Results 3,401-3,420 of 12,087 for speaker:Mary Butler

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I spoke with representatives from the NTPF last week and speak to them regularly. I cannot advocate for one particular nursing home but what I did this year was-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: What I did this year was put €41 extra into the NTPF to support nursing homes. I also provided an additional €10 million on 1 July last year for the temporary inflation payment scheme, TIPS, which is still available. Each nursing home can claim up to €5,250 per month towards its inflationary costs for heating the home. Private nursing homes and voluntary nursing homes...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The nursing homes support scheme, NHSS, commonly referred to as fair deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. It was designed to protect and support vulnerable older people, to ensure equal access to nursing home care based on what they could afford. This gives certainty to people and families. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I am pleased to join the Leas-Chathaoirleach and members of the committee and to contribute to this important debate on services and supports provided by the State for autistic people. I thank the committee for bringing this matter to the attention of the Seanad. I particularly welcome the opportunity to discuss access to mental health services and congratulate the committee on all the work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: The Deputy certainly did.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question. I give credit to him, in that when I was Chair of the Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation during the term of the previous Dáil, his attendance was always great. It is lovely to see him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: Does Mr. Higgins wish to come in there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Mr. Higgins for that. Might Mr. O'Regan be able to answer the specific question about disability and where the HSE outsources some of its supports?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I think the Deputy's final question was about access, that is, a child with autism trying to access a CAMHS team. Will Dr. Niazi answer that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: Ms Gray can answer the Deputy's question about the timelines.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I will ask Mr. O'Regan to answer that question. If it was a mental health question specifically, I would answer it. I know it is of great frustration to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, that 700 whole-time equivalents are funded but it is proving very difficult to recruit. Regardless of whether it is public, private or voluntary, we are all dipping into the same pool, whether mental...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: We know, and we know exactly where the Senator is coming from. I am sorry that people feel that way, as that is not the intention.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: As the Senator knows, the Mental Health Commission is undertaking a review of CAMHS. The HSE is performing an independent review of CAMHS as well. I have convened a series of roundtable meetings-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator. At the start, I complimented this committee, which has done Trojan work and which has rightly put a focus on children and people with autism. I was delighted to attend an event in Waterford with Deputy Ó Cathasaigh. Waterford is trying to become the first autism-friendly city in Ireland. It is a three-year campaign. It was on a Sunday afternoon and there were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Joan Collins for that. Nobody will disagree with her in relation to recruitment and retention and the challenges there. Previous Governments may not have the funding, but there are 700 whole-time equivalent staff who are now funded for disability services. There are approximately 400 who are funded for mental services and who are currently going through the recruitment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: We can hear the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I thank Dr. Niazi for that. In the context of CAMHS, it is important, as Dr. Niazi noted, to state that we are looking at the model. We have 74 CAMHS teams that are not fully staffed. The question is whether we would be better off having fewer fully-staffed teams and a hub-and-spoke model in place. We are considering everything in this regard, and no decisions have been made. This is why...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: Obviously, I cannot comment on individual cases. If the Deputy wants to send on the details of that case, my two colleagues here will certainly look at it. Perhaps the broader picture is the issue whereby some young people are receiving supports up to age 18 and then age out. The Deputy referred to this young person as being 19. We are looking at that issue in respect of mental health....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: For everybody who is involuntarily detained in a mental health facility in our approved centres, of which we have 56 all over the country, the Mental Health Commission has a huge role to play. As Dr. Niazi said, each person is entitled to a tribunal with a solicitor and an advocate who is a consultant psychiatrist. The Mental Health Commission is in charge of these tribunals for every...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Mary Butler: I can.