Results 821-840 of 16,601 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The estimated annual cost of extending Fuel Allowance by one week is €13.7 million. This costing is based on the number of Fuel Allowance recipients as at December 2024, and on the basis of a 28 week Fuel Allowance season.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides income supports through a mixture of contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments. To receive either a contributory or social assistance payment a person must qualify for that payment in their own right. The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested social assistance payment for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The State Pension (Non-contributory) (SPNC) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. An applicant for SPNC can have savings or assets of up to €20,000. Also an applicant is entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Budgets (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Department of Social Protection provides income supports through a mixture of contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments. To receive either a contributory or social assistance payment a person must qualify for that payment in their own right. The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405, 406, 407 and 408 together. As the Deputy is aware the Community Employment Scheme (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. CE projects are in diverse areas...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409, 410, 411 and 412 together. Tús commenced in July 2011, as a targeted activation measure, and is delivered by 47 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta, known as Implementing Bodies (IBs). IBs are allocated places based on the geographic distribution of people who are unemployed for more than a year. The scheme provides...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 416, 419 and 422 together. The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire people with disabilities through a subsidy. The 2024 Annual Statistics Report details expenditure over the last ten years. Expenditure is recorded at the scheme level, not the individual level. Accordingly, it is not possible to attribute expenditure at a county level. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 418, 421 and 424 together. Back to Education Allowance was established in 1998, and is available to jobseekers, lone parents, and people with disabilities, who are taking part in further education or higher education courses. Details on recipient numbers and expenditure on the scheme since 1998 are available through the Department's Annual Statistics...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417, 414, 420 and 423 together. In December 2023, my Department established the WorkAbility programme. It is co-financed with the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme. It aims to support people with disabilities into employment through 57 local, regional and national projects, in 19 counties. The programme aims to support over 13,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: School wardens who are not paid by their employer outside of school term time and who apply for a social welfare payment during school closures are included as Educational Sector Workers (ESWs). ESWs who wish to avail of income support while temporarily laid-off during the school breaks can apply for a jobseeker’s payment. A jobseeker’s payment is paid for days of unemployment...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below. - Mí Ciarraí Corcaigh Dún na nGall Gaillimh Maigh Eo Port Láirge An Chláir 2014 €62,092.00 €305,220.10 €106,337.00 €629,770.20 €2,199,580.00...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Under the ‘Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha’ programme, football, hurling and handball skills are taught in Gaeltacht schools in the Gaeltacht regions of Galway, Mayo, Kerry and Donegal.  The aim of this programme is to cultivate and develop GAA skills while at the same time fostering and promoting the Irish language.  This programme is co-funded by the GAA County...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns and villages in rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary:   The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns and villages in rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: An Teanga Gaeilge (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Mar a lua mé i mo bhfreagra ar Cheist Dála 45531/24, is léir go bhfuil dul chun cinn suntasach déanta ag an bpróiseas pleanála teanga ónar cuireadh tús leis roinnt blianta ó shin agus gach ceann den 26 limistéar pleanála teanga chomh maith le 3 Líonra Gaeilge agus 9 mBaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta ceadaithe anois agus i mbun oibre....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a key support to rural communities in improving non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. Since its reintroduction in 2017, the Government has provided almost €170 million to local authorities under the Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, eligible road projects are those that involve the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The information requested by the Deputy, in relation to procurement competitions undertaken by my Department since 2019 that did not result in a contract award due to the reasons listed, is provided in the table below. Given the relatively small level of procurement undertaken directly by my Department, and the low number of procurement competitions over the time period in question which...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Private Partnerships (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Given the nature of the projects funded by my Department, the Public Private Partnership model is not utilised.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm that my Department has not procured services from the company in question. There are eight agencies under the remit of my Department,: Pobal, Western Development Commission, Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Foras na Gaeilge, and the Ulster-Scots Agency. These agencies are independent...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (17 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. TVRS is administered through local authorities, who work closely with local communities and businesses to develop proposals that will bring long-lasting, positive impacts to rural towns and villages. The 2025 Town and...