Results 1,361-1,380 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tobacco Control Measures (23 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. There is legislation in place in Ireland to ensure that all tobacco products manufactured for sale in the State are in standardised packaging. There is also legislation in place requiring the display of health warnings, comprising a pictorial warning and text warnings in both Irish and English. Under the Public Health (Standardised...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (23 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the opportunity to address the House, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on ambulance resources and services, particularly those in the Laois and Offaly region. I join my colleagues in giving my gratitude to the healthcare workers in these very difficult times. The National Ambulance Service, NAS, does not operate a station-based deployment system but instead...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (23 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputies once again for raising this issue, notwithstanding, as we said, the challenges of the Covid pandemic and the demands it places on our services. The National Ambulance Service is committing to reducing response times in the Laois and Offaly regions and across the country. Deputy Stanley noted that the distances are being looked at, which is to be welcomed. I hope we can...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (23 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery 2017-2015. To improve accountability across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors and to strengthen the task force model, task forces are required have proper arrangements in place for the selection and renewal of the chairperson and members of the task...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented interruption to normal healthcare activity in 2020/2021, affecting the provision of all healthcare services, including public STI clinics. Over the last 18 months, public STI services have re-configured services, establishing online booking systems and providing virtual appointments, in order to support service provision in line with social...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Community (22 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) is the Government policy framework for addressing the health and other needs of Travellers. It contains over 30 health-related actions across four themes. The Dept of Health and the HSE are represented on the steering committee for NTRIS and report on a regular basis on the various health actions. A key health action in NTRIS...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Community (22 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: In Budget 2021, €2.1m was allocated to enhance access to health services for socially excluded groups. This funding will be used to improve access to healthcare services for the Roma community and other vulnerable migrants, to expand Traveller health units, to enhance healthcare services for asylum seekers and refugees living in direct provision and for initiatives for victims of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (22 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: The funding allocated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces at the beginning of 2021 is set out in the attached table and remains unchanged from 2020. RDATF 2020 DOH 2020 HSE Total East Coast Area €58,200 €518,500 € 576,700 Midland €136,816 €672,491 ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (22 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: 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 Staff (22 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: 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 (21 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: 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: Hospital Facilities (21 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: 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: Departmental Strategies (21 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. The strategy is a dynamic strategy and contains 50...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Home Care Packages (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I take on board what the Deputy says and I will bring back her exact views to the Minister. The Government did improve access to home support services as a priority. Last year we did provide €150 million for these services. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of supporting the most vulnerable in society to be cared for in their own homes for as long as possible. It...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Home Care Packages (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I recognise that it is a very complex issue. I know from personal experience that trying to get carers is a difficulty. It is a key priority of the Government to enable more people to engage in services that allow them to remain independent and to live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. In order to advance...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this important issue and for the way in which he has articulated it. At the outset, I acknowledge the stress that overcrowded emergency departments cause patients, their families, and the front-line staff working in very challenging conditions in hospitals throughout the country. I acknowledge the work and commitment of staff in ensuring the uninterrupted...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: We expect 14 additional nursing staff to start in the emergency department in the next two months. We will work together to ensure that it is progressed as quickly as possible. The health service capacity review 2018 was clear on the need for a major investment in additional capacity in both acute hospitals and the community, combined with a wide-scale reform of the manner and the location...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Mental Health Services (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy again for raising these very important issues. Improving all aspects of mental health service delivery is a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, the Government as a whole and the HSE, in line with the national service plan for 2021. This includes continued collaboration between the relevant agencies to ensure that quality and standards in our mental health...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Mental Health Services (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Butler, has been regularly liaising with the HSE on this very important matter, since it was announced. The HSE has affirmed that in the context of the closure of the centre, the needs and preferences of each resident are of paramount importance. On 28...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies (16 Sep 2021)

Frank Feighan: As outlined in Parliamentary Questions Nos. 2566 and 2567 of 27 July 2021, the governance and operation of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces is set out in a handbook published in 2011. It defines the role of the task forces within the national and local framework required to address the existing and emerging threats from problem drug use. The Department set up a working group in 2018 to revise the...