Results 1,741-1,760 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (20 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I have been made aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers. Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The overall objective of the Strategy is to continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (18 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: On 12 October 2016, I announced the allocation of an additional €3m in the 2017 Budget to increase support for interventions aimed at improving the health outcomes of the most vulnerable in our society, including Traveller and Roma communities, those affected by addiction issues, those experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers and refugees. The additional funding will also be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Community (18 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: The Health Service Executive continues to work closely with Traveller Organisations and Agencies to ensure ongoing availability of psychological services for those affected by the tragedy and will continue to respond to any requests for services from families and extended families involved. The psychological and wider needs of the survivors and bereaved family members will continue to...

Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (13 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: Deputy Curran is more familiar with this area than I am. I know he is frustrated but I am unable to provide any more information. However, I assure the Deputy, as I did Deputy Harty, that I will raise this issue with the Minister on his return. What is important for me is that people get a proper service. Like Deputy Curran, I work with people in areas where primary care centres are...

Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (13 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, I thank Deputy Curran for raising this issue. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a decisive shift towards primary care so that we can provide better care close to home for communities around the country. Primary care centres are an integral part of this because of the range of multi-disciplinary services they can provide and...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (13 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Unfortunately, the Minster for Health cannot be present and he has asked me to take this matter on his behalf. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on a matter which has been the subject of speculation recently. The National Ambulance Service has undergone a significant process of modernisation in recent years and a number of key...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (13 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I do not question the Deputy's knowledge of rural Ireland and the distance between locations and hope he did not take offence at some of my remarks. I understand his concerns, particularly as we live in a country with many roads and access is not what it should be for ambulances in rural areas. The rapid response service plays a huge part in attending to ill patients throughout the country....

Topical Issue Debate: Syrian Conflict (13 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this topical issue debate on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality who cannot be here this afternoon. As the Tánaiste recently outlined in responses to a number of parliamentary questions on this issue, we should be clear there is no official refugee or migrant camp in Calais. Calais does not fall under the EU relocation or resettlement decisions...

Topical Issue Debate: Syrian Conflict (13 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: The Deputy is not alone in his concerns for unaccompanied minors. The Tánaiste and I share these concerns and have acted upon them. Unaccompanied minors are an especially vulnerable group and we expect the issue will remain high on the agenda at EU level. I have already stated the measures we are taking under the Irish refugee protection programme to take unaccompanied minors from...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I welcome the €3 million being provided to support drug and social inclusion measures in 2017. This will bring the total funding available to the HSE for social inclusion services to over €131 million. The Department also provides more than €6 million for drugs and local task forces. The additional funding announced in the budget will enable the HSE to continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Youth Services Data (11 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces are responsible for developing measures to address drug problems in their areas having regard to local needs. As part of their work, many Task Forces have developed measures to support projects targeting young people at risk of using drugs. Funding for such measures is either provided to the Task Force projects directly by the Health Service Executive or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (11 Oct 2016)

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: Voluntary Sector Funding (6 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: As the Deputy will be aware, a Steering Committee, with an independent chair, has been established to advise me on a new National Drugs Strategy, which will take effect in 2017, when the current policy expires. The provision of resources to support the implementation of the new Strategy, including detoxification services for young people and adolescents, will be determined in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (5 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to staff employed to support the day-to-day operation of Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and HSE Addiction Service staff. Drug and Alcohol Task Force coordinators are, in the main, employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). However, the HSE also allocates funding to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces for other support workers,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Funding (4 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350, 351, 353, 406, 411, 412, 417, 428, 469 and 475 to 477, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, a Steering Committee, with an independent chair, has been established to advise me on a new National Drugs Strategy, which will take effect in 2017, when the current policy expires. The provision of resources to support the implementation of the new...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (4 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 419 and 420 together. The Department of Health does not directly engage with other Departments regarding the specific funding of individual service providers, contracted by or on behalf of the Health Service Executive, including the Aislinn Service of Aiséiri. The Oversight Forum on Drugs (OFD), which I chair, is responsible for the high-level...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Budget (4 Oct 2016)

Catherine Byrne: As the Deputy will be aware, a Steering Committee, with an independent chair, has been established to advise me on a new National Drugs Strategy, which will take effect in 2017, when the current policy expires The provision of resources to support the implementation of the new Strategy will be determined in the context of the estimates process.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (29 Sep 2016)

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: Drug Treatment Programmes (28 Sep 2016)

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.

Pharmacy Fees: Motion [Private Members] (27 Sep 2016)

Catherine Byrne: I am speaking on behalf of the Minister, who had to leave. I thank all of those who contributed to the debate and I have taken note of a lot of the issues that were raised, in particular community pharmacists. Many of them have dedicated their lives to working in communities, have gotten to know people and their families and relate to them on a one-to-one basis. We are all fully aware...