Results 1,101-1,120 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Conway very much. We are very aware of the issues. The Senator articulated very well that the impact of drugs in disadvantaged communities has been hugely significant. I want to pay tribute to the role played by the task forces in responding. I assure the Senator that the Government is committed to a joined up departmental approach to addressing substance misuse. Task...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I would like to come in at this point, if I may. In addition to Know the Score, there is a programme called Planet Youth. We have met with steering groups. It is an interesting idea that came from Iceland. It is not included in the national drugs strategy, but there is huge scope there in terms of Planet Youth. I will hand over to Dr. Keenan or Mr. Walsh for further comment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: We have an international section through which we work very closely with the British-Irish Council. A few months ago, I chaired a meeting of the various jurisdictions. It was quite interesting because they are experiencing the same problems. They also have solutions. It was a very worthwhile collaboration. That collaboration is ongoing, but we need to do a lot more. We have a great deal...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future citizens' assemblies, including one on drugs use. Decisions will be guided by the experience of the Gender Equality Assembly which completed earlier this year.  An independent researcher was appointed by the Assembly to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: The report published by the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force highlights the problems relating to drug use in Tallaght, including crack cocaine. Similar issues affect other disadvantaged communities. The report indicates that crack cocaine is a multi-dimensional problem that reflects the social determinants of drug use in disadvantaged communities, linked to unemployment, poverty, and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1365, 1381, 1501 and 1874 together. The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery is a health-led response to drug and alcohol use for the period 2017-2025.  The strategy is dynamic with the flexibility to adapt to needs that may emerge over the lifetime of the strategy.  It is underpinned by a partnership...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future citizens' assemblies, including one on drugs use. Decisions will be guided by the experience of the Gender Equality Assembly which completed earlier this year.  An independent researcher was appointed by the Assembly to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1367 to 1369, inclusive,1372 to 1375, inclusive, and 1491 to 1494, inclusive, together. In the Revised Estimates for Public Expenditure 2022, an additional €7m is provided for new measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy, 'Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery'. This funding will be used to strengthen the health-led approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future citizens' assemblies, including one on drugs use. Decisions will be guided by the experience of the Gender Equality Assembly which completed earlier this year.  An independent researcher was appointed by the Assembly to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1376 and 1495 together. In 2019, funding of €180,000 over 36 months was awarded to the DRIVE (Drug-related Intimidation & Violence Engagement) initiative, which includes the cost of recruiting a national coordinator. The DRIVE Oversight committee leading the initiative comprises of relevant stakeholders from the Regional and Local Drug and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1377 and 1496 together. The national drugs strategy,Reducing Harm Supporting Recoveryis a health-led response to drug and alcohol use for the period 2017-2025. The strategy is dynamic with the flexibility to adapt to needs that may emerge over the lifetime of the strategy. It is underpinned by a partnership approach between the statutory sector, community...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1378 and 1497 together. The national drugs strategy,Reducing Harm Supporting Recoveryis a health-led response to drug and alcohol use for the period 2017-2025. The strategy is dynamic with the flexibility to adapt to needs that may emerge over the lifetime of the strategy. It is underpinned by a partnership approach between the statutory sector, community...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1379 and 1499 together. Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, ' Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery'. Action 50 of the strategy commits to ensuring that Task Forces have proper arrangements in place for the selection and renewal of the Chairperson, Members of Task Forces and for having proper...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1380, 1498 and 1500 together. The Department of Health completed and published the mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery on 17 November, 2021.  Based on the learning from the mid-term review, six strategic priorities for the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 were identified. These...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Citizens' Assembly (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future citizens' assemblies, including one on drugs use. Decisions will be guided by the experience of the Gender Equality Assembly which completed earlier this year. An independent researcher was appointed by the Assembly to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly. This...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1525, 1526 and 1530 together. 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 (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1537, 1547 and 1794 together. It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: The policy instrument for obesity in Ireland is “A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in September 2016 as part of the Healthy Ireland Framework.  The OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Department has been notified of a recent email purporting to be from the North Inner City Task Force informing local services that the task force is no longer in a position to function. This follows the resignation of the outgoing chairperson and the impasse that has arisen regarding the appointment of a new independent chairperson.  The Department had sought to work with the...