Results 31,101-31,120 of 46,095 for speaker:Simon Harris

Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I was just checking. I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 14 together. I thank Deputy MacSharry and Deputy O'Callaghan for their questions on waiting times at Sligo University Hospital and the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden this can place on patients and their families. Reducing...

Other Questions: Respite Care Services Data (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I do not think that the Deputy is in any way incorrect. In fact, she is entirely correct. There is not a Deputy on this side of the House or the other who is unaware of the fact that there is unmet need. To be honest, developing a policy to address it will be challenging. The Deputy will be fair enough to acknowledge that this is not just a resourcing issue. Also involved is the...

Other Questions: Respite Care Services Data (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: No.

Other Questions: Respite Care Services Data (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Sure.

Other Questions: Respite Care Services Data (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: It is not.

Other Questions: Respite Care Services Data (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Let me clarify.

Other Questions: Respite Care Services Data (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: That is not what home sharing relates to. Home sharing relates to a situation whereby - this goes along with the decongregation agenda - one can safely and appropriately enable a number of people with disabilities to share a space within the community. If I did not explain that clearly, I am happy to do so now. The Deputy is correct, and there is no point in beating around the bush....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospitals Building Programme (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I will endeavour to answer Deputy Connolly's question specifically. She is correct that in May I gave my approval to the Saolta University Healthcare Group to conduct an options appraisal in respect of the future acute hospital needs in Galway. The structure of the hospital groups is such that my approval is not required for such an analysis to be carried out. It is the responsibility of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospitals Building Programme (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I do not disagree with anything the Deputy said. When people want responsibility to be devolved to the regions rather than exercised centrally, they must seize this responsibility. I have given the Saolta hospital group approval for the appraisal, if it ever needed it, and an assurance that the Department will meet the funding costs required to carry out a proper detailed appraisal. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospitals Building Programme (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: What I am telling the Deputy is that I expect an options appraisal paper by mid-2018, if not earlier. I would welcome the paper as soon as the Saolta group has completed it. The paper will indicate to the Government, Oireachtas and HSE how the group would like to develop its services. It is not for me to tell it how it should develop its services. What is the point in having a group and...

Other Questions: Respite Care Services Data (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. We discussed this matter yesterday at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Health. I am very much aware of the importance of respite service provision for the families of children and adults with disabilities, including the impact the absence of respite service provision can have on other parts of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Staff Recruitment (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I do not have a figure to hand for the conversion of agency staff to permanent staff here but I will revert to the Deputy directly on that. I am sure the Deputy did not intend it in respect of the maternity strategy but I can assure her, challenges aside, that it is not a document gathering dust in my Department. We are moving ahead with the plans to relocate one of our stand-alone...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Staff Recruitment (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: That is not true

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Staff Recruitment (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: We did that in the agreement I reached with nursing unions. I also signed a section 10 direction to the HSE. The last time such a direction was signed by a health Minister was when Mary Harney brought about the policy of co-location. It is the strongest instrument available to a Minister. In this case, it delegates the sanction for the employment of nurses directly to directors of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Health Care Policy (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kelleher for his timely question. The Government is committed to making tangible and sustained improvements to our health services. I believe genuinely that the Sláintecare report now provides a framework and a direction of travel to do this. We have a level of consensus and support for the vision and strategic direction outlined in the report that is unprecedented in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Health Care Policy (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is entirely correct. As a member of the committee which published the report, he will be more familiar even than me with the debates which took place. The call for an impact study by the committee was sensible. We all want to get to a position where we can decouple the public from the private; certainly, I do. It is ethically questionable that we have a situation in the Irish...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Health Care Policy (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I think so, yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Health Care Policy (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Yes. It is my strong view that we do not need to wait for the implementation plan at the end of the year to make progress on this. I will be happy to discuss the terms of reference with Members across the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Staff Recruitment (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: There is a degree of chicken and egg in this case. The Deputy referred to the poor quality work environment but to improve that we need more people to work in the public health service. I appeal to people, in particular our young graduates from nursing and medical school, to work with us and to give the Irish health service a chance as we enter a period of reinvestment. The staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I supported the establishment of the cross-party Committee on the Future of Healthcare and have consistently supported its work. I have welcomed the publication of the Sláintecare report and in particular I have been encouraged by the level of cross party and stakeholder support that it has attracted. The Government is committed to making tangible and sustainable improvements in...