Results 1,481-1,500 of 16,601 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (19 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department recognises the importance of meals on wheels service providers to our communities and supports such organisations through the CLÁR Programme and the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP). The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (19 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I understand from the Ulster-Scots Agency that the organisation provided a grant of £5,650 to the Royal Landing community festival. This award supported a range of Ulster-Scots cultural programming including Ulster-Scots musical displays across a range of genres, a display of highland dancing, historical re-enactors, historical talks, an exhibition and associated logistical arrangements....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff (19 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The majority of staff in my Department and its agencies work a hybrid pattern. There are eight bodies under the aegis of my Department - Pobal, the Western Development Commission, the Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Foras na Gaeilge, and the Ulster-Scots Agency. The figures provided are inclusive of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank Deputy O'Meara for raising this issue. Relating to LEADER in Tipperary, the Tipperary local action group, LAG, has received €10.8 million for the 2021 to 2027 period, which is an increase of 7% on the previous budget. As the Deputy knows, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has no role in deciding on specific projects. That is done by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (18 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The official Irish language version of the placename for the town referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a comprehensive report that I have received from An Coiste Logainmneacha – the statutory committee of experts appointed to advise me on Irish language placenames. This report has been prepared following representations made to my Department initially from the local Tidy Towns...

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Financial Resolution (17 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I move: That the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution to provide that amounts to be paid on the bereaved partner's contributory pension and the bereaved partner's non-contributory pension under the Social Welfare Acts are to be deemed to be earned income for the purpose of the Taxes Consolidation Act...

Seanad: Balanced Regional Development: Statements (17 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas le Ceannaire an tSeanaid, an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, as an gcuireadh chun a bheith anseo inniu chun cúrsaí réigiúnacha a phlé. I thank the Leader of the Seanad for the invitation to speak with the Members today on the importance of balanced regional development. Responsibility lies with all of us in Seanad Éireann and Dáil...

Seanad: Balanced Regional Development: Statements (17 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas le gach Seanadóir as an díospóireacht seo agus as a dtuairimí. I note there was a lot of emphasis on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and I thank John Daly and everybody on the assembly for their work. It is a really useful piece of work and I thank them for it. I certainly engaged with it. There has also been a lot of reference to...

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

Dara Calleary: The purpose of the means test on certain welfare payments is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need for income supports by the State. The rules contained in Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended, provide that for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the applicant, and his or her...

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

Dara Calleary: Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit is a new social insurance income support which has replaced the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme for people who have become fully unemployed since 31 March 2025. Under the Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme, the weekly rate of payment for a person with at least 5 years paid PRSI contributions is set at 60% of previous earnings, up to a maximum of €450...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (17 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of employment protected them against the main contingencies of illness and old age, and the risk of unemployment was not considered a factor due to the nature of their employment. Civil and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995 pay social...

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

Dara Calleary: The person concerned made an Illness Benefit claim and this was registered by my Department on 21 February 2025. The person is entitled to an increase in his Illness Benefit payment for his dependent child. The Child Support Payment has been awarded at half rate of pay. Any arrears due have been issued. A letter was sent to the person concerned on 11 June 2025 advising him of this...

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

Dara Calleary: Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature and cannot be made available to those who are not in receipt of a primary payment. ...

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

Dara Calleary: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is a service of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has...

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

Dara Calleary: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is a service of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (17 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Improving the position of disabled people is a priority for Government. That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments in this area. There are commitments in relation to an Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment, rates of payment and means testing of disability payments. We will advance these commitments over the lifetime of the Government in the annual budgetary...

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

Dara Calleary: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is a service of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions. I am advised that the person concerned was contacted by an Appeals Officer in recent days and has been requested to provide...

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

Dara Calleary: A newborn or adopted child grant of €280 was announced in Budget 2025 to be paid to families of babies born or children with a date of placement on or after 1st December 2024 in addition to their regular first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140. The newborn baby or adopted child grant is paid automatically with Child Benefit payments, there is no additional...

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

Dara Calleary: The Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant is for widows, widowers, or surviving civil partners, who have one or more dependent children living with them at the date of death, along with satisfying the other criteria. A dependent child is defined in Sections 2(3) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as being a child under age 18, or over age 18 but under age 22 and in full-time...

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

Dara Calleary: My Department provides assistance to households in the immediate aftermath of severe weather events under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) which was activated on Thursday, 23 January in advance of Storm Éowyn’s arrival. The purpose of HAS 2 support is to provide financial support to eligible householders whose primary dwelling i.e., their home only, was damaged by severe...