Results 14,781-14,800 of 15,157 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policies (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Revenue Commissioners operate the Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme for vehicles purchased for use by people with disabilities. This scheme provides VRT and VAT relief, an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant to drivers and passengers with a severe and permanent disability, who qualify under the relevant criteria set out in governing regulations made by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department’s Blended Working Policy, developed in line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organizations, offers a varied attendance model, depending on the staff role and business needs. 50% of staff work from home for at least two days per week.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person aged under 66 must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including being in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a means test and the household composition criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department uses the software programmes - Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. However, to ensure the integrity and security of its systems and data, the Department does not publish specific details on software versions in use within the Department which could potentially be of benefit to threat actors.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department uses the software programme- Microsoft Teams. However to ensure the integrity and security of its systems and data, the Department does not publish specific details on software versions in use within the Department which could potentially be of benefit to threat actors.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department uses two Cloud Service Providers, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, to deliver ICT services. The Department consumes Software As A Service applications, to deliver business services to our wide ranging customer base. To ensure the integrity and security of its systems and data, the Department does not publish specific details on software versions in use within the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The software programme referred to is not currently used in the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department uses no commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP) to provide its internet services.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State pension (contributory) or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. Earnings from employment, self employment, occupational pensions, and foreign pensions are assessed as means. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State pension (contributory) or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. Earnings from employment, self employment, occupational pensions, and foreign pensions are included in the means...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Supporting volunteering in our society is a central element of my Department's work to develop vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities. In furtherance of this, my Department oversees a national framework of support for the community and voluntary sector, as part of which €7.3 million will be provided in 2025 to support volunteering. This funding supports the network of 29...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Urban Development (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is responsible for a range of initiatives tackling deprivation and revitalising communities in both rural and urban areas. Key programmes include the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Empowering Communities Programme and providing funding for the Dublin North East Inner City initiative. My Department is making significant progress in revitalising...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Urban Development (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: In line with its remit, the Department operates a Rural Development Investment Programme delivering a range of capital schemes which are targeted at rural areas outside of our metropolitan locations. Administered by my Department, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major programme which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Freedom of Information (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I am fully cognisant of the statutory obligations that apply under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and I am fully satisfied that records relating to government or official departmental business are retained in line with the requirements of the Act.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Sports Funding (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The main source of state funding for sporting organisations is through Sport Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. That Department administers the Sports Capital Programme which is the primary vehicle for government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Under my Department's blended working policy, staff are required to attend the office a minimum of two fixed days per week, with the option of working from home on the other three days. Currently 96.5% of staff in my Department work from home at least two days per week.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407, 408, 409, 410 and 411 together. My Department's Information and Communications Technology Managed Desktop and Managed Hosting Service is provided by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform through the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). It's internet service and access to Government Cloud is provided...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Community Development Projects (27 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue regarding Women's Sheds. I acknowledge the huge work she has put into this issue over many years and join her in acknowledging the fantastic work being done by women's and men's sheds throughout the country. This area of women's sheds is an important issue to many colleagues across government, in particular, the Minister, Deputy Foley,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Community Development Projects (27 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Senator. I certainly will take her up on that offer. I will ask somebody from my office to engage with her. As I said, we have had meetings and both the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I will be having further meetings. In our Department, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Foley, the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll...

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

Dara Calleary: Treatment Benefit is a PRSI-based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, and assistance towards the provision of audiological appliances and hair replacement products, to people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions, and to their dependent spouses/partners. The following payment changes were made from 2021 to date in 2025, for persons who satisfy the medical...