Results 5,221-5,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure there are technical complications, but I am equally sure they can be overcome. The plan is to introduce the scheme in 2022. I hope it will be in the earlier part of the year but I cannot guarantee that today because some of the details are being worked out. As far as I am aware, it applies to everyone aged between 19 and 23, not just those in urban areas. I am sure it can be...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: There is a Government commitment to establish a citizens' convention on the appropriate model of local government for Dublin. It was supposed to be set up when the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality was finished. As the latter has now completed its work, I anticipate we will have the new convention set up quite soon. It will be very exciting to have that discussion about what local...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: If the Deputy wants to provide me with the details of those cases later today or before the end of the week and give me permission to make representations on behalf of the families, which I need, I would be happy to look into them, check out what the story is and see whether there is any way we can help. Certainly, I do not think we could possibly have either of those families ending up on...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy knows, the help-to-buy scheme, as it is currently constituted, is only for new-build properties, which include own-build homes, including in rural areas. It is designed to encourage the provision of more new builds that are affordable for first-time buyers. The suggestion has been made by the Deputy, as well as Deputy Griffin and others, that we should extend the scheme to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As she knows, the budget provides additional funding for more teachers, special needs assistants and special education teachers, as well as a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio. That money has been allocated but it does not necessarily mean schools will be able to find people who are appropriately qualified. If the Deputy passes the details of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I know this is a very important issue. It affects some of my constituents and some of the Deputy’s. I have read up on it but I have not had an up-to-date briefing for quite some time, so I am reluctant to answer the Deputy’s questions in full for fear of giving her misinformation. I will ensure that my office is in touch with the Minister, Deputy Stephen...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. We will all acknowledge that Epilim is a very effective medicine in controlling epilepsy but, of course, if anyone is pregnant, they need to be made aware of any risks when it comes to any medicine they may take and what risks may affect their child. It is always a difficulty when treating pregnant women that the medicine they often need to control their condition can...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I know this is a really important issue in Letterkenny and in Donegal. Deputy Doherty has raised it with me before, as have Deputy McHugh and the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. I welcome the publication today of a targeted assurance review of the governance arrangements for gynaecology services in Letterkenny University Hospital. The report provides an important...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The four-month target was set by the director general of the HSE at the time, but it does remain the target: four months to outpatients and then four months to surgery. I do not know exactly what the situation is with regard to theatre time or theatre staff, but I will find out and I will get a reply for the Deputy as soon as I can. Regarding the waiting lists, Children's Health Ireland...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Harkin raises a valid question on the ring-fencing of some of the carbon tax for green schemes and farmers, but I do not think it is the full picture in terms of the budget. What we agreed to when the Government was formed was that a proportion of the carbon tax would be ring-fenced for social welfare to increase the fuel allowance. We did that and we stand over it, but also that a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: A large portion of the carbon tax proceeds will go towards increasing the fuel allowance and a lot of people in rural Ireland will get that increase. In fact, they are getting it this week, and if not this week then next week. A lot of the retrofitting that is happening is in rural areas too. The same goes for the rewetting of bogs and so on. A very large amount of the money that is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle might allow me a little bit of extra time because my time was taken by Sinn Féin.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Where is Sinn Féin's empathy for private renters who want to buy? It would give them €1,000 tax credit per year-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: -----and take €20,000 off them-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the protection of the Chair. Where is Sinn Féin's empathy for private renters who want to buy? It would give them €1,000 tax credit per year-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Where is Sinn Féin's empathy for private renters who want to buy? It would give them a €1,000 tax credit per year and take €20,000 off them by abolishing the help-to-buy scheme. That scheme has helped more than 30,000 individuals and couples to buy their own home since it was established.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It will help tens of thousands more to buy a home and Sinn Féin would take that away. What have we done for renters in this budget?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The help-to-buy scheme has been continued. We are investing more in social housing, affordable housing-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: -----and cost rental housing, which will help private renters. As well as that, we have brought in a rent freeze in real terms, making sure rents cannot go up by more than the rate of inflation. We may modify that again to bring that figure down.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2021)

Leo Varadkar: On a point of order, the Deputy, who has demonstrated no empathy for people who want to buy their own home, has accused me of a lack of empathy. I can put up with that. He has also accused me of dishonesty. That is not okay. It is out of order and he should withdraw it.