Results 4,781-4,800 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Sales Legislation (13 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: The Government has approved an extensive package of measures to deal with alcohol misuse to be incorporated in a Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. These measures are based on the recommendations contained in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, 2012. The package of measures to be implemented will include provision for minimum unit pricing, regulation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Safety (13 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: As Minister for Health, patient safety is a major priority for me. This commitment is borne out by my decision to establish a new Patient Safety Agency (PSA). The PSA will be established initially on an administrative basis within the HSE structures in 2014. The HSE will establish a Board to oversee the PSA and agree its initial governance and operational arrangements. A key role for the...

Topical Issues: Ambulance Service Provision (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: A significant development programme has been under way in recent years across all areas of the National Ambulance Service. The service continues to modernise and reconfigure its services to ensure emergency pre-hospital care is delivered in an appropriate and timely manner. Since 2012, in particular, there have been significant changes in rostering and work organisation arrangements for...

Topical Issues: Ambulance Service Provision (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: The Deputy is not too bad at the old flowery language himself. We need to stick to the facts. There has been a great deal of investment in the National Ambulance Service in recent years. We have not diminished the number of ambulances. In fact, we have added to that number by providing intermediate care vehicles and using different vehicles for inter-hospital transfers, which were...

Topical Issues: Ambulance Service Provision (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: I did not interrupt the Deputy.

Topical Issues: Ambulance Service Provision (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: The National Ambulance Service has advised that there was no removal of an ambulance at Cashel over the Christmas period in 2013. However, short-note absences such as sick leave resulted in reduced cover at the station on a couple of occasions.

Topical Issues: Ambulance Service Provision (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: I am setting out the facts. Some €129 million has been invested in our ambulance services. The service employs approximately 1,550 staff and uses more than 480 vehicles. The volume of calls has increased significantly in recent years. Some 229,703 calls, equating to an average of 19,142 a month, were made in 2012. That figure has increased to 296,730, which equates to a monthly...

Topical Issues: Ambulance Service Provision (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: I refer in particular to paramedics.

Topical Issues: Ambulance Service Provision (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: This is not just about ambulances being available to people. It is more important that people are treated as quickly as possible. That is where the paramedics in the vehicles I mentioned, and the riders on the bikes, come in.

Topical Issues: Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: I am aware that this matter is of considerable concern to the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, and to Deputy Nash and our colleague, Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick. We have major reforms under way which are yielding results. I thank the front-line staff and management for implementing those reforms with 10% fewer staff, a 20% reduction in budget and an 8% growth in the population....

Topical Issues: Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: I thank Deputy Nash for raising this issue. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, experienced an unusually high level of presentations at its emergency department on Monday and Tuesday of this week, which placed services under severe pressure. The situation was exacerbated this week by the fact that over 57% of the inpatient beds in the hospital have been occupied by elderly patients who...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Issues (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Staff Promotions (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: As this is an operational matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: Voluntary organisations may apply to my Department for National Lottery funding. The HSE also provides funding to voluntary organisations. They have advised that once-off funding has been provided to Hand in Hand in recent years.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: The detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to health service staff is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Sick Leave (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 to 195, inclusive, together. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Debt Collection (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Issues (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: The Haddington Road Agreement provides for a process of negotiation under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission in relation to this matter in respect of staff working in residential care settings. Following a referral to the Labour Court in early 2014, it was agreed that the matter should be referred back to the Labour Relations Commission for completion of discussions by 31 May...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: On Tuesday 4 February 2014, the Government approved the publication of the draft General Scheme of the advance healthcare directive provisions for the purposes of a public consultation. The consultation process ran from Tuesday 4 February until Friday 7 March 2014. As of Monday 10 February the Department had received a total of 55 submissions to the consultation. The Department wished to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Funding (12 Mar 2014)

James Reilly: The HSE has assured me that they will continue to provide every Health (Amendment) Act (HAA) cardholder with the best possible support and assistance in accessing their healthcare services to which they have a statutory entitlement under the terms of the Health (Amendment) Act l996. I understand this has been communicated to the Board of Directors of Positive Action on a number of occasions....