Results 3,681-3,700 of 3,815 for speaker:Mark Ward

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (29 May 2025)

Mark Ward: 450. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the plans for new youth diversion programmes across the State and the locations; the timeline for when they will be operating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28402/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (29 May 2025)

Mark Ward: 451. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of establishing a youth diversion programme; the annual cost of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28403/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (29 May 2025)

Mark Ward: 495. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the number of staff by position in a centre (details supplied); the staffing cost by position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28404/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (29 May 2025)

Mark Ward: 496. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether there is any capital funding that a family centre in Clondalkin that receives funding from Tusla can apply for to finance a new build; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28536/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (29 May 2025)

Mark Ward: 729. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are plans to increase the amount of funding an applicant can apply for under the Building Blocks funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28537/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (29 May 2025)

Mark Ward: 730. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to the Building Blocks funding; the amount that was drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28538/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Disability Services (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 18. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will next meet. [30180/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Disability Services (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: At the weekend, I attended the Equality in Education protest in Dublin. The parents I met had a simple message. They want fairness and equality for their children with disabilities in education. No child should be left behind. Every child should get the support they need so they can grow, learn and flourish. Every child should be given every opportunity to reach their full potential....

Housing: Statements (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: As we speak, there are 83 vacant homes in my area of South Dublin County Council, five of which have been empty for more than a year. Each one of those homes should have a family living in it. It is disgusting that adults are stuck living in their parents' back bedrooms while the house next door is boarded up. Young people are boarding planes to Australia when they could be starting...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Policing Matters: An Garda Síochána (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I wish to offer my condolences on the death of Mr. Harris's colleague, Garda Flatley. I would like him to pass on my condolences to all of the members of An Garda Síochána for the loss of their colleague. I listened to Mr. Harris's opening statement and to the reports on the media last night relating to the positive aspects of the Garda. I am going to be honest. They do not...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Policing Matters: An Garda Síochána (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: It was mentioned in the opening statement that there was a new policy being developed on community policing. Would this issue be in the new policy? We need to see something in writing.

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Policing Matters: An Garda Síochána (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: It would be fair to say that, if there were more gardaí, there would be less workload on the individuals there at present. On that point, the Commissioner mentioned there were 6,700 recent applications to join the Garda. I am aware not every applicant is suitable - I would not even guess how many would be suitable - but what is the capacity each year? Is it 1,000 per year who go...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Policing Matters: An Garda Síochána (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: My concern is that there could be several suitable applicants in those 6,700 who applied but, because of the length of time they may be waiting, the organisation could lose them. Is there anything we can do to speed up that process?

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Policing Matters: An Garda Síochána (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I thank the Commissioner.

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: The Minister of State and I have had many debates over the years on mental health and dual diagnosis. The very first legislation I introduced here in 2021 was the Health (Amendment) (Dual Diagnosis: No Wrong Door) Bill. I introduced it because working in mental health and addiction services I saw the real need for that. I understand 100% why Deputy Clarke is looking to have this enshrined...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I appreciate the work that has been done by the Minister of State and the HSE in reducing the number of young people who have been admitted into adult psychiatric facilities under her tenure. It is acknowledged and it has worked but, as she knows, I always say that we should set the bar high. Let us aim for zero because that is what we should be aiming for. I am not questioning the...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: It was ruled out of order for the money rule. I find that really disappointing. My concern is that because it has happened in the past, it could happen again. I appreciate that the Minister of State has done an awful lot of work on it over the last while. I wonder what safeguards we could have in place. If there is no appropriate facility where a child can access the appropriate mental...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: For too long, members of An Garda Síochána have been the gatekeepers for mental health services. When I speak to gardaí in my constituency, which I do on a regular basis, one of the issues they raise is when people arrive at the station under mental duress and they try to help them. A psychiatrist will sometimes come out to a Garda station and may or may not make a decision...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I would have been all over this Bill had it been brought before the House last year, when I was still the spokesperson on mental health. I will ask a question and I presume it is in this Bill because it is about involuntary admissions and the lacuna as regards the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act. If the Minister of State remembers correctly, there was a lacuna between that Act and...