Results 13,421-13,440 of 15,083 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Consultations (25 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: In general my Department utilises the services of the Office of the Attorney General, the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Office of Parliamentary Council with regard to legal advice and services. My Department has occasional requirements for consultancy services which may be needed to provide advice or specialised technical expertise. Information on all such engagements are publicly...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (25 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects. A second iteration of the Fund was opened in March 2024. Applications under the 2024 round of funding can be submitted by local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: I understand that the Deputy has received a response from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in respect of this matter and specifically as regards the Building Blocks Extension Grants Scheme. While my Department does not have responsibility in respect of the provision of créche facilities, a small number of childcare facilities have been funded...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Responsibilities (25 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: A formal delegation of functions order is currently being drafted. Once finalised and signed, the order will be made available on the Irish Statute Book. I can also confirm it is my intention to publish my Department’s Ministerial Briefing on gov.ie/drcd in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (25 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The main programmes in my Department focusing on areas of high disadvantage are the Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) and the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP). The ECP commenced in 2022, providing funding for 14 projects. At present there are 17 projects supported under the programme, with annual funding of €2.3 million. One of these projects is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (25 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: In June last year, a new round of funding was announced to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres. In November, just over €7.6 million was approved...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently 98,311 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. Expenditure on the scheme in 2025 is estimated to be over €1.24 billion. Of course, there are other supports for carers provided by the Department of Social Protection which are not based on a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is the term used to describe urgent and exceptional needs payments made via the Community Welfare Service to affected households in the period immediately after an emergency event such as a storm or serious flood. My first act as Minister, following my appointment, was to activate the scheme on the 23rd January 2025 to assist householders across the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: I am pleased to say that, so far, 215 newborn baby grant payments have been made to 211 families in Tipperary. This new payment of €280 was announced in Budget 2025 to be paid to families of babies born on or after 1st December 2024. This grant is paid alongside but in addition to the first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140. So, parents of newborns will receive a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can assure the Deputy that the situation he describes of a person experiencing a net reduction in income from the Department will not arise. In fact, in the scenario set out the person concerned will receive an increase in total weekly payments from the Department. The purpose of weekly payments made by the Department are to provide an income support for people experiencing specific...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The objective of the Free Travel Scheme is to ensure older people and people with disabilities remain active within their community by providing access to existing public and private transport routes. Generally, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of disability payments. There are over 1.1 million customers with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: We all know that one of the most expensive times in a family's life is the arrival of a new baby, particularly the first baby. Although the extended family can often chip-in with gifts and presents, parents face the costs of buggies, cots, car-seats not to mention nappies and various other baby paraphernalia. That is why a newborn baby grant of €280 was announced in Budget 2025....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is administered through my Department's Community Welfare Service. My first act as Minister, following my appointment, was to activate the scheme on the 23rd January 2025 to assist householders across the country ahead of the arrival of Storm Éowyn. At the outset, I wish to thank the staff and managers of the service for their extraordinary response...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: My first act as Minister, following my appointment, was to activate the scheme Humanitarian Assistance Scheme on the 23rd January 2025 to assist householders across the country ahead of the arrival of Storm Éowyn. The Community Welfare Service, which delivers the scheme, responded immediately preparing for the expected inflow of claims. Staff and managers of the service then worked...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: A newborn baby grant of €280 was announced in Budget 2025 to be paid to families of babies born on or after 1st December 2024. This grant is paid alongside but in addition to the first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140. So parents of newborns will receive a total first payment of €420 to help them with the immediate and upfront costs of welcoming a new baby...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: Under the law as currently enacted, entitlement to a Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory pension is only available to a surviving partner who was party to a marriage or civil partnership. As the Deputy is aware, on 22nd January 2024, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the entitlement of an unmarried cohabitant to a Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: A specific standard was set for School Meals under the Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. A technical Nutrition Sub Group comprised of Dietitians from the following organisations was involved in developing these standards: The Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland, The HSE, Safefood, and The Food Safety Authority of Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Programme for Government has clearly set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government. This is a major change to the Carer's Allowance and to the Irish social welfare system generally. It is important that we make progress in a way...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 113, 127 and 152 together. The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future - has set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (27 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides an on-line PSC renewal service through MyWelfare.ie for customers who have a verified MyGovID account. Customers who do not have a verified MyGovID account can set one up easily using their existing Public Services Card and by following the steps on the www.mygovid.ie website, they can then renew their Public Services Card on-line at a time and place convenient to...