Results 141-160 of 616 for speaker:Grace Boland

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (19 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society, as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32967/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 181. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people who have availed of parents benefit in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; the number of mothers and the number of fathers who have availed of parent's benefit in each of these years; his views on whether further steps can be taken to encourage greater uptake of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 21. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current average journey times for people travelling from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk on the Dublin Bus routes 33 and 33X; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32888/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 22. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide details for the past two years of any cancellations or partial cancellations of the Dublin Bus routes 33 and 33X; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32889/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, given the capacity issues on the Dublin Bus route 33X, the NTA will introduce additional capacity on this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32893/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the penalty there is for third party providers who cancel or partially cancel a service on route 33; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32890/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the methodology employed to ascertain the appropriateness of the BusConnects proposal in relation to the removal of the bus route 33; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32891/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average journey time travelling from Balbriggan/Skerries/Rush/Lusk if the current BusConnects proposal is implemented, factoring in wait times for connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32892/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 27. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether Dublin Bus drivers have been consulted for their views on the proposed BusConnects plan for bus route 33; if so, what their view is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32894/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 28. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the expansion of bus services to and from Dublin Airport; what is included in the proposed expansion of bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32895/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 29. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the improvement of infrastructure for designated bus stops at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32896/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 81. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps taken to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month, to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32101/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: Ireland's best asset is our hard-working men and women. It is crucial that we fund childcare as an essential infrastructure. I know this is something we have talked about many times before. The Minister might give us an update on what she has done to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month and what she plans to do to make sure we achieve it over the lifetime of the Government.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I very much welcome the work that has been done to date. As I stated, I hope we deliver the reduction in childcare of the lifetime of this Government, as it is essential. I also highlighted with the Minister that it is not just the cost that is an issue for many parents who are trying to access childcare; it is also the access to childcare. As she is aware, I live in the youngest area...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: The Building Blocks scheme was welcome, but the eligibility criteria are limited and many private providers could not apply for it. The Minister might consider reopening the scheme and widening the eligibility criteria to enable private providers to apply. There are very few public childcare providers in Dublin Fingal West. I would love to see that being prioritised for delivery in the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: Child poverty in Ireland is reaching crisis levels. The Children's Rights Alliance annual report revealed a staggering rise in the number of children living in consistent poverty. We must ensure families have the financial support they need to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. I very much welcome the Taoiseach's comments yesterday in which he stated that nothing is off...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 99. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made in expanding access to childcare, on foot of the finding in research commissioned by her Department, which shows almost two out of every three respondents faced a restriction on hours of work or study due to childcare challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32102/25]

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I welcome the Minister and thank her very much for coming in. I really look forward to working with her. The two areas we really need to make progress on in order to achieve equality are childcare and the equalisation of statutory leave for both parents. On childcare, I represent Dublin Fingal West, which is one of the youngest areas in the country. The Minister has heard this several...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I really appreciate that and I welcome the Minister's comments, particularly around the planning guidelines and a strategic focus. In terms of the building blocks capital programme, while it was great to see, it was a very small amount. I know the Minister is doing her best and the previous Minister was doing his best but €25 million was not enough. There were only six weeks to...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: That was my point about the eligibility. Part of it was that was only applicable to public providers but in my area, it is nearly all private providers. We do not have public providers so we were not doing anything to support existing providers. The funding was not fully drawn down. Only €23.2 million has been provided for and €25 million was not a lot to start with so we...