Results 33,581-33,600 of 34,956 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: 450. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the appeals process will open up in respect of schools that were not included in the recent extension of the DEIS school programme; if there are plans to further extend the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16627/22]

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Seanad for dealing with this legislation in an expeditious manner both last week on Second Stage and in the debate today. There was cross-party agreement at all Stages resulting in no requirement for amendments from either the Opposition or Government side. We all look forward to the legislation being implemented as quickly as possible.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is timely to do so. Before I address it, I wish to give Members an outline of the extent to the school transport service. School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current year, as Deputy O'Rourke is aware, more than 121,400 children, including more than 15,500...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I appreciate the Deputy's points. There are 6,159 vehicles operating services under the school transport scheme, of which 5,880 are operated by private contractors under contract with Bus Éireann. A high proportion of operators are private contractors. Bus Éireann is receiving a significant volume of calls from contractors inquiring about the financial situation. One or two...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Strategies (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte. I know that, as part of Deputy Moynihan's work on the disability committee, he has been very active in promoting this and other related areas. It is very important the committee continues to highlight...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Strategies (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I will ask the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to make direct contact with the Deputy on the funding provided versus what was spent, the areas to which it was allocated and the funding that continues to be available, as I do not have that information to hand. Neurorehabilitation services play a critical role in supporting recovery and maximising the ability of those with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank Deputy Pádraig O’Sullivan for raising this matter, which is an area in which he has shown particular interest and knowledge. As he noted, having met people face-to-face, he understands the issue. It is important that the views of those who have first-hand experience of the need for orphan drugs are adequately reflected in Dáil Éireann. All of us in this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for his reference to the note I circulated before I spoke, which deals with the HSE having sufficient scope from the legislation to consider the unique circumstances surrounding orphan drugs, such as small patient numbers. The evidence suggests these expensive orphan drugs are getting reimbursed even, in many cases, when they far exceed the National Centre for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Management of Estates (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank Deputy Ellis for raising this important matter. As he may be aware, the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies. These are companies registered under the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Management of Estates (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I wish to point out, based on my earlier contribution, that there is extensive legislation in place to regulate the formulation of rules by management companies that cover multi-unit developments. The Deputy is suggesting there are issues of over-regulation by some management companies in how they implement the rules but as I said, the rules have to be agreed at specially convened meetings...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the new national maternity hospital. It is important to acknowledge that women have been failed by the State for too long, which this Government recognises. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, published the Women's Health Action Plan 2022–2023 just a while ago. This puts women at the heart of the policymaking process for the...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: The essence of this debate is women's and children's health.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (31 Mar 2022)

Seán Fleming: As I said, the women's health action plan deals with the issue of the national maternity hospital. There is rightfully a huge amount of interest in the national maternity hospital. The creation of the new national maternity hospital is the greatest infrastructure investment by the State in women's health. We have to recognise that we are building a once-in-a-generation world class national...

Council Recommendation on the Conversion of Hryvnia Banknotes: Motion (5 Apr 2022)

Seán Fleming: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on the European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure, Council recommendation on the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Insurance Coverage (6 Apr 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for Clare, Michael McNamara, for raising this issue. It only came to my attention today after receipt of the information about the Topical Issue debate. I thank the Deputy for highlighting it. To address a few general points, I understand what the Deputy says about the historic nature of the Spancil Hill fair in Clare. The community is involved and a voluntary...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Insurance Coverage (6 Apr 2022)

Seán Fleming: My understanding - and I stress the word “understanding” - is that although Clare County Council oversees the fair and supports it with financial assistance, the fair itself falls out outside the scope of the Casual Trading Act 1995 due to its historical charter status. As a result, it cannot avail of group insurance schemes operated by the market, active support teams and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Seán Fleming: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, asked me to respond to this Topical Issue matter on his behalf. As Deputies will know, he was not available in the Chamber a short while ago for the votes either. I thank Deputies Harkin and Fitzmaurice for raising this issue, which is very difficult for the people involved. The landslide occurred on Shass Mountain,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Seán Fleming: The point I was making was that any ex gratiapayment will require the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has examined the options with regard to compensation and engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the required sanction for compensation. The proposed compensation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Seán Fleming: The schemes are being dealt with separately in order that there will be no confusion on the part of applicants. The Minister, having visited the area, is fully aware of the stress this is causing. I appreciate it has taken some time, but the RPS Group report we mentioned, which was very comprehensive at more than 60 pages, was completed just over 12 months ago and published in February...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Seán Fleming: I will do that.