Results 13,221-13,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Following the review conducted by the Secretary General earlier in the year, it was agreed that the Department should go with a reformed Government Information Service, GIS, model, with a smaller budget, fewer staff and a more limited remit. Accordingly, the budget has been reduced by 50%. The staff numbers have been reduced by four. In...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am. The chronic lack of investment in our infrastructure for six or seven years - possibly longer than that - occurred for a reason. It occurred as a consequence of the appalling mismanagement of Ireland's economy in the period before 2008-09. Because the economy is back on track, we have been able to invest in infrastructure again over the past two years. Project Ireland 2040 provides...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As is always the case with major capital investment, there is a lag time in delivery. Even when new carriages are ordered, it can take two to three years for them to come.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I apologise if I misunderstood the Deputy's question but I think it refers to pension funds that involve companies. The State has no role in increasing occupational pensions paid by companies.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising that question. The Minster of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Michael D'Arcy, is doing a lot of work to bring down the cost of insurance for people and business. I understand that legislation is going through the House. I do not have an exact date but I will check it out and get back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am not. Perhaps raising the issue with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, would be the best way to get a comprehensive answer.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The budget has been decided. A resolution was passed by this House and that measure will be in the Finance Bill. I would not like to meet any group which thought for a second that such a meeting might lead to us unwinding the budget. We will not do so. The Deputy may be aware that the betting tax used to be much higher and was reduced on the premise-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----that that would save all the small betting shops.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It did not and the number thereof declined anyway, largely because of online betting-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----and takeovers by large multiples.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The 1% increase will raise €55 million, which will cover the cost of our increased investment in mental health.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: This is a very important issue for those awaiting necessary services in County Cork. The best way for the Deputy to get a comprehensive response would be to raise it as a Topical Issue with the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly inform the Minister, Deputy McHugh, that the Deputy has raised this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have any information to hand about any individual school projects but I will certainly inform the Minister, Deputy McHugh, that the Deputy has raised the issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We allocated an extra €10 million for respite last year, which has allowed us to establish a new respite house in each community healthcare organisation area. They may not all be up and running yet but I know are lot of them are and where they are up and running they have made a difference in providing additional respite, something that is so valuable to carers, gives them an...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: One of the good things about new Ministers is that they can look at things afresh. Anybody coming into a Department should do exactly that. Education is one of the areas in which we have seen enormous improvements in the past several years, whether it is new subjects such as computer science or physical education for the leaving certificate, whether it is the introduction of new subjects...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of the upgrade and was there myself only last week. I would be misleading the House if I were to profess myself to be an expert on any individual road project happening in the State. The best thing for Deputies to do would be to raise it as a Topical Issue matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have that information to hand but I will ask that the Deputy be provided with a reply in writing.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Rural and Community Development has a €1 billion fund to be used for investments and for improving our towns and villages in rural areas with a population of less than 10,000. It is open to community groups, people in Tipperary town and the local authority to apply for funding from that fund.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We hope to be able to make the first allocations in November and December. When towns do well and flourish, it is often as a result of bottom-up initiatives. If they have not done so, I encourage community groups, businesses and the local authority to apply to that €1 billion fund, if they have not done so already.