Results 10,001-10,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy may ask how there can be a reduction in the schools capital budget and projects continue. I will explain how this comes about. The budget in 2016, when this Government took office, was €530 million. It was increased to €532 million in 2017. It was increased to €547 million in 2018. It was increased to €622 million in 2019 and it will be €620...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We are doing exactly what Deputy Mattie McGrath suggests. We are making sure that there are more gardaí on the beat on our streets. That is why 700 more gardaí will be recruited in 2020. It is why civilianisation is happening. The process of civilianisation means that gardaí are being taken out of office and administration jobs and are being put back on the front line....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----in order to ensure that there are fewer chiefs, fewer gardaí in offices and more sergeants and inspectors on the ground in communities, less bureaucracy and duplication at Garda senior level and more decisions being made at local level.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is why I ask the Deputy to get behind these reforms, which are exactly what will deliver what he wants, namely, more gardaí on the streets. That is where we want to see them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Certainly, everyone in government is keen to facilitate and assist the parties in re-establishing the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Julian Smith and the Tánaiste have been working on that for weeks and months. Indeed, as recently as last night, the Tánaiste was in Stormont and he briefed me on the state of play this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Eamon Ryan is correct in his assessment that the talks will not end this week - or even this month - with an agreement. It is merely the end of the current phase of Brexit. What will happen, if we have an agreement this week or this month, is that we will then begin discussions on the future economic relationship and the future security relationship - the free trade agreement that we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Again, I do not want to comment on individual cases when I do not have the detailed information about them. Next year, spending on mental health will increase by €39 million, bringing it to in excess of €1 billion for the first time. It is new money. It is €13 million for new developments.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is €13 million for new developments and €26 million for pay increases and staff pay. That is new money. It is good that we pay our staff in mental health services more. That is how we can recruit and retain them. I am sorry that Sinn Féin seems to disregard the fact that we are providing money for more staff and to pay them more. We will not improve mental health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s policy is to be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. Part of being tough on crime is providing more resources for gardaí as well as ensuring the Garda Síochána is reformed in order that those resources turn into actual gardaí on the street and on the ground for people to see them. This is what all the reforms are about. It is about...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Much like yesterday, the Deputy is trying to misrepresent and mischaracterise my response in order to score political points and make himself look good.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is exactly true and it is disappointing.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Cope Foundation does fabulous work which we support and respect. It received a 26% budget increase in the past three years under this Government and will receive a further increase next year, as we have set aside €2 billion for disability services in 2020. The other truth is that when Deputy Micheál Martin was in government, his party cut the budget for disability services...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is no friend of people with disabilities. Fianna Fáil's record on disability is appalling. It cut services and the disability allowance.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We have increased the budget for services to a record high and restored the disability allowance. The Deputy should be ashamed of his record on disability and should not be so self-righteous in this House.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Fianna Fáil cut the disability allowance. It should be ashamed of how it treated people with disabilities.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Fianna Fáil hammered people with disabilities when it was in government.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry to hear the story the Deputy recounted to the Chamber a few moments ago. On the wider issue, the Government has prioritised mental health and taken it very seriously in recent years. There has been a major increase in resources for mental health. Since 2012, the budget for mental health services has increased by 44%. I doubt one could find such a large increase in mental health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is a very significant investment in mental health services. We are seeing progress in some areas. The Deputy will be aware that the rate of suicide in Ireland has fallen by about 30% in recent years. Of course, any suicide is one too many, but we all welcome the fact that suicide rates in Ireland are dropping. It also reminds us that there is more to do. The Minister of State,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Last week, a 24-hour mental health helpline was established for the first time. People often do not know how to access the 1,000 or so different mental health services out of hours, whether in the evening, at nighttime or on weekends. That helpline, which is based in the National Ambulance Service, is making a real difference. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Cope Foundation is a voluntary organisation that provides a comprehensive range of services to approximately 2,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities on behalf of the HSE under section 38 of the Health Act. Services include early intervention, schooling, training, adult day services, supported employment, housing,...