Results 17,201-17,220 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (4 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: Processing times for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) are currently not meeting the target of having 70% of applications processed within 15 weeks. At present it is taking 20 weeks on average to finalise an application. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the extended time required to process claims. Firstly, there is a significant increase in the volume of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Senator Michelle Mulherin for raising this very important issue in respect of respite services. I know that she is a very strong campaigner for people with disabilities, particularly those in the Mayo area. It is a very important issue. I accept many of the points the Senator has raised and I will deal with them later on in my response. It is also important, however, that we know...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: I will give priority to the Ballina area and the blockage in the service there. As the Senator indicated, a safeguarding issue in an emergency case had a negative impact on respite services. I acknowledge the point the Senator made on the family clinic. I have been speaking to those in the services for the past 11 months in an effort to create a closer relationship with families and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disabilities Assessments (5 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disabilities Assessments (5 Jul 2017)

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 Health: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (5 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Drivers and Passengers with Disabilities Tax Relief Scheme, which is operated by the Revenue Commissioners, is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Finance. To qualify for the scheme, an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled within the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations Act 1994 and be in possession of a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Living Alone Allowance (5 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: As this gentleman is in receipt of an increase for a qualified child, he cannot be classed as living entirely alone. On this basis, the application for living alone allowance was refused. This gentleman is not in receipt of rent supplement. He resides in accommodation supported by the Local Authority under the Housing Assistance Payment. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (5 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: An application for disability allowance was received from the person in question by the department on 16 February 2017. The claim, based upon the evidence submitted, was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO) on medical grounds on 24 April 2017. Further medical evidence was received and a review of this decision was carried out. The original decision was upheld and the person concerned was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Data (6 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 150 and 154 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mobility Allowance Review (6 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: I understand that the Deputy has confirmed that his question concerns the closure of the Mobility Allowance and the new Health (Transport Support) Bill. The position is that, conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Scheme in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Psychological Services (6 Jul 2017)

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 Health: Services for People with Disabilities (6 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports to 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. The commitment is outlined in the Programme for a Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (6 Jul 2017)

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 Health: Mobility Allowance Review (6 Jul 2017)

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 Scheme in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013. The Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments that support choice and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Reform (6 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Make Work Pay interdepartmental group, published on 6 April this year, established under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities considered a range of approaches across relevant Departments to deliver on this commitment and made 24 recommendations under the broad headings of; reconfiguring the system of supports to ensure that work pays; promoting early...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (6 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: This lady submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 12 May 2016. The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 27 July 2016 and of her rights of review and appeal. The person in question appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) a decision by a...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (11 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher for his passionate representations on behalf of the people of County Donegal. I know from my visit there a few months ago that he is also very much involved in disability services issues. I thank him for his kindness and for being an excellent host. I offer the House the Minister's apologies. The Minister for Health would like to thank the Deputy...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (11 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: I will bring all the suggestions that the Deputy raised back to the Minister for Health, particularly the second nurse issue and his major point that the people of County Donegal should be treated equally to those in the rest of the country. I know the Deputy is a supporter of cross-Border services. This is particularly relevant to County Donegal. The primary percutaneous coronary...

Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (11 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputies Mattie McGrath and Cahill for raising this important issue. I assure Deputy Mattie McGrath that the Minister, Deputy Harris, is hard working.

Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (11 Jul 2017)

Finian McGrath: He is working 24-7 on all sorts of issues across the board. It is an extremely important portfolio. The Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas and in disadvantaged urban areas, and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the...