Results 5,181-5,200 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I will raise the issue of the free school books scheme with the Minister for Education. We are increasing the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance from the autumn. We are also significantly expanding DEIS provision from next September, with an increase of approximately 20% in funding. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department is currently going through a detailed process,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputies for raising those issues. Deputy Collins raised the issue of the Dursey cable car, which Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan has raised with me and colleagues as well, and I see the Deputy has a Topical Issue matter selected in that regard. That is perhaps the most appropriate forum in which to deal with that issue. We all recognise how important that piece of infrastructure...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----which we have been asked to introduce, and we do want to advance Government legislation. That is a central purpose of this House. We will liaise with Deputy Boyd Barrett, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Business Committee to find an appropriate slot for discussing what we recognise is a really important report. In response to Deputy Naughten, we recognise that for many people...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: The issues that the Deputy raises are really important when it comes to the Government and the country meeting the objective of balanced regional development. We want to see such balanced regional development. It is core to the Project Ireland 2040 strategy, where the majority of growth in the population of Ireland over the next 20 years, which is estimated to be growth of about 1 million...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Nolan for raising these issues regarding our planning system. We all acknowledge the need for a fit-for-purpose planning system in our country for the development of homes, industry and public infrastructure. As the Deputy will be aware, we have now adopted a national development plan out to 2030 that involves public expenditure of €165 billion across all of the main...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: We can all acknowledge that revitalising a town such as Tipperary town requires a multifaceted approach. Deputy Lowry touched on the need for investment in educational facilities and infrastructure, and the need to generate employment, especially where we are dealing with a high level of unemployment and intergenerational disadvantage, which has manifested itself in Tipperary town. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: It is not a barrier.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: As a practising politician for a number of years I have never encountered a situation-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----where our public health system refuses to care for cancer patients because they cannot pay a bill. I have never seen that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: If the Deputy has any example please bring it to the attention of the Minister and the Government because access to cancer care in our public health system is not dependent on paying.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising Tipperary town in the House, the challenges faced there and the need for the Government to support the efforts to revitalise the town. We are very much aware of the challenges that are undoubtedly there. We continue to provide supports and investment to assist the area to tackle challenges and build a sustainable place to live and work. As the Deputy is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for her questions. First, to respond to the comments she made and the questions relating to the articles in the Business Post, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and I have a good working relationship. Officials of the two Departments engage on an ongoing basis. There is a health budget oversight group involving officials from both Departments that meets regularly...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: We are committed to tackling the general issue of costs in respect of access to healthcare. We will be extending the free general practitioner, GP, care eligibility to children aged six and seven years across this year. As I said, we have reduced the drugs payment scheme threshold and, recently, there have been reductions in the monthly prescription costs that individuals and families face....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: We do understand where people are at. The Deputy is right; talk is cheap. He talks about fuel poverty. Sinn Féin introduced an alternative budget last October that did not increase the fuel allowance by one cent.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: That is the truth.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy did that in October of last year. His party published its budget proposals in which there was not a single cent of an increase in the fuel allowance. This Government increased it by €5 on budget night in an unprecedented measure because we recognise the genuine difficulties that people are facing. The Deputy talks about the carbon tax. He is being duplicitous on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: His party is in favour of the carbon tax and is only ever against the next increase, and that is typical of the cynical politics that his party is pursuing.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: Perhaps Deputy Doherty might tell people where the €412 million I have ring-fenced this year for fuel poverty measures, for retrofitting and for agri-environmental schemes from carbon tax receipts will come from. It is not there.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising once again the very real issue of the cost-of-living pressures people are facing. The Government acknowledges that a lot of people are under real pressure because of the rising cost of living. We all know the reasons the cost of living is increasing. There are external international factors. There are also domestic factors, including the really strong...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (22 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: Funding raised by the National Lottery plays a very important role in supporting a range of good causes at national, regional and community level. In order to sustain this funding into the future I consider it important that there be robust and transparent processes for its allocation. Accordingly in 2021, I commissioned an external review of the process for allocation of lottery...