Results 1-20 of 1,129,708 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:John Carty OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke OR speaker:Martin Heydon OR speaker:Francis Noel Duffy OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:James Lawless OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Marc MacSharry OR speaker:Mary Butler OR speaker:Matt Carthy OR speaker:Verona Murphy OR speaker:Richard Bruton) in 'Committee meetings'

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: The Deputy is right that we have an ageing population, but we are also living longer. We have one of the highest life expectancies in the EU, as deemed by the World Health Organization, with women reaching 84 years of age and men reaching 82.5.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: Yes, in the EU 27, as deemed by the World Health Organization. A really interesting statistic is that we have 400 fewer people in nursing homes under the fair deal scheme this year than we had in 2019. This shows that the investment in home care, day care and meals-on-wheels services is working. When Sláintecare was being devised, it was estimated that we would need 30,000 fair deal...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: I wish to come in on community beds. In next year’s budget, there will be an additional 174 community beds. I asked the HSE, when we were going through the CNUs, that instead of just replacing the beds, we start turning the dial. For example, in Clonmel CNU, 50 beds will be provided, of which 32 are additional. In St. Columba’s in Thomastown, there will be 95 beds, of which...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: Could I come in briefly on two things we have done as regards older people that have made a big difference? Earlier this year we completed the nationwide roll-out of mobile X-rays to people in nursing homes. It makes no difference which nursing home you are in - public, private or voluntary. We started on a pilot project but we have used it across the whole country now over 10,000 times....

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: I will come in there as it is something that overlaps both our briefs. As the Deputy would know, in 2023, I launched the clinical programme for dual diagnosis, which supports service users who present with mental health and a substance use disorder. In the mental health budget, there were 210 new whole-time equivalents. Ten of those posts are specifically for dual diagnosis to start up two...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: I am seeing the structures changing. I would have always dealt with the head of older persons, the head of mental health and the head of disabilities across each area. They have changed now already. There is a new integrated healthcare area, IHA. Our area, which was CHO 5 and CHO 6 combined, is now called Dublin and South East. There are now three IHAs there and they have broken up the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on the matter. I am aware of the impact that decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals, in both rural and urban areas. An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially and, as such, day-to-day operational matters, including decisions relating to the size, distribution, and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (15 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister for his response and his candidness. I think he is getting the same response I got. "None of your business," is what they say, in so many words. They are getting a lot of money. An Post is a great organisation and I agree it is doing great things. It has done great things with e-cards and so on and was marvellous during Covid. This, however, is the one area I think...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am frightened that I might intervene in matters which we, as an Oireachtas, have given An Post a statutory responsibility to fulfil. Risking that, I might well approach the chief executive. I, too, would be interested. It is a really good company that is trusted and well managed and deals with a large volume of transactions across the State. The underlying reality, however, is that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I accept the Deputy's point. The option is there, and it is a matter for the developer and the residents as to whether they want to go down the route of being able to avail of a 40% grant and whichever is the most suitable technology. To be more innovative and consider other measures, my Department is drafting a new heat Bill to establish a regulatory model for district heating,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I am not saying it is not. Rather, we need to examine whether the operation of the grant system suits this. Others who have been involved in the wider idea of district heating systems have said that the support scheme for renewable heat would have to be altered to facilitate real moves. Regardless of whoever is in government when the Bill is enacted, it will be necessary. We all accept...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As I recall, the original plan for the scheme was for wood-fired systems.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Gas only kicked in due to supply difficulties. Another avenue for us to consider this matter would be through revisions of the support scheme for renewable heat, SSRH, but that would have to fit into whatever we do with the heat Bill. I accept the Deputy’s point. We will have to consider this matter further and see how we can deliver district heating in so many guises. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: There are more in Dublin, including a number of apartments.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Eamon Ryan: True, but it is an important matter that we need to get right. We need to learn from what has happened at the likes of Carlinn Hall so that we can help communities further.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Oct 2024)

Questions Nos. 65 and 66 taken with Written Answers.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (15 Oct 2024)

Energy Infrastructure

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (15 Oct 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 67. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the non-domestic gas works regulation, what engagement there has been between his Department and the CRU and other stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41387/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (15 Oct 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Regarding non-domestic gas works regulation, what engagement has there been between the Department, the CRU and all the other stakeholders? This area has not been regulated fully and there are particular issues. Will the Minister ensure that they are addressed and we have a system that is fit for purpose?