Results 461-480 of 616 for speaker:Grace Boland

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...

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]

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]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (19 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 25. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide details on the remit of the National Enterprise Hub; for statistics relating to its usage since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33036/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (19 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 69. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the mechanism his Department is using to measure the success of grants offered to SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33035/25]

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...

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I thank the witnesses for attending and for providing the Department's opening statement although it would have been better if we had received it a bit earlier. I received it late yesterday. It was my understanding that the Department was asked to submit it by last Friday. Is there a good reason we did not receive it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: We should make it clear to all witnesses, particularly Departments, that is the standard because it was very late to receive it. The crisis in the Peter McVerry Trust did not arise overnight. This has really exposed a failure of oversight as much as a failure of governance. When millions of euros of public money are involved, we need real-time financial checks, independent audits and...