Results 1,121-1,140 of 6,136 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Service Performance Report 2022: Department of Rural and Community Development (12 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am a member of the GAA all my life and I usually depend on context for my contributions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Service Performance Report 2022: Department of Rural and Community Development (12 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: You know how it is: football is a grand game for a bad hurler. I have two questions, although the first may not fall under the Department. I know there has been a long-standing commitment in terms of indemnity for landowners where people are enjoying the countryside, crossing farmland and so on. Will the Department give us an update on whether that is happening, if it comes under the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Service Performance Report 2022: Department of Rural and Community Development (12 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is worth looking at. The committee should talk to The Wheel and Pobal. I am familiar with this issue. I will declare an interest as I am a member of a board. I am certainly familiar with it from talking to community organisations. It is a challenge. It is not the space that it was once upon a time where a voluntary board just went away and did things. It is not like that anymore....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Service Performance Report 2022: Department of Rural and Community Development (12 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The press release on the Department's website states that the 14 small areas are within certain local authorities but it does not outline the actual areas. I would be grateful if that information could be sent to me.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (11 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 214. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered whether persons cohabiting with a partner for ten years or longer, but who are not married, should be in a position to avail of the more favourable inheritance tax rates currently available to spouses, children or formerly civil partners, particularly now that civil partnership is no longer available. [34310/23]

Education (Inclusion of Persons) Bill 2023: First Stage (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Teachta Andrews as an obair atá déanta aige sa phíosa reachtaíochta seo mar is é a rinne formhór na hoibre uirthi. Is píosa reachtaíochta luachmhar atá inti. I commend Deputy Andrews. While I was happy to assist him with several elements, the bulk of the work was conducted by him and his office in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Eligibility (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will comment on the fact that recipients of partial capacity benefit have recently been told that they will no longer be entitled to their living alone allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33416/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Eligibility (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: When dealing with a previous question, we spoke about the fact that people who have disabilities are at much greater risk of poverty. Right now, the Minister's Department has taken the living alone allowance off people on partial capacity benefit. That is absolutely appalling. It is not a very great number of people and not a very great amount of money but, for those people, the decision...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Eligibility (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: It will be impossible for me ever to establish whether this was an oversight or whether the Department is now backtracking.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Eligibility (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am very sure that this did not come to the Minister's desk because it was an administrative decision. I will give the Minister the example I was going to give anyway. A gentleman in my constituency, who is probably not watching this debate, has given me permission to outline the facts of his case, although not to name him. He is sitting at home and believes he is down €66.20 a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Eligibility (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I very much accept that Department officials are hard-working and sincere people who administer millions upon millions of claims. It is not my view that there are any issues with regard to people's bona fides but I do believe that a review such as this would have had to involve a meeting and a discussion. I have to accept the Minister's word up to a point. Will the Minister tell us how...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Code (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the Minister. There are acceptance issues concerning the justice recommendations in respect of the agency, but that is outside the Minister's remit. I welcome that the Department has accepted the recommendations concerning the social protection system. The Minister has stated – it is my understanding also – that she is not including child maintenance in the means test...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Code (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the proposed legislation on child maintenance system changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33415/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Code (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I wish to ask the Minister for Social Protection about the recommendations from the child maintenance review group. This is an area that has long been in urgent need of reform. The challenges that lone parents face, the fact they have to fight this battle on their own, very often, and the fact that their income from maintenance has been taken into account for means has created a lot of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 103. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the consultation process as part of her Department’s work on addressing the cost of disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33414/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The issue of the cost of disability is much discussed at present. It is a concept that is being increasingly developed. In March, the Minister, in response to a parliamentary question, stated the work on the straw man was at an advanced stage and widescale public consultation was planned. In May, the situation was similar. Where are things at in this regard? How does the Minister intend...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the Minister. She provided a bit more insight there. Perhaps she can provide more as we proceed. There is no doubt but that the challenges faced by people with disabilities are enormous. The survey on income and living conditions includes a category of people who are unable to work due to long-standing health problems. This cohort substantially consists of disabled people. One...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I take the Minister's point in general and philosophical terms regarding targeted compared with universal supports but very few people on disability payments are on very high incomes. Given the current thresholds for the disability allowance, there are many people on modest incomes who benefit little or not at all. That needs to be examined separate from the cost of disability piece. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 158. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on a State pension solution for long-term family carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33194/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (6 Jul 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will ensure that households that have accumulated significant debts, including arrears on bills and on prepayment meters, have access to sufficient support to avoid a long-term legacy of indebtedness and reduced financial resilience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33193/23]