Results 4,521-4,540 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I congratulate the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, on their appointments. I pay tribute to the former Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and the former Minister of State, Deputy Stanton. I live in Drogheda town, which has suffered greatly as a result of a crime wave. The gardaí there are doing a fantastic job fighting it and are very tough on crime....

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus roimh na hAirí Stáit nua atá in éineacht leis, na Teachtaí Byrne agus Brophy. Tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh feabhas mór ar an saol atá againn go léir de bharr an obair a bheidh á déanamh acu. I pay tribute in particular to our foreign service. When I use the word "service" I mean it in the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: The programme for Government includes a commitment to the provision of a statutory home care service. Will the Taoiseach outline a timeline for the introduction of same? Home care is the ideal form of care for older people. Older people need a statutory entitlement in order to pay and access this urgently needed service. This will keep people out of institutions like nursing homes.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate her on her appointment. The summer provision programme for 2020 is hugely important because it assists, in particular, children who have profound learning difficulties, such as autism and so on. I welcome the fact 5,000 more children will participate in summer provision this year than did last year. The Minister knows children with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is the same reply that I received earlier from the Department. I acknowledge the intent of what the Minister has said but I reject its content. I do not find that acceptable and I want to stress that these are children with exceptional needs, as I know the Minister acknowledges. There is no way the family in question can pay the bill and recoup the funding. I absolutely acknowledge...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: On the same matter, will the Taoiseach consider appointing a consultant geriatrician to investigate that nursing home, as further and new cases have now been brought to light which are very concerning? An investigation is needed urgently and as soon as possible notwithstanding the HIQA investigation.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 12. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will address a matter raised in correspondence from a person (details supplied) on guidelines for reopening business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13758/20]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 24. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will consider a proposal by a person (details supplied) on businesses which are ineligible for grants but may play a key role in the restart of local SMEs going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14014/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 91. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the financial protections in place for those who have flights booked for outgoing flights to Spain while the current guidance is that no non-essential travel is to be undertaken; if persons can claim a refund under EU directives; if the travel provider has a duty to refund or voucher the cost of flights; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 157. To ask the Minister for Finance if a response to correspondence regarding single person child carer credit, SPCCC, will issue (details supplied). [13858/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 367. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has received applications and-or proposals from local schools or organisations in east County Meath for a municipal sports centre and running track; if so, the stage the application and or proposals are at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13767/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 408. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make amendments to the retrospective transport scheme for low-income families whose children are accessing summer provision in special schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14006/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 410. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) on an athletic track or stadium for east County Meath; and if she will set up the required meetings between her Department and Meath County Council to discuss such proposals. [14010/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Data (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 511. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of notified job vacancies in Drogheda town by month from 2016 to date in tabular from; if the figures are available through employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14118/20]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 609. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if discussions have taken place between her Department and the Garda Commissioner to examine the current divisional boundaries that separate adjoining estates and areas in Drogheda, County Louth, and County Meath, respectively (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13748/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 728. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of Spinraza to children with spinal muscular atrophy type I, II or III on an exceptional and individualised basis; his plans to facilitate broader provision of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14012/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Overall Fiscal and Monetary Position (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the comments of the Governor with regard to placing consumers at the heart of the Central Bank's policy and giving them top priority. The public does not feel this has been the case in the past. It is hugely important. We will judge the Governor on his actions rather than his words but I am impressed with the commitments he has given so far. The problem is that Covid...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I worked in a post-primary school that had 1,200 students. I can appreciate the difficulty caused by Covid-19 and how it will be possible to organise things. One of the key points will arise when students are out of class. How will that situation be monitored and that activity supervised? Sometimes one needs to have eyes in the back of one's head to see everything that goes on in a...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer to staggered school hours where one might start at 8.30 a.m. or 9 a.m. but would continue with that so that some students might not come in until 11 a.m. or 12 noon. They would have a longer day and go home at a different time. It is a major challenge. Has Mr. Mongey thought about that? I presume the principal signs off on the plan but that every plan would have to be verified...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: What about the question of the staggered or expanded school day?