Results 2,261-2,280 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: I thank Senator Dolan and colleagues from all the committees. I thank them for their attendance this morning. I acknowledge that this meeting clashes with questions by Deputy Brady to be taken in the Dáil shortly. I welcome from the Disability Federation of Ireland, Dr. Joanne McCarthy and Dr. Patricia McCarthy; and from Inclusion Ireland, Mr. Mark O'Connor. By virtue of section...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: I thank each Dr. McCarthy for her opening presentation. I call Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Murtagh, whom I believe will make their presentation together.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: Can I interrupt Mr. O'Connor before he continues? Following today's meeting, we will be meeting with various officials but the meeting does not have to conclude with his final contribution. If there is something further the witnesses want to submit to us, I suggest they do it shortly after the meeting so that the members will be aware of it in advance of meeting various officials from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: I thank Mr. Murtagh, Mr. O'Connor, Dr. Joanne McCarthy and Dr. Patricia McCarthy for the opening statements. They were extensive and informative. At this stage, I will afford an opportunity to colleagues to raise issues and questions. I will revert back to the witnesses for responses. I ask speakers to confine themselves to approximately five minutes each to afford a reasonable time for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: I thank Deputy O'Loughlin for sticking to the time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: I reiterate that while we are identifying the issues today we will address them in front of some of the Departments. As a joint committee, we will also issue a report with recommendations so Deputy Collins should hold those thoughts she has had. We will have an opportunity to produce a report with recommendations along those lines.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: I thank Senator Dolan. Before I go back to the witnesses, I have a few comments. They were very impressive and comprehensive presentations. The witnesses will have an opportunity in a moment to respond to some of the issues raised. Both Dr. Joanne McCarthy and Dr. Patricia McCarthy talked about flexibility in respect of services. Perhaps the word might be interconnectivity of services....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: I understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: I acknowledge that the Deputy was in the Chamber and his interest in this issue. To make the point specifically, the Deputy spoke about WALK and issues in terms of funding. While he might not have an opportunity to debate this fully today it can be debated and it may also form part of the recommendations. One of the issues touched on today is where all the pilots are going and how they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: Thank you very much, Dr. McCarthy. The point you finished on was well made. I call Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Murtagh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (3 May 2018)

John Curran: Before concluding, I thank colleagues from the various committees for their attendance. There will be another joint meeting in a few weeks. I thank the witnesses for their attendance, their informative opening statements and their subsequent replies to the issues raised. Dr. McCarthy made the point that we, as a committee, will be limited in what we can do and it is important that we focus...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (3 May 2018)

John Curran: 43. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made regarding introducing a new total contributions pension scheme by 2020 and the introduction of a pension auto-enrolment scheme by 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19168/18]

Topical Issue Debate: Traffic Management (2 May 2018)

John Curran: The Minister is as well aware of this issue as anyone else as congestion on the M50 features regularly on radio and news bulletins. Rush hour on the M50 is now 7 a.m., not 8 a.m. or 9 a.m., such are the volumes of traffic. It is not just the M50 but the feeder roads and their interconnectivity which are affected. Last Friday a truck was involved in an accident on the N4 but it resulted in...

Topical Issue Debate: Traffic Management (2 May 2018)

John Curran: The first issue in the Minister's response was traffic control measures in 2020. He said a team was engaged on this but we would like to see the detail of this because 2020 is not that far away. He also said the M50 needs to be allowed to function for its primary intended purpose as a national road which caters for predominantly non-local trips of high economic value. We have missed that...

Other Questions: Community Services Programme (2 May 2018)

John Curran: I welcome the Minister's statement that he will pay close attention to ensuring none of the existing schemes will be adversely affected by the review. One of the advantages of having the programme in the then Department of Social Protection was that, if savings were made on jobseekers' payments, there could be a supplementary budget and transferring funding internally was easier.

Other Questions: Community Services Programme (2 May 2018)

John Curran: However, that should not be a blockage in expanding the scheme which offers real and tangible work for people who are otherwise finding it difficult to work and provides projects for communities. Regardless of whether they are projects with tourism features like the ones Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív indicated or community facilities, they play a vital role. I urge the Minister to...

Other Questions: RAPID Programme (2 May 2018)

John Curran: 23. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of his Department's review of the RAPID programme; the improvements that have been made as a result of this review in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19012/18]

Other Questions: RAPID Programme (2 May 2018)

John Curran: The Minister made funding available under the RAPID programme for 2017 and 2018. Will he explain the Department's review of the programme and when will it be complete? Will he assure the House that the funding provided under the programme will remain targeted at the areas of greatest disadvantage?

Other Questions: RAPID Programme (2 May 2018)

John Curran: I thank the Minister for his response. Since I submitted this question I have since received some information because of my concern that the funding made available for the programme in 2017 was not necessarily targeted at the areas of most disadvantage. The Minister allocated €64,500 to each local authority in 2017. My local authority covers more than one RAPID programme area. I...

Other Questions: RAPID Programme (2 May 2018)

John Curran: There is. The Minister is proud of the success of the scheme in the north-east inner city, but my concern is that, although he identified the amount of funding that had gone to that area, areas of significant disadvantage in other parts of Dublin are only receiving a sum of €32,000. That amount is not proportionate to the challenges facing them. It is welcome that the Minister has...