Results 2,001-2,020 of 11,404 for speaker:Mary Butler

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: The total allocation for mental health services in 2024 is approximately €1.3 billion, which is the fourth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased. This increase in funding for mental health services represents a significant investment which will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: Both Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide and Sharing the Vision – Ireland's Mental Health Policy recognise that there are distinct factors affecting the mental health of priority groups. Priority groups are identified by the World Health Organization as individuals or groups who may have a higher risk of experiencing mental health difficulties...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: A Mental Health Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to replace the existing Mental Health Acts 2001 – 2018 and overhaul our approach to mental health legislation. While the Department expects many of the proposed changes in the new Bill to be dealt with generally within existing resources, some of the planned changes are expected to carry additional...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: The National Clinical Programmes (NCPs) are part of the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) in the HSE. The Mental Health Clinical Programmes are a joint initiative between this office, HSE Mental Health Services, and the College of Psychiatry of Ireland. The overarching aim of the NCPs is to standardise quality evidence based practice across the Mental Health Services. The NCPs for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for the question. We all know the importance of having GPs, especially in rural practice; we understand that. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, spoke this morning about the plans they have put in place. For every two GPs who retire now, between three and six are entering into training. It will take a couple of years for that to work through. The Deputy may wish to send me...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, was in here this morning with me at 9 a.m. answering questions on health for 90 minutes. Deputy Wynne put the question of University Hospital Limerick and the issues there to him. There is an acceptance and acknowledgement that there are a lot of issues with capacity but work on the new €90 million project,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for her question. I heard the report myself on "Morning Ireland". I will have to revert to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and the Department to get a written response for her.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Nursing Homes (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: On foot of a conversation we had in the House last year about an audit, I requested one. In 2022, the HSE carried out an audit on publicly-funded bed capacity across all nine community healthcare organisations, CHOs. We have 128 HSE public residential care centres for older people, many of which are classed as community hospitals. Subsequently, the HSE completed an in-depth bed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Nursing Homes (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: I, as a Minister of State, have been on the record, working with the Minister for Health, saying that I do not want to see any more public capacity close at any level. Upcoming projects in Galway include a new 60-bed unit in Merlin Park, an increase in capacity on the 25 already there, and a 40-bed unit in St. Anne's in Clifden. It was announced previously but progress is being made. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Nursing Homes (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: I have been deeply distressed and worried and have intervened and worked with HIQA, the Department and the HSE on Aperee nursing homes. Some 15 companies own 10,700 beds in the private sector. That is the reality of the situation with which we are dealing. On 6 September, I think, HIQA published 50 reports; 17 were compliant and 33 had non-compliance. I read each and every one. Six...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: We have bucked the trend in recruitment when it comes to mental health services. In 2021, a total of 659 people were working in CAMHS, whereas at the moment, there are 820. It is an area in which we have done well to recruit where posts have been available. By the end of next year, 900 whole-time equivalents will be working across the 75 CAMHS teams. Notwithstanding that, there are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: It is important to put some balance on the discussion. In 2020 and 2021, there were 33% more referrals to CAMHS. I have to build confidence in CAMHS and, as the Deputy conceded, a great deal of really good work is going on. Approximately 21% more children were seen during that period and that was at a very distressing time during Covid. Last year alone, CAMHS teams allocated 225,000...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for the question. Year-on-year funding for mental health services increased by €74 million from €1.221 billion announced in budget 2023 to almost €1.3 billion in 2024, with a strong focus on investing in youth mental health. Improving access to mental health services remains a commitment for me and my Department. To this end, funding for mental...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: Inisgile has been identified as the base for two new Dual Diagnosis Team(s) in the Mid-West Region. In addition, it will also provide outreach accommodation for the CAMHS teams operating in the East Clare area. The term “dual diagnosis” is used to describe a person who presents with a concurrent mental health disorder and a substance use disorder (SUD). The Model of Care for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service (9 Nov 2023)

Mary Butler: Improving access to home support is a priority for the Government. Since Budget 2021 I have secured an additional €228 million in funding. In 2023 the overall home care budget is €723 million. Across Cork and Kerry there are almost 7,500 people in receipt of a Home Support Service and at the end of August over 1.8 million home support hours had been provided year to date....