Today is a very good day for the people of South Dublin and North Wicklow.
Having been without a structured 24/7 GP service, today saw the announcement that North Doc Medical Services Ltd has been selected as the successful tenderer to deliver the Out of Hours GP service for South Dublin and North Wicklow.
The GPs and Hospitals provide a great service to the people of Dun Laoghaire constituency but the news today that a structured out of hours GP service will operate from 2019 is very welcome.
We have no control over when we will require medical help. South County Dublin and North Wicklow, including Blackrock, Stillorgan, Dalkey, Dun Laoghaire, Killiney Loughlinstown, Cabinteely, Foxrock, Shankill, Leopardstown, Sandyford and Bray, will now be covered by this service which will operate on a 24 hour basis on weekends and public holidays and through the night during the week.
This cover will provide comfort and reassurance to everyone, particularly those with serious illnesses, parents and older people. The need for an accessible GP and support service, day and night, is an issue that has been raised with me over the years and I am delighted with today’s news.
The service will operate out of Loughlinstown Hospital and will cover all aspects of out of hours care including Call Handling Services, Nurse Triage Services, GPs and Clinical Nurses.
I would like to thank Minister Harris for his work and dedication to seeing this service delivered for South Dublin and North Wicklow, we have been waiting for a long time.
“I will keep constituents updated about this service, and look forward to the start date being confirmed.
Update 04 December:
A number of constituents have asked further questions in relation to this announcement. I am pleased with the answers I have received from the HSE today:
Are DL Doc at St. Michael’s and East Doc at St. Vincent’s closing?
No. The existing GP rotas and service provided at these centres will continue and be enhanced by the new more structured service.
Will home calls be available to those who do not have transport available to take them to Loughlinstown?
Yes. The benefits of a fully-structured GP OOH service include effective triage, access to healthcare from 6pm to 8am on weekdays and all day at weekends and public holidays, and the provision of a mobile GP supported by a driver to any household requiring care in the area covered by the service, where appropriate.
Are other suburbs not listed, such as Deansgrange, included in the new scheme?
Yes, all areas of Community Healthcare East are covered with the exception of South Wicklow, which is already served by a structured GP OOH service.
Last Updated: January 25, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Ministers announce call for applications to Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund
Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today announced that a call for applications has issued to higher education institutions in relation to the newly established Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund. The fund is one of a number of measures to deliver on ambitions for Ireland’s higher education sector as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
Read More
Last Updated: January 25, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Minister for Higher Education welcomes establishment of TU Dublin
The Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today (1 January 2019) welcomed the formal establishment of Technological University Dublin.
Read More
Last Updated: December 20, 2018 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Minister for Education and Skills and Minister for Higher Education announce first president of Technological University Dublin
The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. and Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D., today (December 2018) announced that Professor David FitzPatrick has been designated under the Technological Universities Act 2018 for appointment as the first president of Technological University Dublin.
Read More
Last Updated: December 20, 2018 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Minister Mitchell O’Connor announces €1.65m in funding for innovative Teaching and Learning projects in the higher education sector
Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility for Higher Education, today (19 December 2018) announced funding of €1.65m for 16 innovative projects to enhance teaching and learning in the higher education institutions.
Read More
Last Updated: December 20, 2018 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Ministers welcome plans to bring forward legislation to provide certainty to families on student accommodation costs
Ministers welcome plans to bring forward legislation to provide certainty to families on student accommodation
The Minister for Education and Skills Joe Mc Hugh T.D. and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D today (Tuesday, 11 December) welcomed the publication of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2018 by Minister for Housing, planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy T.D.
Read More
Last Updated: December 10, 2018 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Patronage of New Primary School for Booterstown_Blackrock – Have Your Say Before 15/01/19
You can express your patronage preferences using the Department’s new Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) website https://patronage.education.gov.ie
You have until 15 January 2019 to express your preference from the following list of applicants:
• An Foras Pátrúnachta
• Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board
• Educate Together
• Lifeways Ireland CLG
• Scoil Sinéad Limited
• St Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland
Last Updated: December 4, 2018 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
24/7 Out of Hours GP Service Announced for South Dublin and North Wicklow
Today is a very good day for the people of South Dublin and North Wicklow.
Having been without a structured 24/7 GP service, today saw the announcement that North Doc Medical Services Ltd has been selected as the successful tenderer to deliver the Out of Hours GP service for South Dublin and North Wicklow.
The GPs and Hospitals provide a great service to the people of Dun Laoghaire constituency but the news today that a structured out of hours GP service will operate from 2019 is very welcome.
We have no control over when we will require medical help. South County Dublin and North Wicklow, including Blackrock, Stillorgan, Dalkey, Dun Laoghaire, Killiney Loughlinstown, Cabinteely, Foxrock, Shankill, Leopardstown, Sandyford and Bray, will now be covered by this service which will operate on a 24 hour basis on weekends and public holidays and through the night during the week.
This cover will provide comfort and reassurance to everyone, particularly those with serious illnesses, parents and older people. The need for an accessible GP and support service, day and night, is an issue that has been raised with me over the years and I am delighted with today’s news.
The service will operate out of Loughlinstown Hospital and will cover all aspects of out of hours care including Call Handling Services, Nurse Triage Services, GPs and Clinical Nurses.
I would like to thank Minister Harris for his work and dedication to seeing this service delivered for South Dublin and North Wicklow, we have been waiting for a long time.
“I will keep constituents updated about this service, and look forward to the start date being confirmed.
Update 04 December:
A number of constituents have asked further questions in relation to this announcement. I am pleased with the answers I have received from the HSE today:
Are DL Doc at St. Michael’s and East Doc at St. Vincent’s closing?
No. The existing GP rotas and service provided at these centres will continue and be enhanced by the new more structured service.
Will home calls be available to those who do not have transport available to take them to Loughlinstown?
Yes. The benefits of a fully-structured GP OOH service include effective triage, access to healthcare from 6pm to 8am on weekdays and all day at weekends and public holidays, and the provision of a mobile GP supported by a driver to any household requiring care in the area covered by the service, where appropriate.
Are other suburbs not listed, such as Deansgrange, included in the new scheme?
Yes, all areas of Community Healthcare East are covered with the exception of South Wicklow, which is already served by a structured GP OOH service.
Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Minister Mitchell O’Connor opens the consultation forum on the legislative reform of the Higher Education Authority Act
Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D., today, ( 23rd of November ), opened the consultation forum on the new Higher Education Authority Act.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is the statutory funding authority for the universities, institutes of technology and a number of other designated institutions, and is the advisory body to the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the higher education sector. The HEA was established under the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971.
In launching the consultation process, Minister Mitchell O’Connor said:
“In the almost 50 years since the enactment of the HEA Act we have been remarkably successful in promoting participation in higher education. There are currently some 235,000 students in the higher education sector compared to approximately 20,000 in 1971. The population of our higher education institutions has become more diverse and inclusive and altogether more reflective of wider society. Over that period, Higher Education and Research has become central to Ireland’s society and economy and higher education will become even more critical role in the years ahead as we seek to further increase productivity in our workforce and build our social capital. However it is acknowledged that the legislative framework governing the HEA has not kept pace with these developments.”
The Minister initiated a consultation process on the updating of the HEA Act in July of this year and submissions were received from stakeholders as part of this process. There were 14 responses to the consultation and they are available here. The feedback from the submissions was presented to stakeholders today. There will also be a discussion about some key issues to emerge from the consultation process. The views expressed by stakeholders as part of the consultation process and at the consultation forum will be help to inform the development of the legislation.
Minister Mitchell O’Connor concluded by thanking the participants for attending the consultation forum: “I really appreciate your input into this process and look forward to your continued co-operation in developing this legislation. It is in all of our interests that we have a Higher Education Authority that is empowered to support and regulate the higher education sector in 2018 and in the years ahead. I look forward to bringing the Heads of the new Bill to Government in Q.1 2019 with the ambition of having the legislation completed during 2019.”
Last Updated: November 27, 2018 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
National Student Accommodation Strategy
The Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. and the Minister of State with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English T.D. today released the end Q3 2018 progress report on the National Student Accommodation Strategy. The National Student Accommodation Strategy complements the initiatives being taken by the Minister for Housing to increase housing supply under Rebuilding Ireland.
Read More
Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Minister Mitchell O’Connor speaking after Votáil 100 event
Speaking at the Votáil 100 event today in Dáil Éireann, Minister for State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’ Connor stated,
‘’I welcome wholeheartedly Minister Joe McHugh’s review of the teaching of History up to Junior Cert Level. However more needs to be done.
Read More
@MitchellOConnor
Contact me
Email:
mitchelloconnormary@gmail.com
Twitter: @mitchelloconnor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mary.mitchelloconnor
Recent Posts
Archive