Results 621-640 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Levels (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I will ask the Minister to respond directly to the Deputy's invitation to go on a walkabout. Crime and drug dealing in the city centre have not been peculiar to the term of this Administration. The centre of our capital city is important not only to those who live there but also to the many who work, shop and enjoy their leisure time there. It is also of importance from a tourism...

Topical Issue Debate: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I note the Deputy's concerns and reiterate that the Department of Social Protection is actively engaging with lone parents who are affected by the ongoing reforms. Lone parents who are on jobseeker's payments can access the full range of employment, educational and training supports available to improve their skill set and move towards sustainable employment. The positive impact of this...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Levels (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who regrets very sincerely that she cannot be present for the debate this afternoon. The Minister wishes to thank the Deputy for raising this matter for debate today. I think everyone in the House can appreciate the particular difficulty and distress caused to...

Topical Issue Debate: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and affording me an opportunity, on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, to provide the Dáil with a response. The jobseeker's allowance, JA, transitional arrangement was introduced in June 2013 in order to support lone parents with young children affected by the age reforms. Customers who have a youngest...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Aois Intofachta chun Oifig an Uachtaráin) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Tairgim: "Go léifear an Bille an Dara hUair anois." I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". The Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015 provides for the amendment of Article 12 of the Constitution. It provides for the age at which a citizen becomes eligible for election to the office of President to be reduced from...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 187 together. The funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014, were subject to an appraisal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department sanctioned funding of €207,558 to the project in question on 12 March 2015. Further details are available on my Department's website on

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Recruitment (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions, including the Dog Warden service, of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. Therefore, the matter raised in relation to the employment of dog wardens is a matter for each Chief Executive.

Water Charges: Motion [Private Members] (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I never campaigned against water charges.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am taking this Commencement matter for the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly. Under section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has certain investigatory powers in regard to the review of the performance by planning authorities of their functions under the Act.These powers are,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: If I understand the Senator correctly what is at issue is not the decision on the planning application but the pre-planning process. Pre-planning meetings are often open to interpretation in that while one person says one thing, another person hears something else.I have dealt with some planning applications and put a lot of store in pre-planning meetings. I would always advise people to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Area Enhancement Scheme (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising such an important scheme, of which I am a huge supporter. I thank him for providing me with the opportunity to address the House on the success of the public area enhancement scheme. As the Senator is aware, in March of last year the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announced that a sum of approximately €3 million would...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Area Enhancement Scheme (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I have some additional information which may be of benefit to the Senator. I will give it to him before I leave the Chamber.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this very serious matter. I would point out, as he has done, that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, is directly responsible for the social housing strategy. This gives me an opportunity to congratulate the Minister, with whom I work closely, on the determination with which he is pursuing the social housing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank Senator Whelan. I am taking this Commencement debate on behalf of the Minister. Senator Whelan raises an important issue. Given my role as Minister of State with responsibly for rural affairs, I can see why there are grave concerns in rural parts of Ireland where these situations may arise. The HSE is committed to the provision of high-quality general practitioner services through...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I assure the Senator that I will certainly take his case on board. I understand from my work in the rural affairs brief that the family GP is the very fabric of rural life. We will take this very important issue on board and we will refer it to the Minister for deliberation. I thank Senator Whelan.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Yes, it is very difficult.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department continues to administer the Walks Scheme, which was launched in 2008 on the recommendation of Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council). This Scheme provides for landholders to be key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails, by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on the trails in line with agreed work plans. The Walks Scheme is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 842, 843, 873, 905 and 923 to 925, inclusive, together. The funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014, were...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 868, 884 and 900 together. Under the EU regulatory framework governing the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, each EU Member State must conduct an open and transparent process to select both the Local Development Strategies and the Local Action Group for each sub-regional area. Accordingly, my Department is conducting a two stage...