Results 1-20 of 15,366 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Uniforms (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 276 together. This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them. That is why I was really pleased to announce that Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility is being extended to include children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Childcare Services (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Social Welfare Appeals Service is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. The Service is administered by the Chief Appeals Officer. The Chief Appeals Officer and her team of Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions. As Minister I need to be conscious of the independence of the office, its functions and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. All primary schools will be eligible to apply for the Hot School Meals from September 2025. This...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Government's 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 contains a commitment to examine the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland, as a mechanism to develop the range of areas available in which people can choose Irish as a language of exchange. In this context, Foras na Gaeilge, through its ‘Gnó...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Common Agricultural Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: The current LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. It is connected to Objective 8 of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The total amount of funding allocated to LEADER for the period of 2021-2027 is €250 million, maintaining the level of funding of the previous...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an roghchoiste as ucht an deis seo chun an Bille tábhachtach seo a phlé inniu. I thank members for attending today and for facilitating Committee Stage of the Bill. As Deputies know, in January of 2024, the Supreme Court overturned my Department's decision not to pay the widower's contributory pension to Mr. Johnny O'Meara....

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 11, to delete “Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025” and substitute “Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025”. I understand that amendments Nos. 1, 5, 6, and 23 to 25, inclusive, are grouped together. The first five amendments of this grouping...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, line 12, to delete “(other than section 18)” and substitute “(other than sections 18 and 21)”.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, lines 36 and 37, to delete “Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Act 2025” and substitute “Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025”.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: What we are trying to resolve here is an anomaly that was highlighted-----

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: -----and that has shown up other anomalies. The presence of children was a factor in the Supreme Court reaching its decision on the equality ground but it was not the entire factor. It is important to note that the court made a finding that acknowledged the payment was not fully in respect of children. The current legislation has nuances regarding loss or retention and these have to be...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: No, it is important argument.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: I would also point out that we do not make the decision in relation to what amendments are ruled in or out of order.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: It is two years after the breakdown of a relationship and there are other supports available from within the Department for people in that position.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: There is a range of other supports.

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Dara Calleary: Each individual case will have different issues for which that we can ensure they get support. The Department invests over €27 billion every year in supporting people. We will-----