Results 1,441-1,460 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (16 May 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 in each of the years referred to by the Deputy is set out in the following table. LDATF 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 DOH Ballyfermot €1,533,826 €1,492,413 €1,569,489 €1,522,404...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (16 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem. In the 2017 budget, an additional €3m has been provided for a number of measures aimed at improving the health outcomes of those affected by addiction issues. The increased funding will support the development of a pilot supervised injection facility...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Government is committed to putting a new National Drugs Strategy in place from 2017 onwards, when the current policy expires. A Steering Committee with an independent chair has been established to advise me on the new Strategy. This committee has been mandated to develop an integrated public health approach to substance misuse, which is defined as the harmful or hazardous use of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As the Deputy is aware, Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. A Steering Committee, led by an independent chair, has been established to advise me on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy, which will cover the period from 2017 onwards. The Steering Committee has been mandated to develop an integrated public health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The Strategy is a cross cutting area of public policy and service delivery, which requires a coordinated response to tackling the drug problem, involving the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. As the Deputy will be aware, a Steering Committee has been established to advise me on...

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Funding (11 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I understand Deputy Broughan's frustration. I am very familiar with the work of the Irish Wheelchair Association. All organisations, no matter what Department they deal with, are governed by certain arrangements. If there has been a problem with the governance arrangements of the Irish Wheelchair Association, it has been said in the reply that the HSE is willing to talk to it and to try to...

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Funding (11 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Deputy raised a number of issues of which I have taken note. I will bring them back to Minister, but the reply clearly outlines that the HSE has no control over salaries within section 39 organisations. I will relay to the Minister the fact that SIPTU has taken up this issue as well. I will relay all the comments back to the Minister and I will ask him to communicate with the Deputy.

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Funding (11 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I wish to apologise for the fact the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, cannot be here. I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this important issue and will outline the current position on the situation. The Irish Wheelchair Association is funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004. The HSE has in place service level agreements with providers funded under section 39 of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Rent Increases (11 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise to both Deputies on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and I thank them for raising this important issue. There are acute pressures in the rental market. Those pressures are driven by a number of factors including rising demand as a result of the economic recovery, a lack of supply and the high costs that highly indebted landlords face in servicing their loans. Those...

Topical Issue Debate: Rent Increases (11 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Deputies are correct that I am giving a statement. However, I am very much aware myself of the difficulties people face in my constituency but there have been significant changes. I can only speak for the area I represent in Dublin South-Central where a significant number of properties have been bought up by the council and a significant amount of properties and voids have been put back...

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Issues (11 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I note the frustration of both the Deputy and those who have lived in homes which are falling down around them, which I have seen, not only in person but in documentaries as well. All I can give the Deputy is the information I have been given. When speaking to the Department before I came in here, because I anticipated the Deputy's reaction to the reply, I was told that the report is...

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Issues (11 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy McConalogue for raising this matter. I apologise that the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, cannot be present. I do not know why that is but I was asked to take the Topical Issue. I will read the reply, although I am sure Deputy McConalogue knows most of the details, and I will then take questions. I will be taking this matter on behalf of Minister, Deputy Simon...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Section 3 provides for the criteria with which the Minister may be satisfied in order to consider granting a licence. These include, but are not limited to, consultation with An Garda Síochána, the HSE or other Ministers as the Minister considers appropriate. It also includes the matters that the HSE will consider when advising the Minister as to the appropriateness of such an...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: To allay any fear Senators may have, particularly about the legislation and the need for consultation, I have said from day one that no service can be provided in any community unless the wider community takes part in facilitating it.It is our intention when the Bill is enacted to have an open conversation with the community in which the service will be provided. I do not know where that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Gambling Sector (9 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: At the request of the Department of Justice and Equality, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (NACDA) Drug Prevalence Survey 2014/15 for the Republic of Ireland included data on gambling for the first time. In the general population survey, results indicated that 64.5% of respondents aged 15 or older reported gambling in the 12 months prior to the survey and 41.4% of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Discharges (9 May 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: Hospital Discharges (9 May 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.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (3 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I agree entirely with the Deputy who I know has a huge interest in ICT and how it should work. That said, it is remiss of patients not to keep their appointments. Given that there are so many on waiting lists, when people do not show up, it causes difficulties for the staff running clinics. It is for this reason that most hospitals over-estimate the numbers who will not show up when making...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Publication (3 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Government is committed to putting a new National Drugs Strategy in place from 2017 onwards, when the current policy expires. A Steering Committee with an independent chair has been established to advise me on the new Strategy. This committee has been mandated to develop an integrated public health approach to substance misuse, which is defined as the harmful or hazardous use of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (3 May 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In relation to the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), there are a number of actions being undertaken which will lead to a better understanding of SICAP and its impacts, and which will inform my Department in reshaping the next iteration of SICAP, due to roll out in 2018. Firstly, my Department is leading a targeted national consultation...