Results 361-380 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (5 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: Free fuel (FF) allowance is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. Based on the information provided to the Department, the person concerned did not qualify for this allowance as their household includes people who are not in a qualifying category. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 21 January...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Reviews (5 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The Department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on 06 February 2018. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied....

Seanad: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank Members for the opportunity to speak this afternoon about disability. It is important that we have these debates to keep the disability issue live in mainstream politics. I am particularly pleased to have this opportunity in the context of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was marked yesterday. This is a UN sanctioned day, which is celebrated internationally...

Seanad: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: It is very democratic and inclusive here.

Seanad: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank Senators for their contributions. They have a genuine interest and regularly attend these debates. I always make it my business to come to the House to deal with this issue. Plenty of people have different issues and problems, but that is my job and I have no problem with that. I thank all Members for their genuine interest and for advancing the position of people with...

Seanad: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: I have engaged with the IWA and the HSE. I raised the concerns the Senator raised in the House last week with regard to staff, the way they were treated, funding and so forth. That is ongoing.What I am saying to colleagues is that I am in favour of choice and respite services. I spent yesterday meeting disabled people who use Cuisle and I made a point of listening to what they were saying...

Seanad: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: The board of the Irish Wheelchair Association made a decision. Incidentally, one third of the board is made up of people with physical disabilities. That decision was the board's choice. While I had nothing to do with the situation, I am always open to working with people to resolve conflict. With regard to the assessment of need, it is absolutely correct to state there is an issue. I...

Seanad: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: Part of the remit of those associated with the national disability inclusion strategy concerns transport. This fits in with what Senator Conway is saying, namely, that the UN convention is not just aspirational and that we need to give it teeth and make it deliver. Having a special debate here at some time on employment for people with disabilities would help me. Having such a debate in...

Seanad: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: With regard to the mobility scheme, I should not say it but there are two Bills. I have mine and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has its one. There is a bit of a debate on the mobility aspect. The Senator is right that we need to get on with it. Behind the scenes, I am pushing the view that the scheme is too narrow. There is no debate about that. We all know there is a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service Provision (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Discharges (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Rehabilitative Training Allowance Payments (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: The Government has decided to pay a Christmas Bonus of 100% of the weekly rate to recipients of the Rehabilitative Training (RT) Bonus payment, with payment to be made as early as possible in December 2019. Accordingly, the Health Service Executive (HSE) are authorised to arrange the payment to current recipients of the RT bonus. As the issue is now a service matter, I have arranged for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Recruitment (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (4 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: I confirm that an application from this gentleman for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 20 May 2019. The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim. The application has been...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pharmacy Services (3 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Corcoran Kennedy for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minster for Health. The Minister values the important role that community pharmacists play in the delivery of holistic patient care in the health service. He has given a clear commitment to commencing a thorough review of the pharmacy contract in 2020. It will address the role to be played...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pharmacy Services (3 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: I take the Deputy's points. I reiterate the Minister's appreciation for community pharmacists in delivering care to patients and I restate his desire for contractual discussions to commence early in the new year so as to enable their role to be further developed in the context of health service reform and modernisation. However, the Minister is also cognisant of the fact that regulations...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (3 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I agree with him on it and am well aware of the valuable work of the National Platform of Self Advocates. I am glad to have the opportunity to address this issue on this important International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (3 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: Clearly, a central goal of the Government's disability service reform is to support people with disabilities to enable them to live independent lives in the community and to make their own choices and decisions. The national platform, as far as I am concerned, is one of the organisations that does this effectively. I have worked with those involved during the past three years since I became...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (3 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: The Government’s approach to meeting the terms of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is one of sustained and ongoing improvement. Work is continuing on the reforms needed for an optimum level of compliance with the Convention's requirements. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017 – 2021 provides an important mechanism for joined-up...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (3 Dec 2019)

Finian McGrath: The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015 - 2024 sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who are able to, and want to, work are supported and enabled to do so. People with disabilities are only half as likely to be in employment as others of working age. The reasons for this are complex, and include employer know-how, low...