Results 1,121-1,140 of 9,537 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I agree with the Deputy about the huge amount of work that front-line staff do across our hospital system. I commend them on the work they do in difficult circumstances. The Government’s investment in healthcare is achieving outcomes. There is faster access to services, with numbers of people on trolleys in the first eight months of the year down by 11%, for example. That...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I acknowledge the difficulties many families face when it comes to accessing therapies, supports and assessments of need in communities across the country. This is something I see in my constituency office. I know all of us collectively share the priority in trying to advance progress when it comes to people with additional needs and disabilities. The Deputy referenced what the Minister...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As I said in my previous answer, this year's budget is a record €3.2 billion, which is an increase of 11.6% on 2024. That has been set out to me by the Department involved. What this will result in is further progress on many of the initiatives established by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. In the first half of this year, regarding the waiting lists initiative, there has...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Minister, Deputy Foley, announced details of an unprecedented education budget of €11.8 billion. Part of the €9 million which has been allocated for new mobile phone pouches to support schools is to implement a policy which is about mental health, well-being and the dignity of children. Deputy Doherty should never play politics when it comes to the mental health of young...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: -----or of children in schools in our communities.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The investment in children's welfare, mental health and dignity at school is never a waste of money. If this helps one young person in a school who has had difficulties, for example, with the use of mobile phones in schools, is it not a progressive and practical initiative to help support young people and their learning in schools? This policy is underpinned by clear evidence...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: That is the purpose of this investment. If you take it in the context of our wider investment in education through this budget, we are investing €2.9 billion in special education, we are extending the provision of free schoolbooks to all students in the senior cycle and a €75 million increase to capitation funding. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has secured that but she is also...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: -----by the enormous damage caused by smartphone use during the day? This will make an impact and a difference. We should never play politics when it comes to the investment in our young people and in initiatives that will help their mental health and well-being. That is what is at the centre of this initiative that the Minister, Deputy Foley, has sought to do.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Again, Sinn Féin's populist politics is driven by anger, with a shallow attack on an initiative that will make a difference. This is part of a wider well-being and mental health policy in schools. If Deputy Doherty looked at all the international research from the UN and others, this makes a difference when it is being introduced.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Smartphone bans in schools have an impact on young people's mental health.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As I said previously, an investment in children's welfare, in their mental health and well-being in schools is not a waste of money.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is beside me. She has secured record funding over the last five years - a 43% increase in funding for our mental health services across the country. We are supporting the improved recruitment within our mental health services in community health organisations across our country. Complementing this initiative is an unprecedented investment in our health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Sinn Féin is a party that looks to spend day in day out. In all budgetary positions outlined in the pre-budget submissions, it is a party policy defined by more spending on everything.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: In fact, that is Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission on all issues.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: It is high spending. This is a policy to protect children, to protect their mental health and well-being in schools. It is disappointing to see Sinn Féin attack an initiative that will make a difference.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Prize Bonds (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) have informed me that the reports are not publicly available. Each report produced by Insight Statistical Consulting confirms satisfaction with the validity of the draw process and that results are consistent with what would be expected from a truly random number generation system. The reports are submitted to, and reviewed by, the NTMA on a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Rent Tax Credit (RTC), as provided for in section 473B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA 1997), was introduced by the Finance Act 2022 and may be claimed in respect of qualifying rent paid in 2022 and subsequent years to end-2025. The credit may be claimed, subject to a number of conditions, broadly in the following three circumstances: 1. where the claimant makes a qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Yield (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I am advised by Revenue that traders are not required to identify the VAT yield generated from the supply of specific goods or services on their periodic VAT returns. As such, Revenue does not have any data from which to provide an estimate of VAT receipts in relation to the provision of sports streaming services.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I am advised by Revenue that, based on the information currently held on their records, the couple concerned are in receipt of their appropriate tax credit and rate band entitlements for the 2024 tax period. I am further advised that while a change in circumstances was notified to Revenue, the record cannot be updated until requested supporting documentation has been submitted. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Correspondence (2 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: HomeBond is one of the providers of latent defect insurance, also known as structural defect insurance (SDI). This type of insurance offers a 10-year warranty that covers major structural defects in new buildings after construction. The object of SDI is to provide cover for a stated length of time in respect of the repair of major structural defects in new homes. Regarding Government...