Results 1,141-1,160 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the issues raised by Deputies Boyd Barrett and Ó Murchú, I have not seen the petition from the actors but I have read about it in the news. As the Deputies pointed out, a lot of taxpayers' money goes into the film and audiovisual sector, sometimes through grants and sometimes through Screen Ireland, often through tax incentives. With that in mind, it is only right that people...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Barry asked about the Cork event centre. I do not have an update. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, gave me a verbal update on it recently and I promise to get back to him when I have a chance to find out more about the project. I think it is a very good project and will be really great for the city of Cork and the wider region. Of course, it is embarrassing that it has not recommenced...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 20, inclusive, together. In December, I announced my intention to set up a child poverty unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. I am happy to confirm that the child poverty and well-being programme office is now fully operational and on 1 August, published its initial work programme for the next two and a half years, From Poverty to Potential: A...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Paul Murphy raised the issue of the pollution of the River Poddle. I do not know the facts or the details but I will make sure that my office makes further inquiries about it. Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of the retrofitting of homes. I am told by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that the programme is going well and that we...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 11, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination generally meets in advance of Government meetings. It last met on 25 September 2023. It is scheduled to meet again tomorrow. The committee reviews the agenda of Government meetings; discusses political priorities; and reviews the activity of Cabinet committees. I am a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: If we look across the country there are problems with recruitment and retention in the public sector and the private sector, in big companies and small, and in well paid areas and in poorly paid areas. That is a feature of the fact that we do not just have full employment in Ireland we are now beyond full employment and there are many more vacancies than there are people with the skills to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. On 6 July, along with the Tánaiste and the Minister the Environment, Climate and Communications, I convened an energy summit at Government Buildings. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment also took part, along with speakers from the International Energy Agency and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am not familiar with that particular service but it sounds like a very valuable one. The Minister and the Government will have regard to such considerations when it comes to any budgetary decisions. However, decisions of that nature will not necessarily be made next Tuesday. Once Ministers have their allocations, they will want to develop their service plans on foot of that provision.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We are acting on that. We have increased the number of GP training places considerably, with up to 300 new trainees coming through this year. We have increased the rural practice allowance for rural practices and appointed more practice nurses. We are making it easier for GPs from overseas to take up positions in our health service. There is a particular problem with single-handed...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I very much agree with the Deputy's sentiment. Work of that nature is under way. Targeting small areas of population that are in the greatest need can produce good results. We have seen some results in the north-east inner city. It is not a case of one size fits all but there is an approach like that happening in Drogheda at the moment, and the Cherry Orchard-Ballyfermot area is also...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Students will not be forgotten in the budget next week. In the previous budget, we increased the SUSI grant and made it available to more people. We reduced student contribution fees, provided the rent credit to students and increased funding for student accommodation. Hundreds of additional beds are now being provided every year on our university and third level campuses. While I cannot...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: An Bord Pleanála is not working the way it should be. There is no denying that. Its 2022 annual report was approved by the Cabinet today. It showed that fewer than 50% - only about 45%, in fact - of appeals were adjudicated within the statutory timeframe.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Whether the figure is 27% or 45%, it is bad. I am not going to argue with that. What are we doing about it? A full complement of board members has now been appointed and the board has sanction for 300 additional staff. We know more staff are needed. Today, we published the Planning and Development Bill 2023, which will make the deadlines for decision statutory. It will no longer be the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: This year, more than 149,000 children were transported to school every day, at primary and secondary levels, throughout the country. This is an increase of 12%. Fees have been reduced considerably by the Government. I am advised that the review of the school transport scheme is nearing completion. The review is being conducted to ensure it serves students and their families adequately....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to double-check but my understanding is that an agreement was reached recently on increased pay and improved terms and conditions for people who work in home care. I hope that will make a difference. The other area where we have made a change is in work permits. We are allowing people to come here from outside Europe to work in home care, which had not been permitted in the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Justice and I are very aware that communities all over the country, in urban and rural areas and in Dublin, Limerick and elsewhere, are affected by crime and need a decent police service. The Garda Commissioner has confirmed to the Minister for Justice that there are no plans to move any Garda members formerly appointed to specialist units as part of the reintroduction of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Child poverty and well-being will certainly be a theme in the budget when it is announced on Tuesday. If we go back to 2013 and the aftermath of the great recession, approximately 13% of children experienced consistent poverty, the worst form of poverty. That had fallen to approximately 5% by 2021. It has gone up again slightly because of the cost-of-living crisis. We are determined to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The decision on the moratorium with regard to energy is made by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and not by the Government, as the Deputy may know. This will be a budget for the 5 million people who live in the State. It will include an income tax and USC package, which will reward work and ensure that more people get to keep more of the money they earn. There will be a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. Under Housing for All, each Department and agency, including the HSE, was requested to examine its existing portfolio of properties and to place them on the market if they were not suitable for their purposes and may be suitable for conversion to residential accommodation. 3 o’clock My Department chairs the State lands and property subgroup, which reports to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised that engagement is taking place regarding section 39 and section 56 agencies. All of us on all sides of the House are very conscious of the vital services those bodies provide. The issue can only be solved, and it can be solved and the strike avoided, through engagement over the next two weeks. Regarding time being provided, I spoke to the Chief Whip. It is possible,...