Results 5,701-5,720 of 11,463 for speaker:Mary Butler

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I acknowledge the Deputy has raised this issue with me on several occasions. Work is ongoing in the Department of Health to progress the development of a new statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes. Recruitment for 130 posts to support the national roll-out of international resident assessment instrument, interRAI, as a standard assessment tool for care needs is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: No.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: In 2015, Government decided to draft a general scheme of a Bill to amend the Mental Health Act 2001 in line with the 165 recommendations of the 2015 expert group review report. Among the expert group recommendations were proposals on revised criteria for detention, updated definitions of mental disorder and voluntary and involuntary patients, the introduction of guiding principles,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: A formal Bill will be drafted by the Office of the Attorney General. I expect to introduce the legislation to the Oireachtas as early as possible in 2022. Updating the Mental Health Act is a priority for the Government and for me. I am glad that the Deputy mentioned detention for those under 18 years. I understand that 27 people under the age of 18 have been admitted to an adult...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: To conclude on the previous point, each case will be taken on a case-by-case basis. I will give another example. A young adult, under 18 years, was admitted to a psychiatric unit in Donegal one night because it was not possible to transfer him to the CAMHS unit in Merlin Park in Galway. Sometimes a decision like that has to be taken. A person might only be admitted to an adult unit for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: Could I request, when I am on my feet, that the Deputy's microphone might be turned off so I can get the opportunity to reply? The report of the working group on alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use published in 2019 noted difficulties with decriminalisation in the Irish legal context. In Portugal, personal possession of drugs carries an administrative...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has put enormous work and energy into reducing the number of children who are overdue assessments of need. Nationally, 6,558 assessments of need were overdue in June 2020 under the old process. At the end of October 2021, through a combination of different measures, approximately 6,100 children had their assessments completed, reducing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: By anyone's metric, achieving a reduction of 93% in a waiting list in 12 months must be acknowledged. Since 2019, some 285 new posts have been allocated to children's disability services across the country. The diversity of posts recruited include dieticians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, speech and language therapists, nurses and some administrative support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I offer the apologies of the Minister of State with responsibility for public health, well-being and national drugs strategy, Deputy Feighan. He cannot be here because of Covid-19 restrictions. I am taking the question on his behalf. Under the national drugs strategy, the Government established a working group to consider alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: The health-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I do not accept that it is a misinformed answer. The health diversion programme will connect participants with health services and it will provide a pathway to treatment and recovery where there is problematic drug use. It will also allow participants to avoid a criminal conviction. An interdepartmental group, chaired by representatives of the Department of Health, is considering legal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: There is no reason for the Deputy to shout across the floor at me. I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, who cannot be here due to Covid-19. A little respect would go a long way.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: My colleague and fellow Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, sends her apologies as she is currently in the Seanad and was not in a position to take this question. The implementation of Progressing Disability Service for Children and Young People, PDS, programme is an agreed Government and HSE policy. This policy supports the reconfiguration of children's disability services to provide...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for the question and his continued support of the nursing home sector. As he will know, the temporary assistance payment scheme was established in April 2020 as a temporary measure to support nursing homes during the pandemic. This scheme was extended twice. It was announced in September 2020 that the funding would cease. Funding of €134.5 million has been...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (2 Dec 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service (2 Dec 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (2 Dec 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (2 Dec 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Dec 2021)

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

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue again. As he will know, we have had extensive collaboration and meetings on the Owenacurra site in Midleton. I am conscious of the fact that 19 people call Owenacurra their home. As the Deputy will know, however, the centre was built in 1960. It is not fit for purpose any more due to asbestos and fire safety issues. The Mental Health Commission...