Results 121-140 of 11,553 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: I apologise for not being here for the witnesses' presentation. I was dealing with an issue in the Dáil Chamber. On the concerns raised by RTÉ, the most frightening thing for everyone who saw the programme was the treatment of patients and the whole lack of communication. HIQA's report refers to monitoring notifications received in respect of The Residence, Portlaoise. It says...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: Since the centre opened, there have been 40 allegations of abuse of patients.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: Who were those allegations made to?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: Still, HIQA did nothing in terms of really decisive action prior to the "RTÉ Investigates" programme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: Did the "RTÉ Investigates" investigation take place after HIQA took that action?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: That is a really short period of time in which to receive that number of complaints compared to other nursing homes. The filing of any complaint is serious but 40 being filed is really serious. There would be nowhere near that number of complaints in a 12-month time period compared to other nursing homes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: But still it would raise a concern that this happened over a very short period of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: I will move on to Beneavin Manor. HIQA states there was 66.7% non-compliance in respect of governance and management. At what time was that identified as being an issue? Was it before "RTÉ Investigates" went in or after?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: HIQA is saying that the governance is 66.7% non-compliant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: That was before "RTÉ Investigates" went in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: Was HIQA not concerned that 66.7% is a really high figure and shows a total lack of governance? Is there not a huge risk to residents in that scenario?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: Some 40 allegations were received. I presume they were spread out over that entire period of time. Did that not raise alarm bells?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State very much for being available here this morning to deal with these issues. He will be aware that I outlined recently my own involvement in nursing homes going back to 2004. As a result of legal action, the Department of Health ended up having to pay out more than €450 million to 20,000 families. I am concerned that 40% of the funding currently...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Standards of Care, Related Practices and Oversight in Nursing Homes: Discussion (18 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: There are other issues with regard to private nursing homes as well. For instance, all the private nursing homes are paying commercial rates to local authorities. The public nursing homes are not required to do that. Likewise, they are also paying insurance, which is an additional expense. Yet, there is a gap of €700 per bed per week between what a public nursing home is getting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (17 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: 814. To ask the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) who has been on the waiting list for ophthalmology treatment for a long time will receive an appointment for surgery as it is urgently needed as per their medical documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32129/25]

Nursing Homes and Care for Older Persons: Statements (12 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: I can go back to 21 years ago when my legal office and another legal office identified a major discrepancy where over 80% of people’s pensions were being deducted in public nursing homes. We identified that the health boards and the Department of Health did not have legislative powers to do that. As a result of that challenge, over in excess of €450 million had to be refunded...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: 56. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made to date in respect of current accommodation projects being carried out by his Department to accommodate members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31220/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: 60. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to set out the amount of funding allocated to Defence Forces infrastructure for the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to 31 May 2025, in tabular form; the number of projects completed, the number of projects under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31221/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (12 Jun 2025)

Colm Burke: 132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action her Department is taking to increase the number of school bus drivers in view of ongoing recruitment challenges of bus drivers under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31252/25]