Results 181-200 of 4,372 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd in 'Dáil debates'

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Educational Disadvantage (30 Nov 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Minister for Education. I want to explain to her what is wrong with the way the Department is applying DEIS school status in Ardee. There are four schools in Ardee. One of them, a post-primary school, has DEIS status, so every student who is over 12 or 13 and who goes there has DEIS status. They have special educational supports. There are three primary schools in the town....

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Minister to the debate. This budget and the actions she has taken as Minister show a caring, competent and concerned Government and Minister at work. This budget has been particularly well received, such as the €12 increase in the maximum rate of all core weekly payments, the €2 increase in payments for children, increases for social welfare recipients and so on....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (17 Nov 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I raise for the third time on Questions on Policy and Legislation the plight of some very vulnerable citizens, many of whom are elderly and in poor health, living in fuel poverty and in mobile homes, which are the most inefficient homes for energy in the country. They cannot benefit from the €600 energy credit because they do not have an ESB meter registered in their name. They get...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Nov 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 110. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that are being considered to ensure that childminders can access much-needed supports under the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56487/22]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Nov 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: The British-Irish Council meets today. It is the first time in 15 years a British Prime Minister has attended. That is a very good omen. I welcome in particular the fact that Rishi Sunak is looking at trying to improve the relationship between our two countries. That is significant. Does the Tánaiste agree that the key relationship in bringing about the peace and prosperity on our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 8. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the recently announced purchase by IDA Ireland from Louth County Council of further lands to increase IDA Ireland's land bank in north Drogheda; the total new acreage of the site; if the site will be serviced sooner than expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53404/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: The purpose of this question is to ask the Tánaiste if he will provide an update on the recent announcement regarding the purchase by IDA Ireland of further lands from Louth County Council to increase IDA Ireland's land bank in Drogheda. This is welcome. I would appreciate any additional details the Tánaiste may have, particularly regarding the total new acreage and if the site...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Minister's reply. It is good news indeed. It shows joined-up thinking and, literally, joined-up land, which increases road frontage. This site is especially well located as it is beside the motorway. We had significant investment, particularly with AWS building in the town. Areas with these types of data centres need these companies to invest. People who need data need to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I also welcome the Tánaiste's comments. There may be grants available to businesses, particularly smaller ones, to upgrade their heating facilities and find the most efficient and effective way of using energy, although I am not familiar with them. Is advice available to them regarding how they can reduce their costs in this regard? Is there a possibility of special grants to allow...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 19. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the available supports for businesses to deal with the crippling energy prices being encountered across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53405/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: On a point of order, what question-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will get an opportunity then.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Thank you very much, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. That is in my own interest.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (27 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Bare Food Company in Drogheda is a small business. It received an electricity bill of €3,500 in April. Its latest bill is for €8,000. The story relating to the company is on the front page of our local paper as a result of the fact that it is asking its customers to leave early in the afternoon because it cannot afford to light the shop, cook the food or keep the fridges...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: The budget contained important additional funding for people who need energy credits, namely, every household in the country, and it is welcome. Over a 12-month period it will amount to more than €800. I wish to raise one cohort of people, namely, full-time residents of mobile homes in my constituency, and I am sure the constituencies of other Members as well, who pay for their...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did already.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: It was on 6 October.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: They own their mobile homes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with the Minister that families need the truth. Does he agree they also need accountability and closure? The fact is 23 of these thousands of deaths in Ireland happened in a nursing home the HSE took over. Exceptional issues arose in Dealgan House that drove the HSE to move in and take it over. There was a complete collapse of the system there, including healthcare and governance....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: If it is helpful, I am not charging the Minister personally with that at all. What I am saying is that if these were children, we would have had the inquiry because public opinion would have demanded it. However, I withdraw anything in my statement that caused any offence the Minister may have felt.