Results 21-40 of 11,236 for speaker:Colm Burke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I ask the Minister if an examination of improvements to key ancillary benefits, such as the fuel allowance, household benefits package and living alone allowance, to support vulnerable groups has occurred as part of the programme for Government. If not, when is this examination to occur? Will the Minister make a statement on the better?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: My concern in regard to carer's allowance is the fact that the population is aging. Thankfully, people are living longer. The last census showed 832,000 people aged over 65 living in the country. Within the next four years, that figure will reach 1 million. The cost of nursing home care is at least €1,100 per person per week. Regarding long-term planning for the carer's allowance,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 24. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update regarding the implementation of an appeals system for the power up scheme; when it is likely that businesses will be able to lodge appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21730/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 67. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date by his Department in respect of streamlining the employment permit application process, whereby a single application process for employment permits and entry visa applications would be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress that has been made in removing the means test for carer’s allowance; if a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Application Forms (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 285. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their jobseeker’s allowance application, given the application was submitted 12 weeks ago; if serious consideration will be given to granting this allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21991/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 286. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that consideration will be given to amending the rules surrounding pension entitlements so that women who had to leave work due to marriage could qualify for a pension in their own right regardless of their husband’s means (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21995/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (30 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: 24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the progress to date in relation to the N/M20 Limerick to Cork motorway project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21436/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (30 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: 143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality what action is being taken by his Department to improve on the timeline for the processing of entry visa applications, in view that they are currently taking five or six months to process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21644/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (30 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (30 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: The free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. The Minister is committed to extend access to the free contraception scheme. The scheme covers the cost of consultations with GPs, primary care, student health and family planning centres and prescriptions for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (30 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (29 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: I accept what the Minister of State said; obviously, there is an issue regarding the negotiated price for the medication. Surely, we must look at the long-term challenges with an increasing older population. As the Minister of State outlined, those in the older age group are more prone to getting shingles. The number of people having to go into hospital will increase, as will the number...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (29 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: The issue I am raising is the shingles vaccine. As the Minister of State knows, shingles causes quite a lot of difficulty for people who get it. Herpes zoster is the other name for it. It is very painful. It can affect people really badly, especially when they get it close to the eye. I have come across people who have suffered long-term damage to their eyes from getting it in that area...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: I very much appreciate that additional funding is going into this area. It is interesting to see that the majority of services reported having difficulty recruiting staff over the last 12 months, a process that was reported as difficult or very difficult by 95% of managers. The challenges of recruiting and retaining staff are having stark consequences, with 30% of managers reporting that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: I fully agree that a lot of work is being done and a lot of improvements have occurred. The other challenge in early childcare is access to appropriate facilities. We need to work together on access to facilities, not only in the Minister's Department but also across other Government Departments. I have come across a number of areas where there is difficulty in getting access to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: 90. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the staff retention rates among early years educators for the past five years; the actions being taken to improve staff retention in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20975/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: Will the Minister confirm the staff retention rates among early years educators for the past five years and the actions being taken to improve staff retention in the sector? Will she make a statement on the matter?

Children's Health Ireland: Statements (29 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: It is important in dealing with this debate that we give reassurance to parents because they have gone through a difficult time. When a child needs any kind of surgical procedure, it is always challenging for parents to face into that. Are they making the right decision? Are they getting the right advice? Should they follow through? When they come across a difficulty like this and have...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Córas Iompair Éireann (29 Apr 2025)

Colm Burke: 368. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to confirm that CIÉ pensioners, who have not received an increase in their pension since 2008, will now be granted an increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18724/25]