Results 1,261-1,280 of 1,746 for speaker:Barry Ward

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the additional needs allocation for a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of school management in relation to the potential reduction in this allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6837/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 119. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding any initiatives or research her Department proposes to attract and retain staff in the disability sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7383/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire agus leis an Aire Stáit. Go n-éirí leo sna poist nua. Is í an cheist atá agam anocht ná seo: cad iad na tionscnaimh atá i bhfeidhm sa Roinn chun foireann agus oibrithe a mhealladh agus a choimeád san earnáil mhíchumais? What initiatives and research does the Department propose to attract and retain...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge the ambition and achievement in the sector and I recognise the amount of money that has been invested, but retention is very important in circumstances where one in four workers in the disability sector will leave the job within a given year. This is three times the average of other sectors. It is important to invest in this and put in place...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: I acknowledge the programmes the Minister of State mentioned. I welcome the appointment of the assistant national director and I look forward to the strategy that will be published this year. We can all agree that the retention of staff in the sector is something that has more than just a financial impact. People who work in the disabilities sector do an incredibly difficult job. It calls...

Third Anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine: Statements (26 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: A little over three years ago, when the Russian troops rolled into Ukraine, I think few of us had any confidence that the Ukrainians or the Ukrainian army could resist that attack; barbaric as it was, sudden, yet not entirely unexpected in many quarters, but it was absolutely ferocious. We have been surprised, and perhaps very much impressed, by how Ukrainian forces have managed to not just...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (27 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the importance of promoting the provision of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7382/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (27 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: Is í mo cheist chun an Aire inniu ná faoin tábhacht a bhaineann leis an nGaeloideachas, na Gaelcholáistí agus Gaelscoileanna a chur chun cinn. I am wondering about the Minister's views on the importance of promoting the provision of Gaeloideachas, Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. I ask her to make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (27 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: I appreciate both the Minister's commitment and the commitment in the programme for Government to Gaeloideachas. There is a huge need. The Minister referred to providing more Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand for it. I assure her there is demand for it, and I will come back to that in a second. There are, as far as I know, only 79 Gaelcholáistí in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (27 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: That is exactly the issue that has led me to ask this question, namely the criteria and how the Department assesses whether there is a demand. In my constituency, as I said there are two Gaelcholáistí colocated, Coláiste Íosagáin and Coláiste Eoin, but there is an enormous demand because although there are only two Gaelscoileanna in the adjacent areas - it must...

Housing Commission Report: Statements (27 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: I recognise the value of the report of the Housing Commission from last May. Of the 83 recommendations, approximately 65 are in train or at an advanced stage, which I welcome. Coming from the constituency of Dún Laoghaire where we have amongst the highest average property prices in the country, there is a real problem for people acquiring property that goes beyond what most people...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Patronage (27 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit as a phost nua. Go n-éirí leis. We have had a really positive change in recent years in the way we assess patronage in schools. That communities actually get to have a say and indicate to the Department very directly the kind of school they want represents a very positive change by comparison with where we were when I was...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Patronage (27 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: I appreciate entirely what the Minister of State said. The OPPS is excellent. The way we have changed how we assess patronage is a good thing. I also appreciate what the Minister of State said about the criteria. The key in his answer is that the process is open and "provides objective information to parents in the relevant school planning areas". That is the difficulty I have. If we...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 162. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the gradual reduction of childcare costs as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps she has taken to progress this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7381/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 185. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to passport photos for young children (details supplied); the actions he will take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7425/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 298. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding any research carried out by his Department into amending capital acquisitions tax exemption levels and related group thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7206/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 319. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to proposals in Spain regarding taxation on real estate bought by non-EU residents (details supplied); if any research has been carried out by his Department into the potential impact of this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7804/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 400. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding to support online safety programmes for schools;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7384/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 868. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the closure of a care provider (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure the impact on their service users is minimised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7376/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (25 Feb 2025)

Barry Ward: 884. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to cases whereby people suffering with chronic conditions do not qualify for GP cards, due to being under 70 years-of-age; the actions she will take to ensure that people in that situation are supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7471/25]