Results 321-340 of 11,170 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (10 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, is a health-led response to drug and alcohol use, and it runs from 2017 to 2025. The Strategic action plan for 2023-2024, contains 34 actions across six strategic priorities. Three of the strategic priorities have a focus on alcohol use: strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use and the associated harms among children...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: 112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason, under the tenant purchase scheme, it is stated that only occupants of three-bedroom houses can purchase their homes through the incremental purchase scheme; if consideration would be given to amending the scheme to permit occupants of houses with less bedrooms to purchase their homes under the scheme; and if he...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (9 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: The National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) is the national surveillance system that records and reports on cases of drug and alcohol treatment in Ireland. It is compiled annually to provide information on treatment demand and provides important data to allow services to deliver what is required. NDTRS data for 2023, published by the Health Research Board, shows there were 13,104...

Spending of Public Funds by the Government: Motion [Private Members] (8 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: Targeted waiting list activity in 2024 is focused on those waiting more than 12 months. A real improvement has been delivered in mental health services, particularly in youth mental health.

Spending of Public Funds by the Government: Motion [Private Members] (8 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: The Government has provided significant additional investment to enhance all aspects of our mental health care, including that of children and young people. This is in line with our mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, and our suicide reduction strategy, Connecting for Life. Good progress continues to be made on the implementation of both policies. Over the lifetime of the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: 158. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given to the provision of additional financial supports for small businesses in the health and safety sector, given that, while the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland loans assist many businesses, the interest rates have increased, leading to a demand for alternative financial supports; and if he...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: 159. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given by his Department to implement regular consultation with small local businesses to target specific challenges and needs that they face, as this would ensure the creation of relevant and effective support measures for said businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40078/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: 198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider including sensory pods in the sensory room grant given schools that do not have the space or capacity for a room dedicated to provide a sensory space, sensory pods are a suitable alternative for these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40056/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: 302. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who submitted an appeal on 15 November 2023 with regard to benefit payment for 65-year-olds has not yet received a decision on the matter; when a decision is likely to be reached in this case; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39961/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: 303. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension appeal (details supplied); when a decision will be likely to be reached in this case given that the appeal was submitted some time ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39965/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (8 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October 2023. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla (Atógáil) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Prison Service (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: I set out in my reply that there are 19 addiction counsellors working across 11 prisons, providing an invaluable rehabilitative service to prisoners, and it is hoped that in the coming months this service will be further enhanced. I understand the point the Deputy has raised but believe there is now a commitment to further expand the role of the nurses. I hope that will happen over the next...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla (Atógáil) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Prison Service (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: I too wish to send my condolences to the family of Mary O’Rourke. I first met Mary when she was a Minister and I was the Lord Mayor of Cork in 2003. We had an entertaining engagement because, as Lord Mayor of Cork, one of the jobs you have is to visit every school in the city and grant a half-day. Her colleague, Noel Dempsey, withdrew the right to grant the half-day. I remember...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: I understand where the Deputy is coming from regarding children with special needs who have particular requirements. That needs to be taken on board. As I outlined in my reply, my understanding is that there has been full consultation with parents, schools, Bus Éireann and politicians. There inevitably will be teething problems with the scheme. I hope they will be resolved shortly...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: I apologise that the Minister for Education is not able to be here. She asked me to deputise for her and express her apologies on her behalf. Before I address the specific issue raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. The scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023-24 school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Policy (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue. The last time I was in this House and I raised this issue, the Minister who replied was someone who had haemochromatosis. I thank Senator Conway for the opportunity to speak on it in the Seanad on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. Haemochromatosis is a hereditary condition, common in Ireland, in which...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Policy (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: In fairness, following the changes that have occurred in the past three or four years, many people who were going to hospital are now going to their GP, which is a major improvement. In addition, because of the extension of the GP card criteria, many more people are able to attend their GP without having to pay a charge. The Minister for Health is committed to the delivery of treatments...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: Before I give my reply on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, I wish to indicate that I fully understand the importance of primary care centres. Where they have been established, they have made a major contribution to local areas in the context of providing comprehensive healthcare. I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter and for the opportunity to update the House in respect of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: On behalf of the Minister, I thank Senator Byrne for raising this issue. I acknowledge his commitment. He has been working on this project for quite some time. I commend his involvement in the development of the primary care centre and his continued advocacy on behalf of the people of Gorey. As I stated in my opening remarks, the HSE has confirmed to the Minister that the Gorey primary...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: I am here on behalf of the Minister for housing. I thank Senator Lombard for raising the issue of the work being carried out by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to secure the renewal of Ireland's nitrates derogation from 1 January 2026. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is...