Results 241-260 of 14,252 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The table below provides the information requested for the relevant staff which are on the payroll of the Department of Rural and Community Development. The staff in question cover my own office, that of my colleague Minister of State Jerry Buttimer and the Secretary General's Office. I would also note that I expect a Private Secretary to shortly be in place within my own office, also at the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Vacant Properties (8 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm that my Department does not own any vacant or derelict buildings in Dublin-Rathdown.

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

Dara Calleary: My Department provides a range of funding programmes which rejuvenate communities, delivering social and economic benefits. With regards to those which can support community groups to employ staff the main schemes of relevance are the Community Services Programme and the Scheme to Support National Organisations. Funding of €55.4 million has been allocated to the Community Services...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (3 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for parents who are under 66 and who are not cohabiting and whose youngest child is under age seven. When the youngest child turns seven, the person may then apply for the Jobseeker's Transitional Payment. The Jobseeker's Transitional Payment is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme that is available to lone parents...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (3 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Finance Act 2023 introduced the Mortgage Interest Tax Credit. This tax credit is for taxpayers who have made payments in respect of a qualifying loan for a principal private residence. The Mortgage Interest Tax Credit was originally only available for the year 2023. However, in Finance Act 2024, it has been extended to include the year 2024. Those who applied for and did not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Apr 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 the evidence, disallowed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Apr 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. The average processing time for appeals at end of March, 2025 is 20.9 weeks. The time taken to process appeals reflects the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Apr 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. In 2024 the average time taken to process an appeal was 23.5 weeks. The average processing time at end of March 2025 is 20.9...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (3 Apr 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. A specific standard was set for School Meals under the Nutritional Standards for School Meals and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (3 Apr 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. The Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. All schools who wish to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The average time in weeks to process applications and appeals for the specified schemes for the period 1 January - 28 February 2025 are set out below. The waiting times for appeals measure the time from when the appeal was registered to the latest decision on the appeal, or when the appeal was withdrawn by the appellant. This can include revised decisions. Such revisions can lengthen the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (3 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: A high level stakeholder group was established in 2024 to consider the policy and legislative matters currently under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The stakeholder group meets regularly and its remit includes considering the need for legislative change. This requires in depth analysis and consultation to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authorities (3 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023- 2027 was published in November 2022. A key action in the Strategy is the development of a County Outdoor Recreation Plan to reflect the priorities of the national strategy in each county. This will create a more strategic approach and ensure that available funding and resources are better aligned with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (2 Apr 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. The Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. All schools who wish to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (2 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, is a whole of government strategy with a five-year timeframe which aims to reduce consistent poverty to 2% or less and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU. The Roadmap for Social Inclusion is an overarching statement of Government strategy, which acknowledges the range of sectoral plans already in place that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Weather Events (2 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS), administered by my department through the Community Welfare Service (CWS), was activated on 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn. Humanitarian assistance is available in three stages. Stage 1 of the HAS is available to people while they are directly impacted by the storm. It targets people who...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Weather Events (2 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS), administered by my department through the Community Welfare Service (CWS), was activated on 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn. According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for a HAS stage 1 payment to assist with the additional costs incurred as a result of Storm...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Apr 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: Weather Events (2 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS), administered by my department through the Community Welfare Service (CWS), was activated on 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn. Humanitarian assistance is available in three stages. Stage 1 of the HAS is available to people while they are directly impacted by the storm. It targets people who...