Results 3,241-3,260 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: No child should be left without school place next September. It is a fundamental right of every child to have access to primary school education, in particular, and secondary education. The Department of Education is working proactively with the National Council for Special Education on the adequacy of school places and having a sufficiency of school places. We were assured of this as...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: There has always been a significant challenge with regard to the recruitment of specialists in radiation and radiation therapists and this is a factor. There has been investment in recruiting people but very often there can be a shortage of specific disciplines. Negotiations are under way involving the Higher Education Authority and the universities with a view to increasing the number of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Hopefully, it is nearing completion and I will come back to the Deputy on that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised a very important issue and we will be very positive in this respect. I do not like pre-empting the Ministers for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, and Finance but just transition is very important for the midlands and Longford County Council and others. Deputy Flaherty has taken a huge interest in this and I would like to think we...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and we are committed to that investment.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I will speak to the Minister about the issue – I understand the Deputy is referring to modular builds – and revert to him on it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for arts and tourism, Deputy Catherine Martin, has reported to the Government on a healthy evaluation of the basic income for artists scheme. It was an initiative that the Minister took and the Government supported and it has had a beneficial impact. It has been evaluated and I have no doubt but that the matter will be progressed further. The Minister will revert on it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I believe that capitation was restored to pre-2011 levels for the first time in this year's budget. At approximately €81 million, it is not at the same level. I addressed this matter earlier, so it is fresh in my mind. We will consider capitation in the context of the forthcoming Estimates and budget because it has to be acknowledged that there has been a cost-of-living increase....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. Following a HIQA report some years ago, the Government has invested significantly in the district hospital network across the country with a view to consolidating them and ensuring they are brought up to standard. This was done because of the issue the Deputy raised. One often hears the private nursing home sector complaining about the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: When one meets school principals, some have different views about the allocation models for special education in particular. There is ongoing engagement between the Department, the NCSE, schools and school principals. I will raise these issues with the Minister. She is in touch with the primary school sector and all stakeholders as regards how schools are resourced and various allocation...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: A diagnosis of cancer is a very difficult one for a person and for that person's family to receive. Every effort should be made to make the journey of care as stress-free as possible. The Government has significantly reduced healthcare costs in terms of hospital inpatient charges, extending GP card coverage and things like that. In terms of car parking charges, that is something we will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Well over 1,000 people seeking asylum have been accommodated since the Government's strategy was announced and published some weeks ago. The Deputy must also acknowledge the unprecedented increase in the number of people seeking asylum in this country in the last three to four years. We have moved from having about 3,500 people per annum seeking asylum in 2019 to a situation this year where...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Absolutely not. The price of houses is a problem for those seeking to buy or rent houses at affordable prices. There is an issue, and we want prices to come down and to moderate. It is all about supply, though, and I respectfully suggest that the proposals put forward by the Deputy's party would dampen it. We need more supply. This Government has already, in the context of its policies,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: We want to increase this trend and through the help-to-buy scheme and other supports, we will continue to help people to buy houses at affordable rates.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not familiar with the background to the case and so forth but I will certainly talk to the Minister for Education in relation to the issue the Deputy has raised. There are established industrial relations and conciliation frameworks to try to resolve these issues or progress various schemes. I will, however, certainly discuss this issue with the Minister for Education.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I imagine there are quite a number of complications in expanding such a scheme. I will talk to the Minister for Transport and seek to get the outcome of the evaluation of the pilot scheme, because I presume there was an evaluation. I will talk to the Minister in respect of it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Okay, but it has implications for the Department of Transport too.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Oh, it has.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Minister in respect of the situation in Clonmel. More generally, there has been a consistent increase in investment in water infrastructure and wastewater treatment across the country. That investment has been effective in many areas. There is a significant programme ahead that will demand considerable capital investment for years to come-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy acknowledged that the Department has intervened in terms of the cost of secretarial services, wages, salaries and so on, which was a long running issue in primary education. Looking at the broader picture, budget 2024 provided targeted funding for school communities with an increase in capitation-related funding of over €81 million. As part of the capitation package in the...