Results 1,261-1,280 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has an agreed process in place for the agreement and prioritisation of projects that are proposed for inclusion in the Capital Plan for 2018. Any proposals must be considered in the context of the capital funding available to the Department of Health. Priority for funding must be based on verified service needs. The HSE will continue to apply the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 381, inclusive, together. The reformulation of foods, particularly those high in fat, sugar and salt is a priority area in the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025. Plans by the Department to establish an Obesity Policy Implementation Group for the National Policy and Action Plan are well advanced. The first meeting of this cross-sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In January 2016, the Director General of the HSE submitted the final report of the Opioid Substitution Implementation Group to the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. The report recommends the phased increased access to buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) for groups of patients in specific circumstances, subject to resourcing and the required legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The budget allocation for the twenty four Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from the Drugs Initiative of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive for 2015 to 2017 is set out in the table hereunder: LDATF 2015 DOH 2015 HSE 2016 DOH 2016 HSE 2017 DOH 2017 HSE Ballyfermot €255,446 €1,231,286 €255,446 €1,231,286 €255,446...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am delighted to announce that funding in budget 2018 has been allocated to target a number of key areas in health promotion and in supporting our most vulnerable health care users. Another €5 million will be available for the Healthy Ireland fund in 2018. Healthy Ireland is the national framework for action to improve the health and well-being of people living in Ireland. The fund...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (12 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Together with An Taoiseach, and the Minister for Health, I recently announced the first allocations from the Healthy Ireland Fund, for national actions. This Strand of approximately €1.35m will promote partnerships and actions that support the implementation of key national policies and plans under Healthy Ireland dealing with issues such as physical activity, obesity prevention and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (11 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: A significant amount of work has been undertaken by the Health Service Executive in recent years to update the child health programme which is now called The National Healthy Childhood Programme. The new programme takes account of notable developments in newborn screening, emerging evidence on developmental surveillance and increased evidence of effective health promoting interventions, as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Advertising (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 to 274, inclusive, together. The Public Health Alcohol Bill is in the Programme for a Partnership Government and is a priority. It is intended that it pass through both the Seanad and Dáil in this session of the Oireachtas. The Minister for Health has listened to the concerns raised around a possible financial burden on small shops arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are totally committed to increasing breast feeding rates in Ireland. National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 and the recently published National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 all emphasise the importance of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Reports (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The National Strategy for Women and Girls, 2017-2020 (NSWG) was published in April, 2017, and is the framework through which the Government is pursuing actions to advance the rights of women and girls, and to enable their full participation in Irish society. Implementation is co-ordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality. The Department of Health was represented on the Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Lobbying Data (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Minister for Health is a Designated Public Official under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. Information on meetings between Designated Public Officials and lobbyists is available at . The Public Health Alcohol Bill is in the Programme for a Partnership Government and is a priority. It is intended that it pass through both the Dáil and Seanad in this session of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (4 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am aware of the World Health Organisation protocol on monitoring food and beverage marketing to children via television and the internet and this has influenced our own Code of Practice for food and drink promotion, marketing, product placement and sponsorship that has been developed by a working group and will be published shortly. This Code, which specifically targets High Fat, Sugar and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: School Meals Programme (4 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The new Nutrition Standards for School Meals are available on the Department of Health and Healthy Ireland websites. They are also available as a link on the Department of Education and Skills and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection websites. My Department will be liaising with the Department of Education and Skills in relation to opportunities to extend the use of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: School Meals Programme (4 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The foodstuffs and beverages covered and reimbursable under the new Nutrition Standards for the School Meals Local Projects Scheme is provided in detail in the Standards Report. These are nutritious foods and drinks from the four bottom shelves of the Food Pyramid and are influenced by the funding allocation available depending on the meals- breakfast, snack, lunch or mid afternoon snack or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (3 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 379 together. The EU Tobacco Products Directive 2014/14/EU introduced new rules for tobacco products and for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and refill containers. The EU Commission indicated that as nicotine is an addictive and toxic substance, safety and quality requirements for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes were necessary. Reporting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (3 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: With effect from 1 January 2014, operational and financial responsibility for the Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme was transferred to the Health Service Executive. Therefore, this service matter has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (3 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The HSE report referred to by the Deputy entitled "Roll Your Own Cigarettes in Ireland - Key Patterns and Trends" indicates a significant increase in the consumption of roll-your-own tobacco, particularly among those under 25 years of age. This is in the context of an overall decrease in the numbers who smoke tobacco products in Ireland in recent years. The Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I acknowledge the concerns and frustration of the Deputy. Unfortunately, this situation was unforeseen. I acknowledge the matter has gone on for some time but the Minister explained he will be visiting this week. What plan will be put in place will become more apparent at that stage as will the position regarding cancelled procedures and which patients will be brought into the system. I...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Charges (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As I have explained in the reply from the Minister's office, there is no intention at present to provide the service free of charge for those patients. The service is provided, however, under the medical card to many other people with different long-term illnesses. According to the Minister for Health and the Department, there is no intention at present to include it on the list in to the...