Results 341-360 of 11,183 for speaker:Colm Burke

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...

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

Colm Burke: I take on board what the Senator is saying about the timeline. It is a very tight timeline from November to 1 January. However, the programme I referred to earlier is a €60 million programme over five years to implement measures where water quality is at risk from agriculture. A fund is being provided to assist with this. Ireland must demonstrate water quality improvements and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: I am dealing with this on behalf of the Minister for housing. I thank Senator Ward for raising this important issue with regard to the requirement on local authorities to define the bathing season for the designated bathing sites in their jurisdiction. The Bathing Water Quality (Amendment) Regulations, which were published on 28 June 2024, were brought into law to facilitate the local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: It is an important issue and I will convey that to the Department. The response I received sets out that water quality sampling is carried out by local authorities around Dublin Bay all year round. The Senator obviously disagrees with that. I will convey his concerns to the Department about ensuring proper monitoring 52 weeks of the year. That is important but it is important as well that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: The National Drug Related Death Index (NDRDI) is the official national database for recording poisoning deaths among people who use drugs. It meets the mandatory reporting requirements of the EU and the UN on drug-related mortality, as well as being widely used to provide evidence for national policy and planning. The Health Research Board (HRB) is responsible for compiling and reporting on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (3 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 Health: Substance Misuse (3 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: The Health Research Board has reported that 354 drug-induced deaths were recorded in 2021. This is 85 fewer deaths than in 2020, a reduction of 20 per cent. Opioids are responsible for 7 in 10 deaths in 2021 and continue to play a major role in drug poisoning deaths. Naloxone is a lifesaving drug that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is subject to...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Colm Burke: I am delighted to announce a further investment from budget 2025 for health and well-being, and the national drug strategy. Some €9.5 million will be used to support a range of health and well-being initiatives, including physical, sexual and reproductive health. Building on the success of Sláintecare healthy communities, we have secured €1.2 million to extend the...