Results 81-100 of 549 for speaker:Grace Boland

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average journey time travelling from Balbriggan/Skerries/Rush/Lusk if the current BusConnects proposal is implemented, factoring in wait times for connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32892/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 27. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether Dublin Bus drivers have been consulted for their views on the proposed BusConnects plan for bus route 33; if so, what their view is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32894/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 28. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the expansion of bus services to and from Dublin Airport; what is included in the proposed expansion of bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32895/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 29. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the improvement of infrastructure for designated bus stops at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32896/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 81. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps taken to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month, to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32101/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: Ireland's best asset is our hard-working men and women. It is crucial that we fund childcare as an essential infrastructure. I know this is something we have talked about many times before. The Minister might give us an update on what she has done to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month and what she plans to do to make sure we achieve it over the lifetime of the Government.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I very much welcome the work that has been done to date. As I stated, I hope we deliver the reduction in childcare of the lifetime of this Government, as it is essential. I also highlighted with the Minister that it is not just the cost that is an issue for many parents who are trying to access childcare; it is also the access to childcare. As she is aware, I live in the youngest area...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: The Building Blocks scheme was welcome, but the eligibility criteria are limited and many private providers could not apply for it. The Minister might consider reopening the scheme and widening the eligibility criteria to enable private providers to apply. There are very few public childcare providers in Dublin Fingal West. I would love to see that being prioritised for delivery in the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: Child poverty in Ireland is reaching crisis levels. The Children's Rights Alliance annual report revealed a staggering rise in the number of children living in consistent poverty. We must ensure families have the financial support they need to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. I very much welcome the Taoiseach's comments yesterday in which he stated that nothing is off...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: 99. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made in expanding access to childcare, on foot of the finding in research commissioned by her Department, which shows almost two out of every three respondents faced a restriction on hours of work or study due to childcare challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32102/25]

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I welcome the Minister and thank her very much for coming in. I really look forward to working with her. The two areas we really need to make progress on in order to achieve equality are childcare and the equalisation of statutory leave for both parents. On childcare, I represent Dublin Fingal West, which is one of the youngest areas in the country. The Minister has heard this several...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I really appreciate that and I welcome the Minister's comments, particularly around the planning guidelines and a strategic focus. In terms of the building blocks capital programme, while it was great to see, it was a very small amount. I know the Minister is doing her best and the previous Minister was doing his best but €25 million was not enough. There were only six weeks to...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: That was my point about the eligibility. Part of it was that was only applicable to public providers but in my area, it is nearly all private providers. We do not have public providers so we were not doing anything to support existing providers. The funding was not fully drawn down. Only €23.2 million has been provided for and €25 million was not a lot to start with so we...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I know that but it was not even fully allocated. I got a response to a parliamentary question telling me that only €23.2 million has been allocated. That should have been fully allocated. We need to look at that again and make absolutely sure that everything we have is fully allocated.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I really appreciate that. I will now turn to equality legislation. I am a lawyer and have worked in this space a lot. The Equality Acts are completely inaccessible and very difficult to navigate. They are difficult to navigate for a lawyer, someone who has worked in this space for a long time. People who try to use the Equality Acts generally are referred to the WRC where they do not get...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: Is that general scheme for codification or is it a separate Bill?

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: I welcome that but it is going to be yet another Act in a hotchpotch patchwork of legislation, which is not appropriate for the space we are in.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: Barely a day goes by when I am not told how lucky I am to have such a supportive husband and it is true. I am very lucky to have a very supportive husband, who does a great job, but our marriage is a partnership. I do not believe many of my male colleagues get the same commentary. The cultural biases regarding fathers as parents really need to change. The CSO and ESRI data show that the...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: It is very welcome.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Grace Boland: And a public campaign on awareness.