Results 1-20 of 2,331 for at speaker:Mary Butler

Neighbour Disputes (Vegetation) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 May 2024)

Mary Butler: I will keep it brief because I would only be reiterating what was said already. I am grateful for the opportunity to make some brief closing remarks on what has been a fascinating discussion. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for initiating this Bill and the effort to address an issue that can become both serious and distressing for some in our communities, where they are in dispute with their...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (16 May 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising this important issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, has been delayed. I was on standby to take this and I was under the impression that the Minister of State would be here. I have taken note of the issues raised by the Deputy and I hope the script will be able to provide some of the answers. From the outset I want to clarify that the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Urban Development (16 May 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his input to the debate and the views he has raised. In fairness to the Taoiseach, he was only in his second or third week in the role when he established a task force to take a view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin city centre, both north and south. We can all welcome the focus brought by Government on measures which will hopefully make all the...

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 May 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank Members for their contributions to the debate on the Bill. I look forward to their support as the Bill is considered further on Committee Stage. I note 95% of all those who spoke, even though they raised issues, were supportive of the legislation and I thank them all for that. The Bill provides for a number of pertinent and timely amendments to the Health Act 2007 and the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 May 2024)

Mary Butler: Deputy Mattie McGrath was at the opening.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 May 2024)

Mary Butler: In May 2023, a HIQA inspection identified concerns regarding the flooring in both the sycamore and willow units at Cherry Orchard Hospital. These presented a significant potential health and safety risk and a fire risk and it was something that I could not ignore. It was proposed to remove the residents on a phased basis and, so far, 43 residents have been transferred from Cherry Orchard...

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 May 2024)

Mary Butler: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024 to the Dáil. The legislation has two main aims. First, through amendments to the Health Act 2007, it will strengthen the regulatory framework for residential care services regulated under the Act. This includes residential centres for older...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Mary Butler: ...clear, in case anyone thinks there are 20, 30 or 40 people in it - there is a ward for seven people. We were solely dependent on agency staff and we were not able to get them. I secured a derogation from the HSE to secure three full-time, permanent members of staff. Recruitment is currently under way for them. A panel is in place, but it takes time. Our full objective is to reopen the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 May 2024)

Mary Butler: The Dementia-Inclusive Communities Initiative has its origins in the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme, co-funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). As part of this Implementation Programme, Atlantic Philanthropies and the HSE provided funding of over €3.5 million for the Dementia: Understand Together...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (14 May 2024)

Mary Butler: The Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products (9 May 2024)

Mary Butler: As I stated earlier, the Department is currently establishing a clinical review group to review the publication to make recommendations to the Minister for Health. In response to an oral parliamentary question last week, he stated that he would be open to any expansion, if recommended, but that he would be entirely led by the clinicians in the group. The Deputy spoke about a specific...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (9 May 2024)

Mary Butler: As I said, sometimes difficult decisions have to be taken for the greater good. The decision to utilise the new Nenagh community nursing unit building, on an interim basis, as a step-down, sub-acute and rehabilitation facility was taken to alleviate the significant pressures on University Hospital Limerick. The intention is that the arrangement will be reviewed within one year - I have...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (9 May 2024)

Mary Butler: There are two sides to the coin here. When one is in government, sometimes difficult decisions have to be made for the greater good. This was not a decision that was arrived at lightly. We have two situations. On the one hand, the Government has committed to improving access to acute services across the mid-west region. This includes significant and sustained investment in a range of...

Challenges Facing the Childcare and Nursing Home Sectors: Motion [Private Members] (9 May 2024)

Mary Butler: ...: — the extensive commitments by the Government to address long standing challenges in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sectors; — the 72 per cent increase in State funding since the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future was published, and the achievement of the First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As she knows, I cannot speak to an individual case on the floor of the Dáil, but if she wants to pass on the details, we can certainly have a look at the case. We currently have 51 inpatient beds across all of CAMHS operational at the moment and there is capacity. There are currently 19 beds available. I am updated weekly on the capacity we...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Policies (8 May 2024)

Mary Butler: Safeguarding at-risk adults against abuse is of paramount importance and is taken very seriously by the Department of Health and the Government. The Department of Health, in liaison with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, is at an advanced stage of developing a national policy on adult safeguarding specifically in respect of the health and care sector...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care of the Elderly (8 May 2024)

Mary Butler: In fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government has established an independent Commission on Care for Older People. In Budget 2024 €1.243 million was allocated to the Commission, which is being supported by a secretariat from my Department. The Commission is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Chief Executive Officer, Economic and Social Research...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Policy (8 May 2024)

Mary Butler: A Mental Health Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to replace the existing Mental Health Acts 2001 – 2022 and overhaul our approach to mental health legislation. While the Department expects many of the proposed changes in the new Bill to be dealt with generally within existing resources, some of the planned changes are expected to carry additional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Nursing Homes (2 May 2024)

Mary Butler: As I have said, the scheme I was speaking about will run through 2024 and allows eligible voluntary and private nursing homes to apply for up to €25,000 from a fund of €10 million to support structural works relating to fire safety and infection prevention. The first payments were made on 28 March, when a total of €1.86 million was paid to 82 nursing homes. That has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Closures (2 May 2024)

Mary Butler: Clifden District Hospital plays a vital role in providing care and support to patients and their families in the Clifden community and surrounding areas. Admissions to Clifden District Hospital have unfortunately been temporarily paused due to the lack of staff availability, and prioritisation has had to be given to staffing the roster in St. Anne’s Community Nursing Unit. Local...