Results 481-500 of 11,971 for speaker:Mary Butler

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I am pleased to be here in the Seanad to discuss the very important topic of mental health and suicide prevention. This month is mental health awareness month, and today is “Hello, how are you?” day, when we mark the annual campaign led by Mental Health Ireland which encourages meaningful conversations and reminds us of the power of this simple question. The message of the...

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: There were five last year, down from 18 six years ago.

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: A lot of issues were raised today and many comprehensive and supportive comments have been made. I have to take offence at a few and I will go through them one at a time. It is great we are all here today discussing mental health. That is the most important thing. Every time we speak about mental health, we lessen the stigma. I cannot respond to any individual cases. I will not respond...

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I do need more time because I have to speak about the Limerick community access support team, CAST. I am conscious that two of the Senators sitting in front of me are from Limerick. Limerick CAST is a pilot project. It is a partnership between An Garda Síochána and the HSE. I was thrilled to launch it last year. The CAST pilot became operational in January 2025 and is already...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (15 May 2025)

Mary Butler: As the Deputy will be aware, arising from the Maskey Report, and on the back of the associated file identification process and sample file audit of North Kerry, the HSE established a Lookback Review, to review the files of young people then under the care of North Kerry CAMHS as of 21 November 2022. The Review was commissioned on 23 January 2023, led by Dr. Colette Halpin and supported by...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2025: First Stage (14 May 2025)

Mary Butler: No.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (14 May 2025)

Mary Butler: As this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for this important question. Eating disorders are complex and individual. They are the mental health illness with the highest mortality rate. The first model of care was devised around 2018. At the time, it was expected that approximately 50 people would present with an eating disorder. In 2024, 562 people were treated through HSE services. The national clinical...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy. He is right that eating orders are complex and individual. They are the mental health illness with the highest mortality rate. Every case is different. I acknowledge the advocacy groups, including Bodywhys and Cared Ireland. They provide enormous support to people with eating disorders and I acknowledge that. There are currently only three adult eating disorder...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Eating Disorders (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I hope, with the support of the Minister and Cabinet, to look for funding in the Estimates process when I have the report at the end of June. These premises exist. We will also consider any new approved centres. Five will be rebuilt and we will potentially look at putting some beds in there. We will have to grow this incrementally. Everything we do is incremental because we need...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: To be clear, since this model of care came in, no child under 18 has had to go abroad for treatment. Since 2019, 14 people have gone abroad for treatment under the auspices of the HSE. Other people may have gone under the cover of private healthcare, but we know that 14 people went abroad for very specialised treatment. Turning back to the Deputy's initial question, there were two...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question. We saw eating disorders grow exponentially during Covid, for example. This was especially the case among younger girls aged 14, 15 and 16. Last year, for example, the eating disorder clinical team worked with approximately 520 young people. Many of those were transferred back to a GP for further support. It is possible to recover from an eating...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for the question. I was expecting Deputy Clarke. Eating disorders are complex and individual and can be one of the most serious mental health issues. The national clinical programme on eating disorders is progressing well with 14 of the 16 teams envisaged by the model of care now funded and approximately 100 dedicated eating disorder clinicians working in teams...

Appointment of Cathaoirleach of Working Group of Committee Cathaoirligh: Motion (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 130(9), Deputy Seán Fleming be appointed as the Cathaoirleach of the Working Group of Committee Cathaoirligh.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I thank all the Deputies for their suggestion. I am happy to engage with the Opposition and we can discuss the motion in advance of the business meeting on Thursday morning and look at speaking times for next week.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I move: Tuesday's business shall be: -Motion re Withdrawal of Bills (to be taken without debate) -Motion re Appointment of Cathaoirleach of Working Group of Committee Cathaoirligh (to be taken without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) -Statements on Power of Higher Education, Research and Skills as an Economic Enabler in a Changing World (not to exceed 2 hrs 25...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I recently met with Waterford Comhairle na nÓg to update them on my efforts to establish a new youth mental health service for Waterford and the South East. Improving access to a range of youth mental health services remains a priority for me, for the Department of Health, and for the HSE. I received a formal proposal from Jigsaw in recent weeks to establish a youth mental health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: The Community Access Support Team (CAST) pilot project in Limerick aims to compassionately intervene in crisis and trauma situations, providing a health response to mental health crises. This initiative, the first of its kind in Ireland, has been a priority for me, the Minister for Justice, the HSE, and An Garda Siochana. Since its launch in January 2025, the CAST team, comprising...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: I recognise that many children are facing mental health challenges, and I do not underestimate the impact that this has on children and families. It is a priority for me and for Government as a whole to ensure that children who need access to services can get them and get them on time. I know that there are issues in relation to this and that is why I want to simplify referrals, improve...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (13 May 2025)

Mary Butler: Both Government and HSE acknowledge the importance of ensuring that all mental health services align with national policy and international human rights frameworks. Sharing the Vision, our national mental health policy, emphasises a recovery-oriented, person-centred approach that prioritises community-based care, social inclusion, and the protection of human rights. This is in line with the...