Results 10,961-10,980 of 11,795 for speaker:Niall Collins

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Dental Services (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I have listened to the Deputy and colleagues in the Chamber and have taken onboard the points made. I assure the Deputy that addressing access to dental care, including for adult medical card holders, is a top priority for the Minister and the Government. The Minister made substantial additional investment in oral healthcare services both in 2022 and 2023. Fundamental reforms are also...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Risk Management (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy. I can appreciate her frustration. I am not in a position, based on what I have before me, to give her any specific answer or comfort in regard to the issue she has raised with particular reference to Galway and the issues people there are enduring. More generally, I have been given an update to give her, of which she is aware, regarding the supports which the Government...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Risk Management (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I will convey the Deputy's frustration to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and to the Minister and Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. I will convey to them what the Deputy has said about the length of time this has taken and I will ask them to give her a full response.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: Since February 2022, as part of the whole-of-government response to the war in Ukraine, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has supported approximately 100,000 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland, over 80% of whom have sought State-supported accommodation. On average, approximately 650 people per week seek accommodation from the State....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: The State has a legal obligation to assess the claims of those who seek international protection and, in that time, to provide accommodation and supports in line with the recast reception conditions directive, given effect by Statutory Instrument 230 of 2018. Under the temporary protection directive, 2001/55/EC, beneficiaries of temporary protection receive accommodation or access to means...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Wall for raising this important issue for discussion in the House. I want to be completely clear that the development of any child with a disability to reach his or her full potential remains a matter of utmost importance for this Government. I am aware that the provision of a timely and effective assessment process that works for children and families is an area of ongoing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I thank the Senator for providing me with this opportunity to speak on this very important issue. I fully agree, and I know it is a view shared across government, that children who are seeking assessments of need must receive them in a timely manner. Funding has been provided to the HSE for additional posts in recent years to enhance the capacity of the children's disability network teams,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I thank the Senator. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Charlie McConalogue. The TAMS provides grants to farmers to build and-or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. TAMS 2 closed to applications on 16 December 2022. This extremely successful scheme has paid out more than €427 million in respect of 35,778 payment...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: TAMS has been a very successful scheme since its inception. TAMS II provided more than €427 million to farmers to encourage modernisation and it is envisaged TAMS III will be just as successful. The level of uptake in tranche 1 of TAMS III proved the interest farmers have in improving animal welfare and contributing to climate change. The success of the scheme and the large number...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Seery Kearney for providing us with an opportunity to update the Seanad on this important matter. At the outset, I would like to assure the Seanad of this Government's commitment to support homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes with defects. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, fully acknowledges the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I again thank the Senator for raising this important issue and allowing me to assure the House of the Government's commitment to deal with the issue of defects in apartments and to assist homeowners who may find themselves in difficult financial circumstances. Progress is being made. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, ably assisted by the Housing Agency and the local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Invasive Species Policy (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Daly for raising this important issue. The NPWS is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. In addition to this national legislation, EU Regulation No. 1143/2014 on invasive alien species also provides for a range of concerted...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Invasive Species Policy (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: Invasive alien species are acknowledged as one of the five main drivers of biodiversity loss globally. It is vital that we continue to mobilise resources across sectors to tackle these species. While eradication of species is not always possible it is important that work is undertaken to manage and control invasive alien species is co-ordinated and effective to mitigate the threat posed to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: Following discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, approval for an offer to be made to the unions was agreed earlier this year. The proposal is that a grade of Adult Educator will be formally established with a standardised payscale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Services (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: My officials are liaising with SOLAS to gather the information sought and a reply will issue when the information has been compiled.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2024 (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: My Department allocates funding to Skillnet Ireland through the National Training Fund. Working with Skillnet Ireland, my Department is committed to supporting the talent needs of the Irish SME sector. Skillnet Ireland awarded some €1.5m funding to the MentorsWork scheme for 2023. Accordingly, a 50% increase in funding to MentorsWork in 2024 would bring the cost to some...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: Following discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, approval for an offer to be made to the unions was agreed earlier this year. The proposal is that a grade of Adult Educator will be formally established with a standardised payscale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (14 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: Following discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, approval for an offer to be made to the unions was agreed earlier this year. The proposal is that a grade of Adult Educator will be formally established with a standardised payscale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: He is not.

Science Week: Statements (16 Nov 2023)

Niall Collins: I thank everyone in the House for the opportunity to have this debate and for their contributions throughout. It was great to hear such a passionate discussion on science. This is a discussion that we would encourage not just us in this House to continue having, but everyone around the country, especially those who work with children. It is so important to encourage and instil a curiosity...