Results 1-20 of 14,473 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domestic Violence (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide. Access to Rent Supplement can be provided on referral by Tusla or by prescribed Tusla-funded service providers. This provides victims of domestic violence with a fast-track approval and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season - from September to April - at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Grant Payments (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Training Support Grant is designed to support quick access to short-term training where the training is not delivered by a state provider. The grant can be provided where an immediate skills gap is identified that represents an obstacle to taking up a job offer or accessing other opportunities. A maximum contribution of €250 can be approved and paid for Essential Driver...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The person concerned reached pension age on 10 September 2015. An application for State pension (contributory) was received from them on 25 July 2016. To be eligible for the State pension (contributory), an individual must have at least 520 paid contributions. The records of my Department show the person concerned has 416 paid contributions which falls short of the minimum requirement. I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together. I have been informed by officials in my Department that this analysis will require additional time to complete. The requested information will be sent to directly to the Deputy when available.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Inquiries (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means-tested payment of €360 to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. Eligibility is not based on a specific disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the condition and the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Correspondence (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: It is important to note that the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension (WCP) does not discontinue at age 66. In fact, the rate of payment increases for those who reach age 66 and they may also become entitled to the Living Alone Increase if they are living alone. It is open to a person in receipt of a WCP to apply for the State Pension (Contributory) (SPC)...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Living Wage (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: This is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Grant Payments (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66. In order to be eligible, the disability must be expected to last for at least one year. The allowance is also subject to a means test, a medical assessment and a habitual residency requirement. Support for artistic work in general is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Arts,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Sector Pay (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Irish civil service has a common pay and grading system with pay levels determined centrally. The table below details the number of officers earning more than €100,000 per year from employment with my department and with The Pensions Authority and the Citizens Information Board. Number of Officers earning more than €100,000 per year ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 458 and 459 together. The Local Improvement Scheme is an important support for rural communities in 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 the Government to local authorities under the Scheme. In April 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Projects (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department's ICT managed service is provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). On occasion, when necessary, external ICT contracts are used to deliver projects for which the scale or expertise required is not available within the Department. My Department and agencies follow all necessary requirements with regard to such projects, including obtaining...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Burial Grounds (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department has responsibility for policy and legislation in relation to local authority burial grounds while the actual operation of burial grounds is the responsibility of the local authority concerned. Under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 2001, local authorities are deemed to be burial boards for their respective functional areas. Acting in their capacity as...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The development and enhancement of community centres and facilities across the country is a priority for me and this Government. For the information of the Deputy, full details of range of the supports available within my Department, including those for community centres, can be accessed at In relation to the funding of community centres in particular, an integrated approach across a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Sector Staff (8 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Each year my Department provides salary information in its Appropriation Account which is submitted to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG) and published following audit. Our 2024 account remains subject to audit and will be published along with other Departments accounts once that process is complete. The table below provides the information requested for my Department...

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

Dara Calleary: The person concerned reached pension age on 10 March 2014. They are currently in receipt of an increase for a qualified adult on their spouse’s state pension (contributory) at the maximum weekly rate. This is equivalent to just under 90% of the maximum personal rate of state pension (contributory). An application for state pension (contributory) was received in September 2013 for...

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

Dara Calleary: The median time taken for decision reviews of Carer's Allowance claims carried out under the appeals process for 1 January - 31 March 2025 was 4.9 weeks. Note that this does not include decision reviews carried out outside the appeals process, as statistics for these are not maintained by the DSP. This is measured from the time the appeal is registered to when the decision is made by the...

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

Dara Calleary: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence,...

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

Dara Calleary: A Minister of State has not been appointed to the Department of Social Protection.

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

Dara Calleary: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Disablement Pension in respect of a workplace accident dated 4 July 1981. On 2 July 2018, an application for Disablement Benefit in respect of pneumoconiosis was received from the person concerned. On 24 October 2018, the person concerned was requested to submit up to date medical evidence in support of their application. This evidence was...