Results 61-80 of 15,432 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gender Recognition (1 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: My colleague the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality recently published the National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028 on 12 June 2025, along with its associated National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II - Action Plan 2025-2026. The remaining actions from the Gender Recognition Act 2025 Review, including the one relating to recognition for people who are non-binary, are...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Properties (1 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department does not hold a copy of the sales agreement to which the Deputy refers. On the matter of confidentiality, the Deputy may be aware that the Office of the Information Commissioner (Reference OIC-121881-Y9W8V9) upheld a decision by Údarás na Gaeltachta to refuse access to the contract under section 35(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act on the grounds that the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (1 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a key support to rural communities in improving non-public roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its reintroduction in 2017, the government has provided almost €170 million to local authorities under the Scheme. My Department officials have received submissions from all 25 local authorities in respect of proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Contracts (1 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has not entered into any contracts worth €10 million or more over the past five years. With regard to the agencies under my Department's aegis, I would note that they are all independent bodies responsible for their own operational matters. In this context I am informed that Pobal have entered into...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (1 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages across Ireland in line with the objectives contained in Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development Policy, and the Town Centre First policy. Since the launch of the scheme 2,394 applications have been received and 1,794 projects have been allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Údarás na Gaeltachta (1 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Maidir leis an dá chlár tacaíochta nua atá dírithe ar chur chun cinn na Gaeilge i measc lucht gnó, atá á fhorbairt agus le soláthar as an nua ag an Údarás in 2025, seo a leanas uasdátú maidir leis na céimeanna atá glactha i dtaca leis na cláir sin: Scéim Forbartha Gaeilge na gCliantchomhlachtaí ...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (1 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department operates a number of capital programmes designed to support community groups with capital funding towards community centres, libraries and recreational amenities. Of particular importance for these specific purposes are:The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), which provides funding towards capital costs for the refurbishment and upgrade of community centres that are open to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Uniforms (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 276 together. This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them. That is why I was really pleased to announce that Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility is being extended to include children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Childcare Services (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Social Welfare Appeals Service is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. The Service is administered by the Chief Appeals Officer. The Chief Appeals Officer and her team of Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions. As Minister I need to be conscious of the independence of the office, its functions and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. All primary schools will be eligible to apply for the Hot School Meals from September 2025. This...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Government's 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 contains a commitment to examine the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland, as a mechanism to develop the range of areas available in which people can choose Irish as a language of exchange. In this context, Foras na Gaeilge, through its ‘Gnó...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Common Agricultural Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The current LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. It is connected to Objective 8 of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The total amount of funding allocated to LEADER for the period of 2021-2027 is €250 million, maintaining the level of funding of the previous...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an roghchoiste as ucht an deis seo chun an Bille tábhachtach seo a phlé inniu. I thank members for attending today and for facilitating Committee Stage of the Bill. As Deputies know, in January of 2024, the Supreme Court overturned my Department's decision not to pay the widower's contributory pension to Mr. Johnny O'Meara....

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 11, to delete “Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025” and substitute “Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025”. I understand that amendments Nos. 1, 5, 6, and 23 to 25, inclusive, are grouped together. The first five amendments of this grouping...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, line 12, to delete “(other than section 18)” and substitute “(other than sections 18 and 21)”.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, lines 36 and 37, to delete “Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Act 2025” and substitute “Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025”.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: What we are trying to resolve here is an anomaly that was highlighted-----