Results 17,281-17,300 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (8 Nov 2011)

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

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (8 Nov 2011)

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

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: The Health Service Executive centralised the processing of all new applications and renewals of medical cards at the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Finglas, Dublin from 1 July 2011. A new online application facility has now been provided at www.medicalcard.ie which enables people anywhere in the country to apply for, or to renew a medical card online. Applying online also gives...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (8 Nov 2011)

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

Written Answers — General Practitioner Services: General Practitioner Services (8 Nov 2011)

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

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by the HSE. I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Medical Aids and Appliances: Medical Aids and Appliances (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (8 Nov 2011)

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

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: The Health Service Executive centralised the processing of all new applications and renewals of medical cards at the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Finglas, Dublin from 1st July 2011. The Executive has stated that there is no backlog of work in the central office and all complete medical card applications and reviews are being processed within 15 working days or less. Delays...

Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: I thank both Deputies for raising this issue. As far as I can figure out, this appears, by and large, to be a communications problem. I will read the reply I have to hand, which is a little long-winded. In addition to operating the community employment scheme, FÁS also oversees the implementation of the community employment drugs rehabilitation programme which provides 1,000 places for...

Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: My information is that the community sector was represented by Ms Joan Byrne of SAOL, with an alternate being Mr. Daithí Doolan of Citywide, and by Ms Teresa Weafer of the Ringsend and District Response to Drugs. The voluntary sector was represented by Mr. Tony Geoghegan from the Merchants Quay Project. That said, I cannot understand why on an initiative dating back as far as 2004 there is...

Hospice Services (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: I thank Deputy Walsh for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to update the House on this matter. Our policy is to continue to develop and improve palliative care health services in all regions to meet the objective of providing modern, high quality palliative and end of life care services. The development of such services is informed by the report of the National Advisory...

Hospice Services (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: I take Deputy Walsh's point on the inequality in the funding allocations. I suppose much of that is for historical reasons. Very often where groups are very good at fundraising, they lose out because other facilities in other areas may be fully funded. I take that point. Increasingly, on a policy basis, we are trying to move to a standardised unit cost for funding services. I think that...

Banned Substances (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: Cannabis is a Schedule 1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Its cultivation, supply and possession is prohibited and unlawful in Ireland, except for the purposes of research. Cannabis continues to be the most widely abused drug in Ireland and it is not the intention of Government to legalise its use. The Government has strong concerns that legalisation of cannabis use would...

Banned Substances (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: The contamination or adulteration found involved the use of crushed grass particles or grass micro-beads. Some evidence of this was found in 2007 and 2008 but recent testing has revealed no evidence of these materials. The Government's main concern relates to the physical and mental health effects of the long-term use of cannabis which have been associated with lung and throat cancer but...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: I thank Senator Clune for raising the issue, which is quite timely. Apart from the report from the HRB, to which the Senator referred and which indicated we have alarming rates of alcohol consumption in this country, another report was launched this morning by the North West Alcohol Forum. This report outlined the severe impact that alcohol consumption by parents has on children due to the...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing (8 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: It is my intention to publish the report. I recently presented on the alcohol issue to the Oireachtas health committee and I gave a commitment to come back with the draft proposals. As there is a high level of cross-party concern about this, I am very keen that as many Members as possible have an opportunity to consider the recommendations and to suggest amendments. I am very open to that....

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (3 Nov 2011)

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

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (3 Nov 2011)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.