Results 4,801-4,820 of 7,823 for speaker:Jim Daly

Other Questions: Psychological Assessments Waiting Times (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: Some 8,415 people are awaiting psychology appointments nationally, of which 2,584 are waiting for over a year. Approximately 80% of those waiting are in the five to 17 year age group. The HSE has a service improvement initiative under way for psychology services. This includes the recruitment of people to fill an additional 22 psychologist posts and 114 assistant psychology posts. The...

Other Questions: Psychological Assessments Waiting Times (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: I can indeed. The waiting lists and the numbers behind them are an issue of intrigue for me. I am not quite like the Taoiseach who has a complete fascination with statistics but, at the same time, there is more to the figures when one looks at them. The more I have looked at them since I have come into this role the more I am aware of the myriad factors that underlie the numbers and why...

Other Questions: Psychological Assessments Waiting Times (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: Deputy Browne clearly has a very good grasp of the underlying issues. I accept there are issues and challenges but there are also many management issues to be addressed. One of the initiatives I wish to drive through, which I have discussed with the Department, is what I call the front-door system whereby there is one point of contact for everybody who has a mental health issue who is...

Other Questions: Mental Health Services Provision (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: As stated in the reply to the previous question from the Deputy, community mental health teams will, over the medium to long term, be co-located with other services in primary care centres in their catchment areas. In the interim, while such facilities are being developed, several other options are being considered by the HSE locally. In accordance with national policy set out in A...

Other Questions: Home Care Packages (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: I will be very brief. The Deputy has raised a number of issues. We all acknowledge that there is unmet demand in the home care system. There are 10.5 million home help hours in the system this year. We are spending €373 million on it. We would love to double it in the morning if that was possible. However, it cannot be done overnight. There is a commitment in the programme for...

Other Questions: Home Care Packages (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: There are two separate issues. If I am correct, what Deputy Bríd Smith is referring to is the need for people to engage with private providers as opposed to the HSE using private companies.

Other Questions: Home Care Packages (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: To answer the Deputy's question, 63% of the hours are provided directly by the HSE and the remainder are provided between not-for-profit organisations and private providers. Yesterday, the Minister discussed the issue Deputy O'Reilly raised. It was raised at the Joint Committee on Health and the Minister has undertaken to go back to his officials and examine the position regarding the...

Other Questions: Home Care Packages (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: I thank the Deputy for her question. Home care services are provided on the basis of assessed health care need and there is currently no means testing. The HSE-funded home help service is delivered predominantly by HSE staff or, in a minority of cases, private and not-for-profit providers. Home care provided as part of the home care package scheme is delivered by HSE home help staff or by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: Again, I appreciate what the Deputy said. My reference to the Deputy's legislation is by way of information. There are a number of different, conflicting elements in trying to progress legislation as quickly as possible. I am acutely aware of the Roscommon situation. I have discussed it with numerous people, including the Acting Chairman, Deputy Eugene Murphy, who has a keen interest...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services Provision (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to address this issue, which has been a matter of concern for a number of Deputies and Senators for some time. There are currently 60 child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, beds operational nationally. This is up from 48 in early summer and will increase further once Linn Dara resumes its full capacity of 22. There are currently...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services Provision (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: There are different stages of recruitment but there should be a new complement of five nurses within the next two to three weeks. I met with the Psychiatric Nurses Association last week and listened to the challenges its members face. I will continue that engagement. I also addressed the conference of the mental health nurses this week. I am familiar with the struggles and challenges...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services Provision (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: I will not get into the micro-management of the staffing levels there, the individual nurses and so forth. Clearly, it is not an issue with funding. I do not say that defensively because it is a matter of fact.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services Provision (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: That is a separate issue, and there are a number of different matters relating to that. However, I am assuring the Deputy that this is not an issue with funding but with the recruitment and retention of nurses. There are improvements coming in that area. I share the Deputy's concern for the well-being and mental health of young people and I want to have the best system and a system we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: The Mental Health Commission is a statutory body whose functions are set out in the Mental Health Act 2001. Among its key responsibilities is the establishment and maintenance of a register of approved centres. The Act also provides that the inspector of mental health services visit, inspect and report on every approved centre at least once every year. Details of these inspection reports,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: I share the Deputy's concerns. I would like us to get to a position on enforcement. The commission has the powers to inspect and visit those facilities if it wishes. I met the Mental Health Commission last week and discussed this issue at length with it. I am anxious to get this legislation in place. It is a comprehensive piece of work. There is a great deal of legislation before the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Dementia Strategy Implementation (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s pre-budget submission recommends the appointment of dementia care coordinators and dementia advisers in each local health office area, in addition to an investment of €35 million in home care services and the appointment of dementia friendly community coordinators. I had a constructive meeting with representatives of the Alzheimer Society on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Guidelines (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: Individuals who are concerned about their mental health may access services in a variety of ways. Many people go to their family doctor with mental health problems such as depression or anxiety and will not need the help of a psychiatrist. In other cases, the GP may decide to refer the person to members of the mental health team such as a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or addiction...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their income and assets while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their income and assets while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Report (28 Sep 2017)

Jim Daly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.