Results 3,841-3,860 of 11,404 for speaker:Mary Butler

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Tolls (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I think I drew the short straw today. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I was very glad that I was here for Leaders' Questions because this issue was raised and the Tánaiste answered and it was also raised under Questions on Promised Legislation. I reiterate what the Tánaiste said today. He said that we are not happy about it and that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I agree.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Family Law Cases (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I convey the apologies of my colleague, the Minster for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who cannot be here for this matter due to another commitment. I am happy to respond on her behalf. On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this important matter and for giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on some issues. As the Deputy is aware, I am unable to comment on any...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I compliment the Oireachtas committee members who have taken such an interest in the Spring Lane halting site. I am aware of the ombudsman's report. It is disappointing to hear from all three Deputies that things have not improved after the site having been visited and funding provided. I agree wholeheartedly that these issues need to be addressed urgently. I am taking this Topical Issue...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: As regards the points made, it appears that plans are in place for a long-term solution, with €6 million having been approved by the Department for plans under way by the council for the development of a group housing scheme at the adjacent and disused Ellis Yard and the redevelopment of Spring Lane and Ellis Yard. Officials from Cork City Council have been in ongoing engagement with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I know the Deputy has raised this issue on several occasions. To conclude, there were four occasions where the Minister had decided not to include all of the recommendations made by the office, and they were in regard to Kerry, Cork, Westmeath and Laois. For each of the four, the Minister has prepared and submitted a statement of reason to both Houses of the Oireachtas as to why he had not...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien; and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. I wish the Minister of State the very best as well. I thank Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan for his question on the activities of the OPR concerning county and city development plans. It is probable that the Deputy has already heard much of the response I am...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care Services (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care Services (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (17 Nov 2022)

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: Care Services (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I thank the Cathaoirleach and members for the invitation to this meeting of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters. I am joined today by Ms Siobhán McArdle, assistant secretary, of the social care, mental health and drugs policy division and Dr. Philip Dodd, mental health policy and clinical specialist, in the Department of Health; and by Mr. Niall Brunell, principal officer,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question. I will work in reverse. With regard to CHO 9 and the lack of peer support workers, the whole premise of Sharing the Vision, our new mental health policy, is key supports in the community with peer support and people with lived experience of recovery, hospitals and all the community supports needed. I am surprised to hear that and I will look into it. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I ask Dr. Dodd to respond to the question on dual diagnoses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: The new policy we work off does. Everybody welcomed that. The Deputy is correct; people can present with mental health illness but that might be masked by addiction to drugs or alcohol. Previously, that was perhaps a reason that mental health issues could not be addressed. That is no longer the way. We are building on that but it takes time. We started, as Dr. Dodd said, with some pilot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: That comes under the remit the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and not mine. I take the Deputy's point, especially regarding older people. In my constituency in County Waterford, the social housing stock is where the challenge is. The budget is always tighter, whereas people who own their homes can avail of the budget more quickly in my experience in Waterford at least....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator for her questions. On the recruitment piece and the strategic workforce advisory group, SWAG, one of the most important issues in the delivery of home care is that there must be agreed standards. Deputy Ellis raised this as well. Legislation is coming in the new year on standards for home care across public, private and voluntary providers. That is important....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Tully for her continued interest. At the outset I want to say that she did raise the issue previously about personalised hours for home care in the Dáil and I checked it out afterwards; I apologise as I did not realise they were available in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 1 although it is not available across the other CHOs. This used to be available previously...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Mary Butler: I agree with the Deputy in that one does not want a situation in which somebody might only be up for six hours per day. However, we face challenges because many people who deliver home care work split shifts and wish to go home in the evening. I often hear from families that they do not wish for their mother or father to be put to bed at 6 p.m., but in fairness, the home care worker has...