Results 14,461-14,480 of 15,157 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Homemakers Scheme and Homecaring Periods are specific Pension Caring Supports within the State Pension system that give significant recognition to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role. They are not qualifying contributions for the State Pension (Contributory) but can be used once a person has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: As you will be aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of this Department, funds and supports eight Citizens Information Service (CIS) companies, to provide important information, advice and advocacy services to the public nationwide. As each CIS is an independent limited company overseen by a voluntary Board of Directors, each CIS company makes decisions independently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body under my Department’s aegis, that funds and supports eight independent regional Citizen Information Service (CIS) companies, which in turn operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres. Each CIS is a limited company governed by a Board of Directors which make decisions independently on the delivery of services in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The new Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce the Automatic Enrolment (AE) Retirement Savings System. The aim of introducing AE is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement savings. The new system will be called 'My Future Fund'. It will automatically enrol all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Costs (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year. The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a Child Support Payment...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Minister Buttimer was appointed as Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Transport. With regard to functions in this Department the formal delegation of functions to the Minister of State will be concluded in the coming weeks, and once it is finalised and signed the relevant Order will be published on the Irish Statute book.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department supports a wide range of projects which provide essential and accessible facilities in towns and villages all across Ireland. The Department places a strong focus on ensuring that our schemes benefit all members of our communities including people who are neurodivergent. Details of the thousands of projects supported by my Department are available at Funding allocated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports improving non-public rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, almost €170 million has been provided by Government to local authorities for LIS and this includes funding allocations which have been provided to each local authority for the period 2024/2025. I have engaged with my...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Cycling Facilities (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is keen to continue to support the use of the Cycle to Work Scheme as a means of promoting a healthy lifestyle under our Health and Wellbeing Programme. The scheme is run within the parameters set out by Revenue. I've listed the number of applications processed each year from 2020 to 2024 in the table below. These figures are the combined figures for the Department of Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. Maps of CLÁR designated areas, including in County Laois, are available on my Departments website. I have attached a copy of the CLÁR map showing designated areas in Co Laois. The Programme for Government makes a commitment to carry out a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Bodies (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together. Details of payments made under the prompt payment legislation are published on a quarterly basis on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/294dc7-financial-info rmation/. This includes information for one agency, the Charities Regulator, as their payments are processed through the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Heritage Projects (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages in rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who take the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (7 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The development and enhancement of community centres across the country is a priority for me and this Government. Full details of the supports available within my Department, including those for community centres, can be accessed at This information also outlines the eligibility criteria for each scheme, including the type of organisations who can apply for funds, be they a sporting or...

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) (14 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Dála as na leasuithe seo. Ón uair dheireanach a bhí mé anseo, bhí cruinniú agam le príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta agus cathaoirleach Údarás na Gaeltachta faoi chúrsaí tithíochta amháin agus faoi na pleananna a bhí acu agus an plean atá á...

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) (14 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Táim ag iarraidh go mbeidh.

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) (14 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Ar an gcéad dul síos, tá mórán measa agam ar an triúr Teachta. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil mé ag glacadh leis na leasuithe ach, mar gheall ar an meas sin, ní bheimid ag teacht ar ais le haghaidh an chéad Chéim eile sula mbeidh cruinnithe againn faoi chúrsaí tithíochta leis na grúpaí agus leis an údarás. Mura...

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) (14 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Tá leasú amháin i measc an ghrúpa sin in ainm an Teachta Ó Snodaigh.

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) (14 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Tairgim leasú Uimh. 23: Ar leathanach 13, líne 19, “6 chomhalta” a scriosadh agus “7 gcomhalta” a chur ina ionad. Ba mhaith liom a lua ag an bpointe seo go bhfuilim ag breathnú ar cúpla leasú féideartha eile a thabhairt isteach ar Chéim na Tuarascála. Baineann an chéad cheann féideartha le sprioc...

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) (14 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Ní thuigim which atá i gceist. Tá suim agam é a phlé. Táim ag iarraidh tuiscint a fháil faoi cén treoir as a bhfuil na Teachtaí ag teacht leis an leasú sin. Conas a d'oibreodh sé?

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) (14 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Níl aon uimhir beartaithe agam.