Results 15,041-15,060 of 15,157 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Schemes (12 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Under ORIS 2021, Kerry County Council was approved funding of €49,950 under the project development measure for the 'Infrastructural Development Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (12 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Under ORIS 2023, Kerry County Council was approved funding of €445,140 for the Milltown - Kilderry Looped Amenity Walk. The works include the construction...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Contracts (12 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm that my Department has not engaged any external training, simulations or advice relating to appearances as witnesses at Oireachtas committees during the time outlined. In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department, I would note that they are independent legal entities, responsible for their own operational matters. With the exception of Pobal, all agencies under the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (12 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The full range of funding made available through the various scheme delivered by my Department and the criteria attached to each can be found at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development- and-the-gaeltacht/collections/funding-allocated-by-the-depar tment/ A number of these schemes have previously supported the provision of park facilities for example the Town and Village...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Calafoirt agus Céanna (12 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Mar is eol don Teachta, is í Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe atá freagrach as cothabháil agus forbairt na gcéanna ar na hOileáin Árann, Inis Oírr san áireamh. Maidir le forbairt ché Inis Oírr, is í Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe an ghníomhaireacht urraíochta agus údarás conarthach agus dá bhrí sin tá...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Calafoirt agus Céanna (12 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Mar is eol don Teachta, is é Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe atá freagrach as cothabháil agus forbairt na gcéanna ar na hOileáin Árann, Inis Meáin san áireamh. Tuigim gur thug mo Roinn cead do Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe i mí na Nollag 2024 dul ar aghaidh le ceapachán innealtóirí comhairleacha chun an Réamhchás...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Fostaíocht sa Ghaeltacht (12 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Tá roinnt beartas ceadaithe faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge le trí bhliana anuas chun tacaíocht bhreise a chur ar fáil do theaghlaigh a chuireann lóistín ar fáil do lucht freastal na gColáistí Gaeilge agus do theaghlaigh nua atá ag teacht isteach sa chóras ina n-áirítear:ardú ar fóirdheontas oíche...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (12 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: As the Deputy will be aware the promotion of the use of Irish to the greatest extent possible is a priority for my Department. Unfortunately, I have no role, statutory or otherwise, with regard to information labelling on food products. You may wish to raise this issue with my colleague, the Minister for Health.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach, leis an gcoiste agus leis an gcléireach as an gcuireadh a thabhairt dom a bheith ina gcomhluadar inniu chun plé a dhéanamh ar na Meastúcháin Athbhreithnithe don Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí don bhliain 2025. I thank the Chair, members of the committee and the clerk for their invitation to be here today to discuss...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Deputy can ask them all together.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy. We seem to have followed each other around Oireachtas committees over the years. I look forward to continuing to work with her. Auto-enrolment will happen from 1 January 2026. I thank the Cathaoirleach who wrote to me. I was in Letterkenny on Friday. It is a tribute to regionalisation that much of the work on auto-enrolment is being done in Letterkenny by the...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: There will be an actuarial review. Once we see that, we will know what condition it is in and will be able to open a discussion based on the expert information at that point. As of now, I am confident it is in relatively good shape but I am awake to the challenges that face it. That is why the review will dictate where we go next. On the pay-related jobseeker's payment, we will review...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Yes. I try to be as open as possible.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I want the committee's feedback. I may not take it on board but it is important that I get it.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: We share the committee's concern about child poverty. The ESRI report is in-depth and interesting. On a second payment, we will consider the ESRI report. The Taoiseach made it clear to me on my appointment that child poverty was a priority for him. His Department is setting up a child poverty unit that we will work with. We are looking at targeted increases to make a difference in...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I do not have the figure here but I will get back to the Deputy. As a consequence of the changes, a two-adult household with an income of €69,000 will retain the maximum carer's allowance. The same carer with an income of €97,000 will retain a partial payment. In June 2022, before we started making changes, that €69,000 was €37,000 and that €97,000 was...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. I will once again emphasise that, from July, the income disregards for carers will increase from €450 to €625 and from €900 to €1,250. I am certainly committed to continuing to increase those income disregards in line with the budget. The bereaved partner's legislation will come before the committee before the end of...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: On pensioners living on their own, we have the living alone allowance, which is worth €22 a week. There is also the fuel allowance, which is paid during fuel allowance season. I am very conscious that one person has more expenses than two living together. We continue to keep that under review. At this point, my current priority is to extend hot school meals to every primary...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: We are proceeding with auto-enrolment. The team that is dealing with this is more than happy to come before the committee. It would help to get knowledge about auto-enrolment out there and build the committee's confidence in it. The team is exceptional and I would encourage the committee to bring it before it. Jobseeker's pay-related benefit is where we thought it would be at this...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: There is no timeframe yet. We will learn from jobseeker's pay-related benefit. We will learn the lessons from and get feedback about that. I am focused on making sure jobseeker's pay-related benefit is working the way we want it to and working for recipients. I am happy to share with the committee our work on that towards the end of this year and early next year.