and language therapists, based on the 2015 HSE employment census. Of the 92 whole-time equivalent speech and language therapists appointed this year, 43 were for social care,...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputies John Brassil and Michael Healy-Rae, who have a particular interest in this issue. I have already spoken to Deputy Michael Healy-Rae about this and I recognise that both Deputies are prioritising people with disabilities in their constituency. I will now go into some detail on the matter and answer the questions posed by the Deputies. In June 2011, a report entitled Time...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I accept the concerns of my two colleagues. However, I have a plan to ensure that we deal with these particular issues. I have visited centres for people with disabilities where residents told me that they wanted to get out of congregated settings. I visited a lot of centres over the summer. In the service to which the Deputies refer there are 17 residents in ward style accommodation...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Accommodation Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of Clonakilty Community Hospital. The HSE is responsible for the delivery of health and personal social services, including those at facilities like Clonakilty Community Hospital. The hospital, which was built in the 1840s, is situated on the outskirts of Clonakilty in west Cork. In addition to providing long-term care to older people, the...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Accommodation Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: Okay.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Accommodation Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I will follow up on what the Deputy has said about particular issues and any other issues in respect of which I can be helpful. I assure her I have been told it is absolutely the case that there will be no bed closures and that there are no plans to close any beds at Clonakilty Community Hospital. I recognise the fantastic work the hospital has done in providing services to the local area....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mobility Allowance Decision (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013. However the Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments which support...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has brought forward a new model of supports to facilitate the full participation of children with a disability in the ECCE Programme. The new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) will provide supports including enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 485 together. I am very pleased that as part of Budget 2017, I have been able to both protect significant existing resources and obtain additional funding for disability services. The allocation for disability services will rise to over €1.654 billion in 2017, as compared with the 2016 allocation of €1.562 billion. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Neuro-Rehabilitation Policy (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: The Programme for Partnership Government places a particular focus on a number of key programmes and strategies, including publishing a plan for advancing Neuro-rehabilitation services in the community. Currently a National Steering Group, chaired by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Head of Disability Reform, is considering feedback on a draft implementation framework which was circulated...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Provision (18 Oct 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.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Sign Language (18 Oct 2016)

Finian McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Justice and Equality is currently progressing a three-phase consultation process with a view to developing a new Disability Inclusion Strategy. Phase three has recently commenced, and as with Phase two, regional consultation meetings are being held. Two of the three scheduled meetings have now taken place, with the third taking place next week....