Results 14,161-14,180 of 15,493 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: We should have a finalised report on the review in the coming weeks. The review is looking at best practice - what has worked in Ireland and other countries. It will inform us moving forward in terms of the next step. That will be in the coming weeks.

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: In the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Respite Care Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages Data (2 Feb 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration (2 Feb 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review (2 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those assessed as needing long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. A care needs assessment is carried out to determine if a person requires long term care, followed by a financial assessment to determine how...

Other Questions: Home Help Service Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: I am aware of the difficulties being faced in County Meath, just as I am aware of the difficulties being faced by people in counties Louth, Cavan, Donegal and every other county. It is for this reason that we are developing a home care scheme which will ensure we no longer have such a level of need. Demand currently far outweighs resources and capacity and we do not have a statutory...

Other Questions: Home Help Service Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: It is important to stress that 1,260,000 home help hours and 2,373 home care packages, including 114 home care packages to allow people to be discharged from hospital, are being provided for community health care organisation area 8, of which County Meath forms a part. We now need to develop a system that will allow everyone to avail of a service that is uniform, regulated and fully funded....

Other Questions: Home Help Service Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: As a fellow public representative in Meath, I can confirm that this is an issue that comes across my desk on a weekly if not a daily basis and not just because of my role as Minister of State with responsibility for older people. To put the issue into context, the overall funding for services for older people this year will be €765 million. This includes additional funding for home...

Priority Questions: Home Care Packages Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: As we develop a new scheme, it is important to continue to invest and see our funding increase and the Government has committed to continue its investment. This year, we will see €30 million of the €40 million announced for the winter initiative go into our home care packages, with an additional €10 million on top of that. The nursing home support scheme, which took...

Priority Questions: Home Care Packages Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: As Minister of State with responsibility for older people, I stress that my priority and the priority of the Government is to ensure that older people can remain with the people that they love and in their homes and communities for as long as possible. The difficulty we currently face is that there is no statutory scheme. There is no framework for the provision of home help. While it has...

Priority Questions: Home Care Packages Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: It is Government policy that long-term nursing home care should be a last resort and we want to develop home care services to provide a more viable alternative to nursing home care for a greater number of people. Traditionally, home care was viewed as providing a lower level of support than residential care and not as an alternative to it. Increasingly, however, it is considered possible to...

Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: The HSE has recently offered the property and farmland at St. Senan's Hospital in Enniscorthy for sale in two lots. Lot 1 comprises the vacant building which is about 130,000 sq. ft., or 12,077 sq. m., in size and circa 45 acres. Lot 1 will be sold by private treaty. Lot 2 comprises about 44 acres of land and will be auctioned unless previously sold. Given its unusual size, previous use...

Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy outlined, recommendations were made under A Vision for Change to close St. Senan's. Following that, huge investment was made in the county of approximately €11.5 million which has resulted in a 50-bed mental health community nursing home on the grounds of Wexford General Hospital, a 13-place high support mental health hostel in Melview House, Enniscorthy and a ten-bed...

Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: We need to keep our options open here. Lot 1 will be sold by private treaty and the property will be auctioned off. We still do not know what the outcome of that will be. We are talking about providing services across the board, not just in County Wexford, on a 24-7 basis. The HSE is developing a plan as to what a 24-7 service would look like. We know that out of the 17 mental health...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I agree that people who are suicidal or who have mental health problems should never be turned away, whether it is morning, noon or night. Improving access to mental health services is a key priority of the Minister. In many cases, mental health issues are ongoing and may require immediate treatment at any time, day or night....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: I wholeheartedly agree with the Senator. Nobody should ever be turned away, day or night. Whether the person has a substance abuse problem or whatever the issue is, the person should always receive that support. This year we will spend €853 million on the mental health services. A total of €15 million was allocated in this year's budget which will develop into €35...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: The HSE Mental Health Division, along with the Clinical Strategy and Programmes Division and the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, have recognised the need for a Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis to respond to people with substance misuse, both alcohol and/or drugs, together with mental illness. A Programme Manager has been appointed to oversee the Clinical Programme. In addition, a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: As you will be aware, the 2016 National Mental Health Division’s Operational Plan outlined an objective to introduce Peer Support Workers in Mental Health Services. Peer Support Workers are people who have lived experience of mental distress and recovery. The Peer Support Worker role will use expertise gained through lived experience to promote recovery, share information to promote...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (1 Feb 2017)

Helen McEntee: Cashel Health Campus, Co. Tipperary, which includes Our Lady’s Hospital, provides mainly primary care services. There is a small residential facility on the site, together with other services including day and outreach services. The residential unit, which includes elderly, mental health and intellectual disability beds, is currently fully occupied. The development of the campus...