Results 121-140 of 619 for speaker:John Connolly

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: The programme for Government also makes a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment, with a view to incrementally increasing it over the lifetime of the Government's term. Is this part of the current considerations in terms of the review of the disability payment?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: I wish to ask the Minister about the commitment in the programme for Government to examine the anomalies in the means test for disability payments. Have we progressed that work?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: I understand the Department is currently reviewing means testing across all of our schemes. Has that job of work progressed? When might we expect its completion? I refer in particular to the means test for the disability allowance. One issue is that a slight increase in household income can lead to a substantial decrease in the allowance paid to disabled members of society. That is one...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: One issue that pertains to this was brought to my attention last week. It pertains to a number of schools in the Connemara region. Unfortunately, due to the upgrading of guidelines over the summer preventing food from being heated or cooked on site, a number of operators are no longer providing a service to these schools, which has resulted in the loss of the service for the children and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: 92. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of active participants in the fish assist scheme in each county, in tabular form; to consider an increase in the rate of payment under the fish assist scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50828/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: What is the number of participants in the fish assist scheme? How many are there per county? Could we get that information? In light of budget 2026, will the Minister look at the scheme to see if it could be made more attractive for more participants?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: I thank the Minister. It is quite a low number of participants considering we are an island nation. Fishing has been a traditional means of earning a living and sustaining some vibrancy in coastal communities in this country for centuries. The number the Minister has given us as regards people availing of this scheme is an indicator of the number of people involved in the industry in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: I again ask the Minister to look at that low threshold for seaweed harvesters. The income threshold for seaweed harvesters who might wish to also participate in the fish assist scheme is very low. It has not changed since the mid-nineties. It is €1,270. Taking inflation over the years into account, we could look at increasing that figure. The equivalent figure today might be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: I received an email to tell me that my local institution, the ATU, has been rated the number 1 university in Ireland and number 3 in the world for marine pollution research. I congratulate Mr. McGarvey and everyone involved. I share the generally positive commentary engaged in by all members about the impact the sector has had on education, society and life in the country. I wish the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: I thank Ms Kelly for the presentation, as well as Mr. Joyce and Mr. Stokes for coming in. I have a couple of questions that primarily concern the programme, although one or two may be more general questions. Are there particular trades that are in higher demand among members of the Traveller community in terms of the apprenticeships they would like to undertake? Another question I have...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: Has Ms Kelly seen that challenge stop people from concluding the programme? Has the challenge of discrimination and commentary in the workplace caused anybody who has entered the programme to drop out before they have completed it successfully? Is there a drop-out rate?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: They successfully complete the programme.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: That is great.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: What is the educational attainment of the participants? Have they completed secondary school?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: Have the witnesses got evaluations back from employers?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: Will the evaluation be completed soon?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: In light of the discussion about the evaluation report and the suggestion that we produce our own report, the major opportunity I see presenting itself - there might be widespread awareness of this already - is the current review of the national apprenticeship strategy towards a new development from 2026 to 2030. We should suggest that this programme be included in the new strategy and moved...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: Is it the case that there are more employers willing in Limerick than in Cork?

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: 35. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of critical skills employment permits approved in 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50838/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (25 Sep 2025)

John Connolly: 51. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for the number of general employment permits approved in 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50839/25]