Results 6,501-6,520 of 12,275 for speaker:Mary Butler

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I propose to take Questions Nos. 595 to 599, inclusive, together. As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: Work is ongoing within the Department of Health to progress the development of the new statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes. Funding has been provided for the recruitment of 130 posts for the national roll-out of interRAI as the single assessment tool for care needs in the community. A National Home Support Office is in the process of being established and a home...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 628 together. The Government has provided extensive support to the Nursing Home Sector since the start of the pandemic. The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established in April 2020 as a temporary, administrative measure to respond to the challenges being faced by the nursing home sector at the start of the pandemic, and was extended...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (7 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 (7 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.

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Minister of State for her comments and for acknowledging that today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I thank the Deputies who contributed on this discussion, in particular the Bill's sponsor, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. I commend the goal of the Bill, which seeks to provide faster access for people to new medicines for the treatment of rare diseases. I...

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: Only two of them are bringing forward the Bill. Did the Deputy notice that?

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for tabling this Bill which seeks to address an issue of great importance to us all. I would like put on the record the apologies of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, who, as the Deputy mentioned, is attending the Cabinet sub-committee, but I understand the Minister engaged privately with the Deputy on the Bill in advance of this debate. I recognise his sincere interest in...

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

Mary Butler: To go back to the point, the funding of home care is not the issue. We are all aware of the €666 million available. Delays are occurring at the moment because we have delays in providing home care workers into specific areas. As the Deputy said, weekends and rural areas, especially, can be very problematic. Notwithstanding that, the number has come down significantly over recent...

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

Mary Butler: The pilot scheme in the Galway area is operational. The pilot schemes in west Cork, Mullingar and the Dublin area are not. I will get the Deputy a note on that because it will outline exactly the areas being covered.

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

Mary Butler: The role of the cross-departmental strategic work force advisory group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders and to examine workforce challenges in home support and nursing homes. Potential areas will be recruitment and retention, training and the career development of home supports. I was updated by the chief officer yesterday on CHO 4, which comprises counties Cork and Kerry....

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

Mary Butler: We are, therefore, challenged but we are working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to look at different things to see that people on social welfare, for example, might be able to work a certain number of hours and students in receipt of the SUSI grant might be able to work enhanced hours. We are trying to throw the kitchen sink at this to resolve it.

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...