Results 4,481-4,500 of 4,676 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Living with a Disability: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Dylan, Niamh, Padraic, Saoirse and Ciarán for their input. There is absolutely no doubt, from much of what they have said, that people have been let down badly, particularly those working in the disability sector and those who are disabled. I listened to the witnesses' stories. Each tells us what is happening to people on the ground. It is quite disturbing. We do not have...

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I welcome both the Bill and the new approach to dealing with child crime, which sees children more as victims of exploitation and not simply as delinquents intent on criminal or antisocial activity. The Bill provides for the prosecution of adults who groom children to commit crimes. It is something that has been advocated for by me and other Members of the Oireachtas across all parties for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disabled People's Organisations and the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank everyone for their input there. Once again, we can hear directly from the people who are most affected and the organisations representing them. We have heard from all of the different services, including the HSE and different groups, and often enough one gets bogged down listening to them when we talk about funding and so on. Having listened to everyone here, from the people with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: 649. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is an intention to increase the housing adaption grant for people with disabilities, which has a maximum grant of €30,000 or 95% of the cost of the works up to the maximum grant amount of €30,000, in view of the increased costs in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27098/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: 861. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to work in Ballymun Garda station. [27317/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: 862. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel assigned to the Santry-Whitehall area, given the closure of Whitehall Garda station. [27318/23]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rental Sector (15 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: The tenant purchase scheme has been a very effective way for people to purchase their property from local authorities. There have been a number of changes to the scheme and the most recent in February 2022 included that a tenant has to have ten years' tenancy and meet the criteria to qualify on their own for a loan. The problem arises where a person has ten years or more tenancy and gets...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rental Sector (15 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am glad to hear that further changes are envisioned. In all honesty, when you think about it, a ten-year rule for someone who has been in a council house for ten, 15 or 20 years, who gets married and is then confined to hanging on for up to ten years, does not make sense. I hope that is reconsidered. We must get an appropriate balance, as the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rental Sector (15 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: That is required under the UNCRPD.

Education Costs: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Each year, parents find that back-to-school costs have increased since the previous year and are putting them under greater financial pressure. In a society where education is supposed to be free, parents find that putting even just one child through school can cost thousands of euro. Parents putting two or more children through school find the financial burden is becoming unsustainable....

Nursing Home Care: Motion [Private Members] (27 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: One of the most difficult decisions that families have to make is how to take care of their parents as they get older and it becomes clear that they can no longer take care of themselves. Difficult choices have to be made to ensure that elderly parents receive the type of care they deserve and that their adult children can no longer provide, especially in the long term. People want the best...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Disability-proofing is a strategy that ensures the needs of people with a disability are considered and that their needs are included in the development, as well as the delivery, of policies and practices at the earliest possible stage. In the upcoming budget, will the Government ensure that a mechanism is in place to ensure that the Government will disability-proof its budgetary proposals...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: World Health Organization World Report on Hearing: Irish Deaf Society (29 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Dr. Conama for his presentation. In light of the WHO report, how do we fare internationally when it comes to looking after the deaf community, not least when it comes to early interventions? Dr. Conama made clear that early interventions are so important, especially for young people. Is there a grading system for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or otherwise? If so, how does...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: World Health Organization World Report on Hearing: Irish Deaf Society (29 Jun 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I was talking about grading levels of deafness. I was curious.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Jul 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Local communities, local drug task forces and An Garda Síochána are reporting a huge surge in the use of crack cocaine in communities. Local drug task forces are struggling to deal with this surge and are having to turn people with addictions away from their services due to a lack of funding and a loss of personnel. This crisis in employment in the task forces is because vital...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (11 Jul 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Recent figures have shown a shocking increase in both adult and child homelessness. The figures confirm that homelessness is accelerating at a dramatic pace. These figures do not tell us how many people are couch-surfing or the real number of rough sleepers. The exit of landlords from the rental sector has added to this crisis. Evictions from private rental accommodation have soared since...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: National Disability Inclusion Strategy: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the DSG and the NDA for their presentations. They were very enlightening. The delay in the development of the UNCRPD strategy has led to a slowdown in the delivery of improvements for people with disabilities. That is fairly obvious. Ireland ratified the UNCRPD in 2018. There is a commitment to ratify the optional protocol but it is contingent on the State being in a position to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: National Disability Inclusion Strategy: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I know we are talking about public buildings. I assume the intention is that it will eventually have to apply to private buildings but that initially it would be just public buildings.

Mortgage Interest Relief: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (20 Sep 2023)

Dessie Ellis: The cost-of-living crisis has significant implications for all sections of society but disproportionately affects economically disadvantaged individuals and families who are already struggling to make ends meet. Escalating energy and food costs, increased mortgage rates and spiralling rents have contributed significantly to this ongoing crisis. Economically disadvantaged individuals are...

Children's Health Ireland - Patient safety concerns and reviews in paediatric orthopaedic surgical services: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Sep 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Scoliosis is a medical condition that can cause significant physical and psychological distress. The history of its treatment in Ireland has been one of limited resources and long waiting lists for surgical interventions. Some children have had to wait many years before receiving the necessary orthopaedic surgery. The delay in treatment has devastating consequences for their overall...