Results 3,341-3,360 of 11,404 for speaker:Mary Butler

Written Answers — Department of Health: Information and Communications Technology (21 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Information and Communications Technology (21 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health (Amendment) (Dual Diagnosis: No Wrong Door) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: We will have it in the next two weeks. We checked that today.

Health (Amendment) (Dual Diagnosis: No Wrong Door) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I am sorry for interrupting.

Health (Amendment) (Dual Diagnosis: No Wrong Door) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: Dáil Éireann: — recognises that the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use will consider the legislative, policy and operational changes the State could make to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families, communities, and wider...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Home Care Packages (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He is correct that we have an ageing population. It is something we must endorse and embrace and that is what we are doing. The World Health Organization, WHO, has determined that we have the highest life expectancy in Europe, at 82 years of age. I am conscious of the Minister's comment a few minutes ago that we hear a lot of negativity but to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Home Care Packages (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: Work is ongoing in the Department to progress the development of the new home support scheme. This involves a lot of complicated work, as the Deputy will understand. There is a regulatory framework comprising primary legislation for the licensing of home support providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations and HIQA national standards that are in development. All this has the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Home Care Packages (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: The Deputy makes a valid point. There are many people in our country who are not in a position to work and are highly qualified and skilled. They can work now after six months but we are sitting on a lot of people who have expertise.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Home Care Packages (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: We want to promote home care as a viable career opportunity. I worked very closely with the former Minister of State, Deputy English. On 1 January this year - we are six weeks into the process now - 1,000 permits were issued for people from outside the EU to come here and provide home care. We hope they will do so. This approach worked in the nursing home sector, where 2,640 permits have...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Home Care Packages (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Home Care Packages (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy O'Dowd for his comments. I am on the same page as him. I will never compromise on standards.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Home Care Packages (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: We never want to see a Leas Cross again. There is no compromise and I will be bringing in more regulation for HIQA later this year as part of the statutory home care scheme. I also agree with the Deputy that the State must take a more active role in the care of older people and I said so at the weekend. I think all the Deputies present agree with me on this. As they are aware, the care of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Bereavement Counselling (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I do not disagree with the Deputy. With regard to the level 4 specialist trauma informed bereavement counselling, the NCS provides trauma informed bereavement counselling for more complex cases in some CHO areas, so we have that in CHOs 1, 8 and 9, although not in the other six areas. This service is available to both medical card and non-medical card holders, which is very important, and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mental Health Services (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: In total there were 168 children lost to follow-up. There were 140 in CHO 3 in the Limerick area. They were identified by the team there before the Mental Health Commission had come in. It was a result of a lack of staff. There were only three consultant psychiatrists working there and at present there are seven. The other 28 were between three other CHOs. My understanding is that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mental Health Services (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Ward. I agree that it will be a catalyst. I want to make several points. I asked for all of these audits and reviews to be put in place 12 months ago, as a result of the Maskey report in Kerry. The main concern I had after the report was for the 240 children in Kerry at risk and the 48 who had significant harm caused to them. There were many challenges but the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Bereavement Counselling (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Smith. I am delighted that he has raised this issue. It is not something that we get to discuss very much. It is only when people are bereaved that they use these supports. It is important that people know they are available. Responsibility for bereavement counselling and associated services lies across a variety of services areas. This is why it can be confusing for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Bereavement Counselling (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Smith. He is aware of Rethink Ireland, which is an organisation that funds various supports. Recently I visited the Solas Centre in Waterford. One of the programmes it runs is to provide information and supports for teachers in schools with a child in the class who has lost a parent to cancer or where a child has died of cancer. We have found this to be very effective. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mental Health Services (16 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I will respond to the Deputy's third question first. As he will be aware, the national implementation and monitoring committee, NIMC, is the oversight body in charge of ensuring Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone is delivered. A sub-committee which reports to me every three months has recently been formed. Its reports are on the NIMC website. The sub-committee was in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Verona Murphy for her continued advocacy concerning CAMHS services, particularly in the Wexford area. All aspects of CAMHS will be developed under the forthcoming HSE service plan 2023. The Deputy is correct. There are two CAMHS teams in Wexford. One has a very low waiting list while the other has a higher waiting list. I was able to visit Arden House in Wexford last year....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Government and myself as Minister of State working with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, are completely supportive of the nursing home sector. A sum of €1.5 billion will be provided this year to support 22,500 people who avail of the fair deal. Some 80% of nursing homes are run by voluntary and private organisations. Less than 4% of...