Results 2,041-2,060 of 3,635 for speaker:Mark Ward

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: 819. To ask the Minister for Health if he will investigate the current impasse that seems to be preventing the undertaking of a health technology assessment for the Freestyle Libre device; if not, if a different process will be provided to enable an assessment to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23332/22]

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: The standard response I get back to a parliamentary question is that Tusla is committed to ensuring all children and young people who can no longer live with their parents or guardians at a particular time are provided with a safe alternative care placing. I presume that includes foster care. Can the pressure on foster carers lead to the practice of placing children in hotel-like accommodation?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: There was no question on people involved in foster care. Like Deputy Costello, I take my hat off to them. Fostering is a unique and humanistic approach to looking after people and needs to be welcomed. Going back to the children who may be placed in bespoke residential settings, including hotels, are they children with more complex needs?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: What supports do they get while they are in those bespoke residential settings?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: Absolutely. Is there an average length of time a child might find himself or herself in such a situation, or is it a question of how long is a piece of string?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: For clarification and for the benefit of people who might be watching these proceedings, bespoke settings include apartments and holiday, chalet and hotel accommodation.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: I welcome that directly employing occupational therapists and speech and language therapists was mentioned a few minutes ago. That is a really positive move forward-----

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: We have just increased the number by 100%. Brilliant stuff.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: It was mentioned that one of the key challenges foster carers face is the difficulty in accessing therapeutic services for children. Does that include child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS? There is a reason I ask that.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: In response to a parliamentary question I tabled, I was told that some children accessing CAMHS in south Kerry were also offered supports through Tusla. Parents have told me that social workers in Tusla often sit in on the consultations between the psychiatrist and the child. I have spoken to parents whose children were mistreated. I met those families in Tralee. They feel they were...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: What role does Tusla carry out in that regard? I am unsure of that. When Tusla social workers go to meet psychiatrists, are they there to represent or to advocate for the child or to support the parent? What is their role?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: Without identifying any individual, of the 246 children mentioned in the Maskey report, were any under the care of Tusla?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues and the Loss of Positive Care Services: Engagement with Tusla (10 May 2022)

Mark Ward: Absolutely.

Accommodation Needs of Those Fleeing Ukraine: Statements (5 May 2022)

Mark Ward: I acknowledge the work of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Yout hand how successful it has been throughout this crisis. As the Minister will know, I am a member of the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth. Everything seems to fall under the remit of that committee. I have spoken in the past about the mental health...

Accommodation Needs of Those Fleeing Ukraine: Statements (5 May 2022)

Mark Ward: The Minister also mentioned yesterday that he does not interrupt people when they speak. I would appreciate it if he would have the courtesy to not do so now. On Tuesday, representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage told the joint committee that what the Minister said about such housing being used for Ukrainian refugees was not the case. There seem to be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (5 May 2022)

Mark Ward: 91. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if families in local authority homes will be allowed to host Ukrainian families and not be in breach of their tenancy agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15029/22]

Rising Rental Costs: Motion [Private Members] (4 May 2022)

Mark Ward: The rental system is in crisis. The average rent in my area now stands at more than €1,900 per month. Ordinary workers and families are being pushed to the pin of their collar. The increases in the cost of living have had a terrible impact on people in my community. This week, there have been increases in the price of electricity by 24% and of gas by a whopping 32%. The Government...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 May 2022)

Mark Ward: 133. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports that are available for persons who cannot read or write to assist them in sitting the driver theory test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22228/22]