Results 261-280 of 1,039,376 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:David Cullinane OR speaker:Alan Farrell) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Primary Care Centres (13 Jun 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister. As he outlined, the comprehensive services that will be provided at the centre will be most welcome. I understand that a number of GPs are waiting patiently to see whether they can locate themselves there. It will be a fantastic facility when it is eventually built. Separately, while the Minister might not have a response to hand, we are also awaiting a primary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Primary Care Centres (13 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I will certainly ask the Department to revert to the Deputy on the Mayfield primary care centre as a matter of urgency. I echo his positive comments about the new ophthalmology services out of Ballincollig. For many years in Cork, circumstances simply have not been acceptable, whereby people could not get access to cataract appointments in a timely manner, but we are making that a thing of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2024)

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2024)

Duncan Smith: 14. To ask the Minister for Health if he has plans to provide State funding to an organisation (details supplied) that is currently fully reliant on donations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25063/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2024)

Duncan Smith: Does the Minister have any plans to provide State funding to the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association to help it carry out its ongoing work?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for the question, and the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association for the work it does in supporting and advocating for patients. Lung fibrosis, as he will be aware, refers to a group of diseases in which scar tissue develops in the lungs. I have been advised by the HSE that the national clinical director for integrated care has requested that a scoping exercise be undertaken to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jun 2024)

Gino Kenny: I had my head in my hands there because the level of despair about the lack of progress on this issue is palpable. Those who have been campaigning on this issue have been frustrated, to say the least. Since the legislation was introduced in 2019 and the medical cannabis access programme, MCAP, was set up, only 50 people have received access to the programme. It is too restrictive. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jun 2024)

Gino Kenny: -----and some people have to go to the black market, which is bizarre. Some people have to do without. That is just not acceptable when we have a programme that is up and running, but is largely stagnant in getting people access to these particular products.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I apologise, I was just chasing up one or two bits for him there. I hear what he is saying about the campaigners and their demands for the process to move more quickly, and that is exactly what we have done. The process that was set out in 2021 was for the review to start in 2026. We were going to wait for five years to gather sufficient evidence. The review would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jun 2024)

Gino Kenny: I think the Minister, personally, is a good supporter of this issue and that he wants to see progress. Who will be on that working group? Is there a timeline for when it will finish its work? In the past, we have seen groups being set up, and it takes forever for them to come back with recommendations. The HRB report does recommend that the programme needs to expand. If it does not, I do...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jun 2024)

Gino Kenny: -----and that would be a huge shame. Whatever your doubts about medical cannabis may be, it can be a hugely beneficial medical intervention for some people and particularly for some conditions, although not all. Some people will use it for all conditions and that is their business, but there is really good evidence to show that we should expand this programme. If it does not expand, I do...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. It is very clear that there are beneficial effects. We currently have four authorised cannabis products, namely, Epidiolex, with which 184 patients have now been prescribed, Sativex, nabilone and dronabinol. There are 184 patients on Epidiolex and, while I do not have the figures for the others, I know that is the biggest group. We are taking it very seriously and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Facilities (13 Jun 2024)

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Facilities (13 Jun 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: 12. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the newly announced additional beds he plans to deliver for Ennis Hospital and the mid-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25770/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Facilities (13 Jun 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: I ask the Minister to provide an update on the newly announced additional beds he plans to deliver for Ennis Hospital and the mid-west region.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Facilities (13 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I would be delighted to do so, and I thank the Deputy for asking the question and giving me the opportunity. The new beds plan, as the Deputy will be aware, is for 3,500 beds, which is on top of the 1,200 that have already been delivered. It is a game-changer. Between those that have been delivered and those that are coming, there are nearly 5,000 beds. Critically, to the core of Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Facilities (13 Jun 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: This is a very welcome announcement for the region and it has been received very well locally. I agree it is a strong statement of intent and I want to acknowledge the commitment to increase capacity at Ennis Hospital. As we know, the population increase is in line with national statistics of 8%. That is a reality that needs to be planned for and delivered on. I know that a theatre...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Facilities (13 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I can be very clear that the beds plan will have no negative impact on the projects that are currently planned. We are doing both. It is part of an ongoing investment in Ennis Hospital, which really is going from strength to strength. As the Deputy will be aware, a new outpatient department was opened in 2021. Importantly, a new injury unit was opened in 2022. It is...