Results 11,941-11,960 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (1 Jun 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy will be aware from his previous question of 22nd March last and the Health Service Executive response of 29th March 2011, the Local Health Office has arranged for the public health nursing service to carry out a needs assessment for the individual concerned. However, as the Deputy's specific question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (1 Jun 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Suicide Prevention: Suicide Prevention (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: The evidence base for the use of volunteers in the delivery of services is not extensive. However, there are some reports of instances where the presence of volunteers in health care facilities improves the patient's experience of the facility and their time in it. There is also some evidence that volunteering can have positive health effects, particularly for older people. For my own...

Written Answers — Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: The HSE has paid over €740 million to private nursing homes between October 2009 and April 2011. This includes payments in respect of contract beds and subvention. In addition, private nursing home residents who are in receipt of financial support under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme pay their contribution to the cost of care directly to the private nursing home. During the same period,...

Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: It is estimated that the total number of private/voluntary beds at present is 20,500 (Source: Nursing Homes Ireland Annual Private Nursing Home Survey 2009/2010), of which approximately 19,500 are long-stay beds. The Survey also reports that average occupancy in 2009/2010 in private nursing homes was 86.4%. Occupancy levels in public units average 95%. The 95% occupancy level in the public...

Written Answers — Voluntary Sector Funding: Voluntary Sector Funding (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I understand that the matter raised by the Deputy relates to a request for funding to assist towards overall financial pressures at the Western Alzheimers organisation. The Deputy will appreciate, as indicated previously, that the Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the planning and delivery of services at national and local level, including the question of grant-aid...

Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311, 315 to 319, inclusive, 332 and 351 together. As the Deputies are aware, the Minister for Health and Children has recently been made aware of a serious shortfall in the Fair Deal budget for this year. The budget is coming under pressure from, amongst other things, increases in overall costs and increases in net demand for long term care. Furthermore, the...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Accommodation: Nursing Home Accommodation (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: There has been an increase in the total number of nursing home beds over the last five years. The Annual Survey of Long Stay Units published by the Department reports that in: 2006 there were 24,253 beds (Survey response rate 80.1%) 2007 there were 24,029 beds (Survey response rate 78.2%) 2008 there were 25,209 beds (latest Annual Survey, published in 2010 with a Survey response...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Government and Oireachtas Reform: Motion (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I hope the Deputy is not running for the Seanad.

Fair Deal Scheme (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Question Nos. 44 and 46 together. As the Deputies are aware, the Minister for Health and Children has recently been made aware of a serious shortfall in the fair deal budget for this year. The budget is coming under pressure from, among other things, increases in overall costs and increases in net demand for long-term care. Furthermore, the HSE has advised that the...

Fair Deal Scheme (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I do not think the Minister made that assertion at all, but I am sure he will speak for himself later. The report on the review is due on Friday. Therefore, it is pointless to start discussing where the money will come from, whether it should be returned to the scheme or how much will be needed in the future until we see the review. This is not an issue that will disappear overnight. It...

Fair Deal Scheme (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: We all accept that this issue concerns a vulnerable group of people and we want the best possible solution. We need to find out where the money went. The review of the fair deal scheme was promised under the programme for Government and even if this problem had not arisen, the scheme would have been reviewed. The issue is accountability. If the subhead provides the money is to be spent on...

Fair Deal Scheme (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: It is not possible to answer the Deputy's question as none of us has a crystal ball. We will have clarity after Friday and we intend to deal with the issues early next week. We do not know what is in the review and, therefore, cannot say that we will process and approve provision next week. Above all, we reassure people in receipt of care under the fair deal scheme that there is no threat...

Mental Health Services (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: A Vision for Change contains 200 recommendations to be implemented over a seven to ten-year timeframe. Progress to date includes: the closure of a number of the old psychiatric institutions with ongoing work on the closure of the remaining institutions; a 17% decline in the number of patients resident in psychiatric facilities since 2006; fewer admissions and involuntary admissions; a...

Mental Health Services (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: There are approximately 61 multidisciplinary teams which will include child and adolescent services. I am not certain that they are fully functioning. That is something we will need to investigate. While many are fully staffed, not all of them are. We are most concerned about children. Two new purpose-built 20-bed child and adolescent units at Bessborough in Cork and Merlin Park in...

Mental Health Services (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: The commitment to mental health in the programme for Government is very clear. When an institution is being closed it is closed on an incremental basis. Only in the event of all the community services being in place will that institution close entirely. It is appropriate that people in certain areas - we all know where they are - have that assurance. That will be the practice under this...

Nursing Homes Support Scheme (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. The Minister for Health and Children has recently been made aware of a serious shortfall in the fair deal budget for this year. The budget is coming under pressure from, among other things, increases in overall costs and increases in net demand for long-term care. Furthermore, the HSE has advised that the long-term residential care...

Nursing Homes Support Scheme (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: Everyone is very concerned about this but the days of spinning a message are long gone. We must be honest and open with people and there is a substantial shortfall in the necessary funding to provide long-term care for elderly and not-so-elderly people. There is no disagreement between myself and the Minister and we are looking at how to best provide for the long-term care of the people for...

Nursing Homes Support Scheme (31 May 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I agree with the Deputy as people are very concerned. It should be made crystal clear that those people in receipt of long-term care face no threat to the service. That is not what we are talking about. I cannot tell the Deputy how many people are at home who may have aspirations involving long-term care or how many people are in beds in hospitals with aspirations of long-term care. I can...