Results 581-600 of 11,548 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (7 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (7 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: Sexual health is a priority for the Department of Health; the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 (NSHS) was developed as a core policy under the Healthy Ireland Framework and is a priority under the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, 2021-2025. Implementation of the Strategy is led by the HSE Sexual Health Programme (formerly the Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (7 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: A national HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme commenced in November 2019, following a HIQA HTA, which concluded that its introduction would be safe, effective, and cost saving. Free PrEP medication is available to individuals who meet clinical eligibility criteria, attending HSE approved PrEP services. These include public PrEP services, delivered through the public network of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (7 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together. As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the committee for the opportunity to discuss the important public health topic of drug and alcohol use and the issues facing local drug and alcohol task forces. I am accompanied, from the Department of Health, by Ms Siobhán McArdle, assistant secretary, and Mr. Jim Walsh, principal officer. I am also joined by a colleague from the HSE national social inclusion office, Mr. Joe...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: I outlined that we had the citizens' assembly and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use. We are now talking about preparing a new report in 2025 and the task forces will play an important part in contributing to that. The existing policies were from 2017 to 2025. Therefore the new one will have to cover a five year programme and we have to hold a consultation to develop that new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: If you take the way we responded to crack cocaine, for instance, take the south inner city drug and alcohol task force and its cocaine and crack cocaine research. There was a HSE-led initiative in order to reduce health-related hard from cocaine and crack cocaine in the south inner city area here in Dublin. Therefore, there was a response. This is the challenge now we have regarding...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: I gave the example of the south inner city area but there was also Tallaght. The Tallaght project is open seven days per week with 68 presentations per week. This deals with crack cocaine. This was the result of the Tallaght drug and alcohol task force working with the HSE to provide a response.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: The actual funding for drug-related health expenditure has gone from 2020-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: I will give the Deputy the figures-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: Let me give the Deputy the response. The response shows funding has increased from €134.9 million up to €161.7 million in 2023. That is a 28% increase in funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: The Deputy is looking at the core funding for the task forces but there are different initiatives-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: I am giving you a response.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: Let me give you the response. In addition to the core funding the task forces are getting, they are also getting funding for additional projects they take on. It is not a case that they are getting less funding. It depends. For instance, taking the example I gave regarding Tallaght and the south inner city, there was additional funding for those projects to those task forces. It is not a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: When you take into account-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: -----that additional funding is provided through the HSE to each of these task forces as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: Did Mr. Walsh want to come in there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: I will ask Ms McArdle to address that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: When you take into account the additional projects they take on, for instance I gave the Deputy the example of south inner city and Tallaght, where they took on additional projects additional funding was provided for them. That is part of the whole thing. This is co-ordinated by the HSE.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Colm Burke: The Deputy will also have to take into account-----