Results 8,401-8,420 of 9,230 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The investment in children's welfare, mental health and dignity at school is never a waste of money. If this helps one young person in a school who has had difficulties, for example, with the use of mobile phones in schools, is it not a progressive and practical initiative to help support young people and their learning in schools? This policy is underpinned by clear evidence...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: That is the purpose of this investment. If you take it in the context of our wider investment in education through this budget, we are investing €2.9 billion in special education, we are extending the provision of free schoolbooks to all students in the senior cycle and a €75 million increase to capitation funding. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has secured that but she is also...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: -----by the enormous damage caused by smartphone use during the day? This will make an impact and a difference. We should never play politics when it comes to the investment in our young people and in initiatives that will help their mental health and well-being. That is what is at the centre of this initiative that the Minister, Deputy Foley, has sought to do.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Again, Sinn Féin's populist politics is driven by anger, with a shallow attack on an initiative that will make a difference. This is part of a wider well-being and mental health policy in schools. If Deputy Doherty looked at all the international research from the UN and others, this makes a difference when it is being introduced.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Smartphone bans in schools have an impact on young people's mental health.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As I said previously, an investment in children's welfare, in their mental health and well-being in schools is not a waste of money.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is beside me. She has secured record funding over the last five years - a 43% increase in funding for our mental health services across the country. We are supporting the improved recruitment within our mental health services in community health organisations across our country. Complementing this initiative is an unprecedented investment in our health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Sinn Féin is a party that looks to spend day in day out. In all budgetary positions outlined in the pre-budget submissions, it is a party policy defined by more spending on everything.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: In fact, that is Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission on all issues.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: It is high spending. This is a policy to protect children, to protect their mental health and well-being in schools. It is disappointing to see Sinn Féin attack an initiative that will make a difference.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I acknowledge the difficulties many families face when it comes to accessing therapies, supports and assessments of need in communities across the country. This is something I see in my constituency office. I know all of us collectively share the priority in trying to advance progress when it comes to people with additional needs and disabilities. The Deputy referenced what the Minister...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As I said in my previous answer, this year's budget is a record €3.2 billion, which is an increase of 11.6% on 2024. That has been set out to me by the Department involved. What this will result in is further progress on many of the initiatives established by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. In the first half of this year, regarding the waiting lists initiative, there has...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and others have secured record levels of investment in our health system. This is making a difference for patients, families and communities across our country. Over €25 billion is being spent in 2025. The recent budget will see a further €180 million in new measures, including support for cancer...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I agree with the Deputy about the huge amount of work that front-line staff do across our hospital system. I commend them on the work they do in difficult circumstances. The Government’s investment in healthcare is achieving outcomes. There is faster access to services, with numbers of people on trolleys in the first eight months of the year down by 11%, for example. That...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Collins very much for her question. I obviously cannot comment on a specific WRC case or something that is subject to legal proceedings and I acknowledge, as the Deputy has said, that the case has been through the WRC and that there has been interaction between the worker and Cobh Heritage Centre. The Government is committed to supporting low-paid workers in our economy....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. I am obviously not familiar with the specifics of the case or the particular structure of that company or how it is funded through the respective Departments. I will reflect on what she has said to the line Ministers who may provide funding to that particular entity. They will obviously have to judge what is appropriate in the context of what the service level agreement...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Trí phróiseas an bhuiséid, bhí an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Byrne i dteagmháil leis an Aire, an Teachta Donohoe, maidir le gach rud sa Ghaeltacht agus tá níos mó tacaíochta á tabhairt chun Údarás na Gaeltachta a fheabhsú maidir leis an obair thábhachtach a dhéanann sé....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Smith. The reason we are putting €1 billion into Irish Water, in additional funding for 2025, is to support many of the schemes where there have been funding constraints. I do not have the specific operational plan here with me but we set out clearly is that €1 billion is to ensure that Irish Water can move on many of the projects across the country where there...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Look at the very significant investment the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, have advanced through budget 2025. We are retaining the fare reduction, for example, which helps commuters right across the country with affordability.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: There is also the development of much greater public transport. This Government over the last four years has advanced unprecedented investment in public transport but also in the development of the capital investment in public transport across our country. There are very ambitious plans to continue delivery on enhancing the network through capacity improvements which the Minister, Deputy...