Results 2,441-2,460 of 3,611 for speaker:Mark Ward

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Extension of Notice Periods) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: Sinn Féin is criticised by the Government for not providing solutions to the issues of the day. Week after week and day after day we come to this Chamber with viable solutions on housing, health, mental health, education and practically everything else. In fact, our spokesperson for housing and my constituency colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, has provided that many solutions on housing...

Appropriation Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I did not think I was going to get in today. Deputy Boyd Barrett has covered everything on the spectrum, fair play to him. I would like to have a debate on one of the funding streams announced in budget 2022 in October, which was €10 million in one-off funding model for mental health. This was a once-off initiative which had to be realised by the end of 2021, meaning it was a...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I was an early school leaver, and I know the challenges out there. I come from a family of early school leavers, and this was not by choice but more because of need. I am showing my age but even getting to do the intermediate certificate was an achievement for someone in my family in getting that far. That is not to say anything about my parents, who did their best. They were early school...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: They are directed to the National One Parent Family Alliance, An Cosán and the National Women's Council.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I appreciate the opportunity to speak to the witnesses. I do not know the Owenacurra centre or east Cork but I do know that people have rights. Deputy Buckley has filled me in on what went on in the past. There seems to have been a failure on the part of the HSE and successive Governments to properly resource the centre and this is coming home to roost now. It reminds me of a saying that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I am sorry to interrupt but, without breaking confidentiality, have all 15 residents nominated a family member?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: Have all 15 residents got family support?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I have another question for Dr. O'Brien who said that the numbers requiring continuing care are declining, from her perspective. She also said that while there is increasing demand for mental health services, there will be a decrease in the demand for the likes of the Owenacurra centre, a 24-7 mental health facility. At this very moment in time, however, only 5.4% of the overall health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I live in the real world as well. The reality is there will be a need for a 24-hour service encompassing a community mental health facility in east Cork. With the closing of Owenacurra, it means the service will be gone for the people of east Cork. A number of members have said that is not good enough. It is heartbreaking. I again read testimonies yesterday of the residents living there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: Absolutely. I go back to my very first point, which is that some of these matters were raised in numerous reports over the years. These were either not looked into or taken seriously enough, or else there was not the will from the HSE at that stage to close Owenacurra. There is definitely a need to have a retrospective and independent inquiry to find out what the failures from the HSE were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE (14 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: We could go back to other reports by the Mental Health Commission and use the same arguments to close down other facilities. Deputy Hourigan's point earlier about weaponising the report of the Mental Health Commission is valid.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (9 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: This is part of Sinn Féin policy. It was part of our alternative budget. It would cost €6.8 million to roll this out across each CHO throughout the State. I welcome the involvement of the University of Limerick. Research is very valuable. I read out statistics from the pilot rolled out in Belfast. We can see how invaluable the service was. The Minister of State mentioned...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (9 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss this pilot project in Limerick for a multi-agency mental health de-escalation team. It is a mouthful, but it is a really welcome initiative. When I got the role of spokesperson on mental health, I said that I would work in a tangible real way in opposition. I will welcome initiatives that are good. As was mentioned, the triage team...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Eating Disorders (8 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: 169. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the eating disorder service in Mount Carmel Community Hospital, Dublin 14 that was due to open in 2021. [60771/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Eating Disorders (8 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: 170. To ask the Minister for Health the cost overruns for the delay in the eating disorder service in Mount Carmel Community Hospital, Dublin 14 that was due to open in 2021. [60772/21]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: There has been a deliberate attempt to erode community resilience across many Departments, and not only the Department of Health. Last week, it was about dismantling the local jobs clubs, and this week it relates to community involvement in the drugs strategy. There seems to be a direct threat from the Government to communities and their resilience. Any chance the Government has to erode...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: The Minister of State mentioned in his statement that there had been a misunderstanding on the part of CityWide. I have worked with front-line organisations in addiction centres, and they have experience of the way things work. They do not make mistakes or misunderstand what is happening. CityWide was unequivocal in what it said: it did seek a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy...

Dublin Fire Brigade: Motion [Private Members] (7 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: I thank my colleague, Deputy Paul Donnelly. The Deputy and I often have a little bit of banter about the northside and the southside of Dublin, which the Minister will know about from being a Dub. There are some things that unite us, such as the likes of the Dublin GAA team and the value that we place on Dublin Fire Brigade. I sat in on Leaders' Questions this morning and I heard the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

Mark Ward: 595. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of mental health liaisons to be placed in emergency departments as provided for in the HSE winter plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60337/21]