Results 1,521-1,540 of 8,927 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (26 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: 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: Tax Code (26 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: A Healthy Weight for Ireland, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025). It was developed in recognition of the growing need for a co-ordinated policy response to the increasing problem of obesity in Ireland and the increasing burden...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tax Code (26 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: A Healthy Weight for Ireland, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025). It was developed in recognition of the growing need for a co-ordinated policy response to the increasing problem of obesity in Ireland and the increasing burden...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vaccination Programme (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, which continues to revise its recommendations having regard to the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in immunisation. The varicella vaccine is not currently included as part of the primary childhood immunisation programme but NIAC has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vaccination Programme (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Although varicella is typically a mild disease, there can be long-term skin scarring and serious complications requiring hospitalisation. Of the 58,000 cases of chickenpox that occur in Ireland every year, approximately one in every 250 will result in hospitalisation with the associated complications. The estimated effectiveness of one-dose and two-dose vaccination strategies was obtained...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vaccination Programme (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. I will certainly relay that back to the Minister.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. On timelines and delivery, funding will be important. The delivery of this service is part of the Estimates discussions that are happening at the moment for the upcoming budget. We will keep the Deputy updated about this important issue.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As the Deputy will be aware, cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug which can make people feel more alert, energetic and confident. Cocaine can cause a range of acute health-related problems and even sudden death. It is highly risky for anybody with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Even perfectly healthy young people can have a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The work of the citizens' assembly is timely. It will report at the end of the year. It is important that we have an open and honest conversation about drug use. I have allocated €1.5 million for an education programme. It is the first time funding has ever been allocated to that and I want to expand on it. We have allocated €130 million to the HSE for addiction...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I also welcome the citizens' assembly and think the conversation will really start when it reports. In the meantime, I have allocated €850,000 for cocaine-related treatment. I also allocated €500,000 in June 2023 and €1.5 million for an education programme around drug use, for the first time. I have met drug and alcohol task forces and gone into detox units and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The HSE National Quality and Patient Safety Directorate has reviewed the interim Cass report and how it applies to clinical pathways in Ireland. Based on the recommendations of the report, the HSE has identified the need to develop an updated and integrated model of care for transgender services, informed by the best evidence-based clinical care for individuals who express gender...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I completely agree on the urgency. It is a priority of the Department of Health and HSE to provide a transgender healthcare service that is aligned with best practice internationally and meets the needs of children and adults. Dr. Cass from the National Health Service came to Ireland at the start of this year and presented the findings of her interim report to a wide range of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Strategies (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The health service is currently experiencing its largest multi-annual capacity growth since the HSE was established. This is based off a number of multi-annual strategies. Since 2020, we have opened 1,019 acute beds nationally. This is expected to reach 1,204 acute beds by the end of 2023 - an additional 185 beds over the current position and well ahead of the 2018 capacity review target....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Strategies (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: To reiterate, there is a significant amount happening in this space within the Department. We have had the largest expansion of the workforce since the inception of the HSE, with more than 21,000 WTEs added since 2020, while 1,019 acute beds have been opened nationally since 2020 and a total target of 1,204 beds will be delivered by the end of the year. Delivery is an absolute priority for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Strategies (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I cannot accept the Deputy's statements regarding the work that is happening within the Department. There are, and always have been, challenges in the health system. People are living longer and there is increased demand, which is fantastic. We need to be able to meet those demands and that will require extra funding through the budgetary process. The Minister will address the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Waiting Lists (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Government is fully committed to improving genetics services. A key ambition of the national strategy for accelerating genetics and genomic medicine in Ireland is to build an excellent national genetics service. In 2023, the Government allocated €2.7 million to support the first year of implementation of this strategy. This funding supported the creation of a national office and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Waiting Lists (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I also have the figures the Deputy listed in my supplementary response but the question was in relation to the disaggregated figures by age cohort. That is maintained by individual hospitals. It is not disaggregated by age cohort. The data are not currently available centrally to support decision-making. It is a new office. In 2022, funding of €1.34 million was provided for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Waiting Lists (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will ask the Minister for Health to come back to Deputy Pringle directly-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Waiting Lists (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: -----on that specific question. I have answered the parliamentary question. The main point is that this is a new office. It has to collate the data so that it is evidence-based. It is an expanding office and will be funded through budgets in order that we can have the data that will directly help patients on the ground, as per the Sláintecare model. It is a growing office that has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (21 Sep 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I reiterate that section 39 and section 56 organisations and their staff play a vital role in our healthcare and social care sectors. Officials in the Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are waiting on the result of the ballot. Officials from both Departments remain available to re-engage with unions at any time in an effort to bring...