Results 10,661-10,680 of 11,348 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (22 May 2024)

Colm Burke: 51. To ask the Minister for Finance to clarify what measures are to be taken to ensure there is not a discrepancy between higher and lower paid workers as a result of a higher BIK being made available for electric cars, which may be more expensive, but simultaneously result in greater tax reliefs than for those with internal combustion engine models; what incentives are available and will be...

Seanad: Protection of Private Residencies (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I will outline a few points in relation to the Bill. The Minister will, obviously, be looking for this legislation to be referred to the Joint Committee on Justice.

Seanad: Protection of Private Residencies (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank Senators Malcolm Byrne and Fiona O'Loughlin for bringing this legislation before the House and for highlighting the growing issue of targeted protests outside the homes of politicians and public figures. I completely condemn these protests. They were targeted and personalised in nature and have had an impact not just on the persons involved but their respective families and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2024)

Colm Burke: 225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to address the substantial shortfall of educational places in Cork city for children with autism spectrum disorder, and if she will set out her proposals for dealing with this shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23861/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Female Genital Mutilation (28 May 2024)

Colm Burke: Action 2.4.12 of the Implementation Plan for the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based violence is the responsibility of the HSE and as such, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (28 May 2024)

Colm Burke: As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (28 May 2024)

Colm Burke: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (30 May 2024)

Colm Burke: The Department of Health and HSE are co-ordinating the provision of healthcare services for more than 107,000 Ukrainian refugees (Beneficiaries of temporary Protection) together with a further 35,000 International Protection applicants who have arrived in Ireland since 2022. €50 million has been made available for the provision of healthcare services for refugees and migrants in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections (30 May 2024)

Colm Burke: Following a successful initial pilot in Cork, Kerry and Dublin, funded by the Sláintecare Integration Fund in 2021, the free home STI testing service was gradually expanded in 2021-2022, and launched nationally in October, 2022. €3.5m was allocated to support the scheme in 2023. The scheme has been very successful, adding approximately 33% to national testing capacity....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (11 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: The Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Housing are committed to working collaboratively to enhance access to healthcare and drug treatment services for people who are homeless. The Department of Health has allocated dedicated multi-annual funding of c €47 million to the HSE for the provision of healthcare services for people who are homeless. This includes additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (11 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: 908.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider expediting a review of the SOLAS statutory apprenticeship which requires that certain apprenticeships applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses, particularly considering the most recent technological advances that have been made in such lenses; and if he will make a statement...

Carers: Motion [Private Members] (18 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. In coming back in response, it is important for me to state that I too have been involved in trying to work out support for people who reside at home. The challenge is that people are living longer and life expectancy in Ireland has increased by six years over the past 20 years and, therefore, we have a lot more people living longer. For...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for children. I thank Senator Currie for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond. Ensuring access to high-quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority for the Government. Various data sources provide evidence that the supply of early learning and childcare is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Senator and I fully agree with her. As we now have full employment, there is competition when it comes to retaining staff. As I stated, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has recently established a new supply management unit in his Department to undertake more detailed analysis of supply and demand. That is an extremely important development. His role is to develop a planning...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Patronage (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I should outline that I am here on behalf of the Minister for Education. The Department of Education does not come under my remit but I have a very detailed statement, which runs to ten pages. I do not think I will have time to deliver all of it. Before addressing the specific matter raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Patronage (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I will certainly take on board what the Senator has set out. As I said, a review has been published that sets out clearly the reform that is going to be implemented and the target of 100,000 additional students benefiting between now and 2030. In other words, the current capacity allows for over 161,000 children to travel on school transport. We are talking about adding another 100,000 on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Examinations (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach. With all of us Members present from Cork, I wonder if we could have a Seanad sitting in Cork. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am here on behalf of the Minister for Education so the reply received is from the Department of Education. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to update the House on this matter. The State Examinations...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Examinations (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Senator. The SEC at this time is finalising the terms of reference and the composition of the structures that will underpin the review. The review will consider all relevant issues and will take account of the best practice internationally. This, therefore, is a comprehensive review. In this regard, I am assured that the SEC intends that there will be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, on which I will update the House on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I extend my sympathies to the families who have experienced a waiting period for the carrying out of a post mortem. I understand the concerns raised about the delay in post mortem services in Kerry. I appreciate that the current situation may...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Pathology Service (19 Jun 2024)

Colm Burke: It is important that we distinguish between suspicious and non-suspicious deaths. The former come under the State pathologist's remit. I have outlined that there are four in Dublin and one in Cork. Where there is a suspicious death, they become involved. In other cases of non-suspicious deaths, that matter is dealt with in the hospital and within the hospital area.