Results 1,001-1,020 of 16,601 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, the Government has provided local authorities with almost €170 million under the scheme. Since 2017, Louth has been allocated a total of €3.27 million in LIS funding. This figure...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The teaching of Irish abroad has been a very important link for the Irish diaspora and those with Irish heritage to Ireland and Irish culture. In 2006, a dedicated fund was established to support the development of Irish language courses in third-level institutions overseas. The objectives of the fund are to promote the Irish language and Irish culture overseas and to provide a platform...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Regeneration Projects (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and has to date allocated over €177 million to almost 1,800 projects nationally. The scheme, which sees local authorities work with communities throughout the country, primarily targets funding at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000, although towns with a population of up to 15,000 may be...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Harbours and Piers (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is responsible for the maintenance and development of the piers on the Aran Islands, including Inis Meáin. In relation to the Deputy's query, my Department granted Galway County Council permission in December 2024 to proceed with the appointment of consulting engineers to develop the Business Case, including a Strategic Assessment, for...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Men's Sheds (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: I am very aware of the growing interest in Women's Sheds in Ireland, and of the great work they do all over the country. They provide a space for women of all ages to come together on a regular basis in a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment. However, as Women’s Sheds do not currently operate under an overall national organisation, my department is unable to provide funding to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Community Development Projects (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Since the establishment of the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) in 2022, my Department has provided approximately €110 million for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. I understand an application has not been received under the fund in respect of a facility in Fairhill. I would encourage community groups in...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. The Programme for Government makes a commitment to carry out a comprehensive review of the eligibility criteria for CLÁR within 6 months with a view to expanding the programme to rural areas which are currently ineligible. This review is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Department of Social Protection provides a comprehensive range of income supports to carers, including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined expenditure on these payments is estimated at €1.9 billion in 2025. Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: 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 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Leave (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: My colleague the Minister for Health has responsibility for the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024. This complex and far-reaching legislation encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction, including domestic altruistic surrogacy, but also provides for the regulation of future surrogacy arrangements undertaken by Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Working Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment. A WFP application...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to medical assessment, a means test, and habitual residency conditions. I can confirm the Department received an application for DA from the person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention, and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention. An...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those who are caring for people who need full-time care and attention. Like other income supports the payment is intended to provide an income support for people who cannot earn income through...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Artificial Intelligence (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is currently examining the potential future use of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) technologies. This has involved active participation in several stakeholder groups, such as, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's working group on the implementation of EU AI Act. An A.I. Chatbot on the MyGovID platform is currently in use, providing real-time advice to customers...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Flexible Work Practices (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: Our Rural Future recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by the end of 2025. There are currently 387 remote and co-working facilities across the country on-boarded to the platform, including nine in County Kildare. Details of all the onboarded hubs...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department has a strong commitment to developing its staff; to build appropriate skills and expertise, and also to support their efforts in the area of self-development and life-long learning. Each year, staff are offered the opportunity to receive funding to study a second or third level course through the Department's Education Support Scheme. This scheme operates in line with Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Artificial Intelligence (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department follows the guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The NCSC guidance recommends that new AI technology should only be adopted based on a clearly defined business need following an appropriate risk assessment. My Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Community Development Projects (10 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) has provided approximately €110 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in the coming years in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government for this to become a permanent rolling...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Dara Calleary: As Senators know, in January 2024 the Supreme Court overturned the Department’s decision not to pay the widower’s contributory pension to Mr. Johnny O’Meara. At the outset of this debate, and as I have done constantly throughout all of the debates, I want to acknowledge the tremendous loss that Johnny O’Meara and his family have suffered. Johnny’s...