Results 7,941-7,960 of 11,470 for speaker:Mary Butler

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Tests (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank the Senator for asking this particular question. As today is our first day since the whole country entered into level 3, it is very timely. A comprehensive, reliable and responsive testing and tracing operation is central to our public health strategy for containing and slowing the spread of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Tests (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator again. As I stated earlier, the HSE advises that it is currently meeting all testing demand nationally and across the end-to-end tracing process, with adequate swabbing and laboratory capacity. The HSE has had capacity to conduct approximately 100,000 tests since May, about 30% of which was off-shore. However, over the summer months, it has built laboratory capacity up...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Care Services (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this matter. As she has said, this is an area on which I have worked tirelessly in the past as co-chairman of the all-party committee on dementia. I congratulate Senator O'Loughlin on taking over that role and I know she will do fantastic work.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Care Services (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: I am fully aware that Covid-19 has placed significant additional pressures on people with dementia and their families. I recently convened a round table discussion with carers. Unfortunately we had to conduct it online and reduce the numbers involved but I specifically asked to speak to people caring for people with dementia and mental health challenges and particularly to people who were...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Care Services (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator very much. Her points are very well made. In addition to the winter plan, which I mentioned earlier, some €22 million has been provided in the 2020 national service plan for dementia-specific services including more than €7.5 million in funding for dementia-specific home care packages and the extension of the dementia adviser services, with the additional...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator for his question. It is very timely as we head into the winter months and face the normal challenges we see in our acute hospitals. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the new 60-bed ward block at University Hospital Limerick. The hospital is a model 4 hospital which provides major surgery, cancer care treatment and emergency care in the region as well as a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: The Government is committed to developing acute hospital services and infrastructure. University Hospital Limerick is an integral part of the University of Limerick hospital group, providing hospital services and care to the populations of Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary. The hospital provides quality patient care, delivered safely by skilled and valued staff through the best use of...

Seanad: HSE Winter Plan: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the Acting Chairman for his kind wishes. I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the winter plan, which was published by the Health Service Executive on 24 September. Every winter, our healthcare system faces increasing pressures on it, making it more difficult for people, particularly older people, to access treatment as quickly as we would wish.This is particularly...

Seanad: HSE Winter Plan: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: Eighty minutes would be more what I need. I thank the 16 Senators who spoke for their contributions. Some strayed outside the remit of the winter plan but I will confine myself in my reply to addressing the questions that related to specific aspects of the plan. An issue raised by several speakers was the availability of the flu vaccine. I was in the Seanad on two occasions last week to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Oct 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: 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: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as A Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (7 Oct 2020)

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

Disability Services: Motion [Private Members] (6 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputies for raising these important matters and giving me the opportunity to speak on them. I would also like to congratulate my colleague, Deputy Moynihan, on his appointment as Chairman of the new committee that has been formed. It is very important that we put a significant emphasis on the disability sector. There is no doubt that this has been an extremely difficult time...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (6 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: We all know that community services such as day care and respite services play an important role in enabling older people to continue living in their communities and maintain their social connections. These services contribute to positive ageing and better overall health. However, the introduction of physical distancing, isolation and restricted contact with family and loved ones has changed...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Suicide Prevention (6 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: 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: Guardians Ad Litem (6 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: My Department has made enquiries with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in relation to the first part of this question, as Guardian Ad Litems come under their remit, however, they have stated that there are no Guardian Ad Litem regulations currently in place, therefore, any breach/summons would not be under Guardian Ad Litem regulations. Furthermore, the Department of Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service (6 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care of the Elderly (6 Oct 2020)

Mary Butler: We all know that community services such as day care and respite services play an important role in enabling older people to continue living in their communities and maintain their social connections. These services contribute to positive ageing and better overall health. However, the introduction of physical distancing, isolation and restricted contact with family and loved ones has changed...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Accommodation (6 Oct 2020)

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.