Results 2,541-2,560 of 11,187 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 81. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department plans to offer healthcare benefits to members of the Defence Forces and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29521/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (20 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 411. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider increasing the income means threshold for carer’s allowance given the cost-of-living increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29277/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 568. To ask the Minister for Health if he and his Department will actively engage with community pharmacists regarding the review of dispensing fees in advance of the upcoming 30 June 2023 deadline; if he will fully consider the introduction of a flat fee model of care of reimbursement of €6.50 per medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29092/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 570. To ask the Minister for Health if he will actively engage with the community pharmacy sector to ensure that the highly complex nature and operation of community pharmacy schemes is recognised and that community pharmacists are reimbursed appropriately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29094/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 571. To ask the Minister for Health to take the necessary steps to ensure that community pharmacists achieve pay parity with other health care workers, who have seen their pay increased on average by 14% per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29095/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 572. To ask the Minister for Health if he and his Department will actively engage with community pharmacists to begin contract discussions with them, as was pledged under the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29096/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 569. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the restoration of community pharmacists pay is in line with public service pay agreements, prior to FEMPI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29093/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (15 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 6. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what action is being taken to improve processing times of paper-based renewal and first-time passport applications, in view that the current processing time is eight weeks, and in particular the efforts to fast-track those applications of which queries have been raised as this can often lead to extended delays in the processing; and if he...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (15 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: 63. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to advise what action his Department is taking to ensure there are no delays in the processing of passport applications during the busy summer months, in particular the efforts to fast-track those for which queries have been raised as this can often lead to extended delays in processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their attendance and contributions. I will begin with an area about which I am concerned, which relates to radiation therapists. My understanding is that there is now a shortfall of up to 40% in the number of radiation therapists we require. I also understand that at any one time, 45 people are coming through training in the country, with 30 in Trinity College...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: We have machines lying idle. This needs to be urgently reviewed. I understand that last year, there was a 15% shortfall. As we speak, I understand it is now a 40% shortfall. The last thing we need is people being delayed access to radiation and chemotherapy. I ask that this be prioritised.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Perhaps Mr. Gloster will come back to me on what action has been taken on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: I know but the problem is that if we do not have the staff to man them we will be in difficulty. There is another training issue, which is the need for Departments to co-ordinate. I understand that UCC is prepared to make available additional training places but the trainees also need to have access to clinical places in hospitals for the training process. There is a need for co-ordination...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Second, I want to raise the issue of discharge from hospitals. While I know everything is being done to try to expedite this, even as we sit here, I understand that anything up to 500 people are in hospital who should not be there but should be discharged. I have tabled a parliamentary question regarding someone who has been in St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin for two and a half...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Two and a half years. I still have not received a reply to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: My understanding is that a place was identified two years ago for the patient in St. Vincent's but there seems to be a stand-off as regards who is taking responsibility. Two and a half years later, a bed is being occupied at high cost to the State because a place is not available in a hospital.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: I will move on to the issue of elective hospitals. The Secretary General referred to this. We have identified a site in Cork and appointed a design team. When is it believed we can go forward to making a planning application? Is there a timeframe? I fully understand the Department does not have overall control of the design team but timelines are being set out. What timeline are we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: Does Mr. Watt think we will have a planning application ready to go before the end of this year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: My next question is on three facilities which the HSE has in Cork. Mallow General Hospital is to have 48 beds for run-of-the-mill patient care and 40 rooms have been built. I have received a letter from the chief executive of the South/South West Hospital Group this week. There seems to be no plan for what the 40 rooms will be used for. The other two facilities in Cork are Heather House,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Colm Burke: We will have to downscale the number of beds in the old Mallow hospital, however, and transfer them to the new unit.