Results 14,621-14,640 of 15,508 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Charges (19 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I was advised that information was sent to the Senator but perhaps it has not reached him yet. I apologise for that.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Eligibility (19 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of 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. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages Expenditure (19 Oct 2016)

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 (19 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 to 139, inclusive, together. As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Other Questions: Home Care Packages Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy Kelleher for raising this question. To return to what Deputy Connolly said, we are not just talking about figures but people's parents, mothers, brothers and sisters. I am pleased to say that overall funding for services for older people has increased to €765 million in 2017, which is an increase of €82 million since the HSE's 2016 service plan. As Deputy...

Other Questions: Home Care Packages Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy. The winter initiative is only one part of this. If we look at the figures and the experts, the number of people over 65 will double in the next 30 years and the number of people in their 80s will quadruple. That does not just happen in winter and we need to be able to provide the resources throughout the year. This is the reason why we have increased and will...

Other Questions: Home Care Packages Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: As Minister of State with responsibility for older people, my focus this year, particularly in this budget, has been on increasing the number of home-help hours and home-care packages with increased funding. Obviously, the nursing homes support scheme and maintaining that funding have been priorities but I am acutely aware that keeping people in their homes and maintain people within the...

Other Questions: Home Care Packages Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It has been brought to my attention. The original allocation for home care packages and home help hours in 2016 for counties Galway and Mayo is in the region of €27.3 million. Home care services across the country are being stretched by demands from more people and for more hours in the evenings and at weekends, all of which cost more....

Other Questions: Home Care Packages Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy again. It is something that has been brought to my attention. I have not been at the hospital yet but I hope to be in Galway in the coming weeks. It is something I can address at that stage. I am aware there have been exceptionally high patient numbers recorded, particularly in Galway - 224 on 27 September and 233 on 10 October were recorded. Similarly there has been a...

Other Questions: Home Care Packages Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: This is a situation we have all found ourselves in throughout the year. The number of people seeking home help hours and care packages at the beginning of this year reached an unprecedented high and without the €40 million in additional funding this year we would possibly see even more cuts than we see across the board now. We will be spending €68.4 million more on home care...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: As announced last week, we will be initiating €35 million of new developments. As the Deputy points out we have not spent all of our funding, nor have we been able to spend it. In anticipating that we would not be able to spend it all in one year, we have decided that we will initiate €15 million of the €35 million to begin the development. All €35 million will...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his question. I am pleased to confirm that the allocation for new developments within mental health services will be even greater than the significant resources made available in recent years. This arises as a result of a combination of increased revenue funding and a major capital allocation which has been secured for mental health services. In line with my...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services Funding (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I will agree with the Deputy on that. In order to implement A Vision for Change, we need to continue to increase our funding. That is a commitment this Government has given and, for me, it is a commitment it has honoured. However, we know that is not possible over one budget but that it will be implemented over the course of the next three to five years. The Deputy will agree that it...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Palliative Care Services Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: It is the Government's intention that people will be provided with the type of palliative care services that they need regardless of what diagnosis they have, how old they are or whether they die in a hospice, an acute hospital, a nursing home or at home. Significant progress has been made in recent years in improving access to specialist palliative care services. Several new hospices...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: There are 67 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Teams and extra services for special service needs have also been introduced in recent years. The HSE is committed to addressing all Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service needs, including the 16-18 age cohort. Using additional funding provided in recent years, the staffing and range of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: The most recent survey of the staffing of Psychiatry of Old Age Services carried out in December 2015 recorded staffing at over 300 whole time equivalents. This does not include a further 30 additional Psychiatry of Old Age posts approved through Programme for Government Funding, and which are currently being recruited. A Vision for Changerecommended that there should be a total of 552 staff....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of 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. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: I have been assured that there have been no cuts to the Day Care Service in Lisdarn. The service is no longer nurse led, however, because the Day Care Centre is adjacent to the long stay care facility where a nurse is available, if required. There has been no change in the services delivered to older people who attend the centre. The service operates 5 days a week and provides personal care,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Staff (18 Oct 2016)

Helen McEntee: As of August 2016, there were 9, 458 whole time equivalents employed in the HSE Mental Health services. This included an approximate additional 1,150 new posts recruited since 2012. A total of approximately 1,550 were approved but not all posts could be filled due to staff recruitment and retention challenges. However, recruitment to posts approved up to the current year is continuing,...