Results 6,001-6,020 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thought I said "Not true", but I apologise.

Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: There is no panic. If I did say it, I totally apologise.

Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I would not say that to Deputy Michael Harty in a million years.

Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: There is no panic at all.

Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: That is not true. It is a lie. It is not true at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I strongly endorse what the Minister has said. Domiciliary care is a major part of the programme for Government. Deputy O'Reilly mentioned that an allocation has been made to cover 10,000 children and referred to the slight delay associated with the review of data. I think the confusion arose when the numbers were being finalised. Like the Deputy, I have direct experience in this regard....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank members for their questions on disability issues. I also thank and commend my colleagues on their support in regard to the issue. Disability is not just a health issue. It is a broader issue for all of us and we should all focus on it. Last Monday, on a visit to the Brothers of Charity Services in Galway, I visited a centre where I met a group of small business owners who a year...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: First, I accept the point about public duty across all the Departments. I strongly stress that we all have a public and civic duty in respect of disabilities. All Departments have to take responsibility in that regard. I have been monitoring the Departments over the past seven or eight months and some of them have an excellent track record in including people with disabilities and also in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: There is absolutely no way Senator Dolan can claim shaving in respect of services for people with disabilities. I have said that social care funding has been subject to an increase of 6% in the budget. I have pointed out strongly that the budget for 2017 is €1.688 billion. That is accepted by all. I will come back to the committee with a more detailed breakdown and I will prove...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: The figure is 150,000 over last year's target.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I am clear about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I take Senator Dolan's point, but let us get this right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: Of course I accept the Senator's point; we have to do it every year. My colleagues in the HSE and the Department of Health push strongly for more personal assistance hours. I will come back to the committee with more detail on the breakdown and the figures. I am saying there is an increase of 150,000 hours over last year's target. That is my position.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I left out my reply to one important question that Senator John Dolan raised relating to the UN convention. Ireland signed the convention in 2007. We are committed to signing the convention. Earlier, I referred to the barriers to the convention, the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, the deprivation of liberty issue and the reason for the delays in the Bill. I pointed out...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services Provision (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and I accept her frustration regarding respite services. I welcome the opportunity to outline the current position. Holy Angels Day Care Centre is a disability agency providing services, including a preschool service, for children with disabilities in Carlow. The facility is funded on an annual basis by the HSE under section 39 of the Health Act...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services Provision (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I share the Senator's frustration regarding delays over the past few months and I take her point regarding the school.There have been three positive developments in terms of respite care. First, the matter will go to the head of procurement and thereafter to the budget holder this week. Second, I understand the Senator's frustration about possible delays with HIQA, but I must observe...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: In the case of means-tested payments from my Department, such as disability allowance (DA), applicants are assessed with any cash income, property other than the home, and capital (such as savings, shares and investments). For all means-tested schemes, there is an initial amount of capital that is disregarded for means assessment purposes. For most schemes this disregard is €20,000...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: In the case of means-tested payments from my Department, such as disability allowance (DA), applicants are assessed with any cash income, property other than the home, and capital (such as savings, shares and investments). For all means-tested schemes, there is an initial amount of capital that is disregarded for means assessment purposes. For most schemes this disregard is €20,000...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this man on 8 February 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (22 Feb 2017)

Finian McGrath: I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this man on 14 October 2016. On 10 January 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility. Although some information requested was submitted, there are some items outstanding. A reminder for these...