Results 17,541-17,560 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (10 Oct 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 Health: Occupational Therapy Staff (10 Oct 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: Home Care Packages (10 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (10 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from this man on 3 July 2017. The claim was awarded with effect from 5 July 2017, the first pay date following receipt of the application. My Department has no record of a previous application for disability allowance from this man. If he, or an agent on his behalf, wishes to make an application for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (10 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims due to an increase in claim volumes and the need for more detailed decisions to be provided following a High Court ruling. Corrective actions have been taken, including assigning additional deciding officers to the scheme. As a result average processing times have reduced over recent...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (10 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance (DA) from this lady. The application was referred by a deciding officer (DO) to a social welfare investigative officer (SWI) for a report on this lady’s means and circumstances. The SWI met with her on 8 September 2017 and a further meeting is scheduled for 6 October 2017. Once the SWI has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (10 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The gentleman in question is in receipt of Invalidity Pension and is in receipt of fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme from the 14 October 2010. His preferred payment option has been changed from weekly to two instalment payments as requested by him with the first instalment issuing to his nominated bank account on the 05 October 2017. The gentleman concerned was notified on the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (10 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims due to an increase in claim volumes and the need for more detailed decisions to be provided following a High Court ruling. Corrective actions have been taken, including assigning additional deciding officers to the scheme. As a result average processing times have reduced over recent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Ireland signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and since then, successive Governments have emphasised Ireland’s strong commitment to proceed to ratification as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are met. This Government remains committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Medical Certificates Applications (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Payments (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The lady concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension from 16 January 2014.A request for a change of payment method was received from her on 2 October 2017. Her payment method was changed to the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I am delighted to be here to meet and to be made accountable to colleagues. This is a very important issue. I know there are broader issues and I commend the people here. I know them all individually and their track record for pushing for services for people with disabilities is commendable. I thank them for their support. I thank the Vice Chairman and the committee for its invitation to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Dara Murphy for his questions. There is no question of me disputing the ruling of the Ombudsman. I am very supportive and understanding of this issue. The resources argument is a big argument for us all. What I have found in recent discussions on the Estimates, as Deputy Murphy will know as a former Minister of State, is that when there is a certain amount of money coming...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Yes, I am always consulting and in direct contact with the Ombudsman.

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Cassells for raising these important issues. On his point about greatest need, 4,700 people are already in receipt of the payment. Some people are proposing that we broaden the scheme where we might be looking at as many as 20,000 people in receipt of this payment. While this legislation is being finalised, it is important to remember that 4,700 people are getting the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: 20,000 is an estimate.

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The honest answer is "No", because the talks are still going on with DPER. I do not know at this stage. I know what I want to do, but how I get there is a different debate. The bottom line is that I want to ensure that the Bill will cover the maximum number of people. I have a caveat that the most needy people have to be prioritised. If it comes to a decision between getting this...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: There is a link.

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I know the Vice Chairman's position quite well. I thank Senator Buttimer for his comments and support. The issue of accessibility and isolation is huge and I totally agree with him. If we dig deeper within the disability community, particularly those with physical disabilities but also the visually impaired or deaf - I have spent time with the deaf community over the past number of months...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I will be in again soon.