Results 1,601-1,620 of 3,611 for speaker:Mark Ward

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2022 (Supplementary)
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised) (12 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I do not feel intimidated now either. I apologise because I did not think I would make it to the meeting. I am watching Dáil proceedings because I am due to speak there shortly. More than anything else I want to acknowledge the work the Department has done in response to the Ukrainian crisis. It is unprecedented. We could not have planned for this situation last year before it...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2022 (Supplementary)
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised) (12 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: During the summer recess - a part of the year when we all have a bit more time on our hands - we in Dublin Mid-West decided to write to all 60 schools in the constituency. We received responses from 20 of them and have met with the management in all those cases. There is a wide range of issues in schools, as the Minister knows, but I was reminded while he was speaking of one of the issues...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2022 (Supplementary)
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised) (12 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: The Government made the important commitment to end direct provision and the situation in Ukraine and other world crises impact that. One of the biggest direct provision centres is in my area in Clondalkin. It is there a long time and the families are part of our community at this stage. They play on the local football team and go to school with my kids and other children in the area. ...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2022 (Supplementary)
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised) (12 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I would appreciate that. I have one last issue to raise. Can the Minister open the intercultural centre in Clondalkin for me? I spoke to that employee. In fairness, I spoke South Dublin County Partnership and it indicated that it looks like it will be opening the door soon. If the Minister’s Department can put any pressure to have it open, that would very welcome as well.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2022 (Supplementary)
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised) (12 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: If one of the Minister’s staff members could send me on the contact details of that staff member in the DRHE, that would be very welcome. I just had a couple of people on to me in the past couple of days who are in direct provision and are struggling to find a way out. I do not know if they have had that support. When I asked them, they had not got it.

Disability Services: Motion [Private Members] (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I want to start by talking about the cost of disability. Enormous extra expenses are faced by people with disabilities that are not covered by social welfare payments. Not all people with disabilities are on social welfare. Many people with disabilities work. People with disabilities are often at a higher risk of poverty. I can testify, as a person and a worker with a disability who...

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: The cost-of-living crisis is one of the main issues raised in my constituency office every day. The rising cost of energy and the fear that people will not be able to keep the lights on should be a priority for Government. I acknowledge the measures in the Bill in respect of the energy credits to be given over the coming months but my constituents are telling me that, despite these...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: 249. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a national scheme to register custom-built electrical trikes for road worthiness as in the case of a person (details supplied); if clarity will be given in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50138/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: 427. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the junior certificate results will be released; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50089/22]

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I thank the representatives for their opening statement. It was very good to read the report. I have worked in homeless services in the past. I have also been homeless and I know of the challenges that are faced. I was homeless as an adult and not as a young person, so I can only imagine how difficult it is for young people. Youth homelessness has always been a major issue. Often, the...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: It is a perfect storm at the moment.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I have witnessed it. I am interested in the Galway project. If something is working, we do not have to reinvent the wheel. How does Ms Feeney see that being rolled out for a bigger population, such as Dublin? We have four local authorities in Dublin. Would she start with one smaller local authority or one area and work it out that way? What is her thinking on that?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: Does Galway Simon Community have a high staff turnover or does it have-----

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: -----the same people? That is very important. Staff who are in place a long time are able to build up that trust and relationship with young people.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: That is important. We will have Tusla in later. One of the criticisms we often get about Tusla relates to the high turnover of staff which means that young people must tell their story over and over again and are retraumatised. There is a lesson there. If staff can be looked after and retained, that builds up a relationship with young people so they can move on to the next stage of their...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I apologise for being in and out of the meeting. I have not yet managed the ability to bilocate and I was speaking during debates in the Dáil Chamber. I read the opening statements before I came in. I have also listened to what I could of the meeting. One area I wish to focus on especially is that of the challenges encountered in accessing mental health supports by young people who...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I have another question. Mr. Gloster touched on the alignment of services, which is really important. Sláintecare recommends that CAMHS should be extended to young people right up to the age of 25 to stop that kind of cliff-edge scenario about which I spoke. In that context, will Tusla ever be in a position to extend that aftercare service to young people up to the age of 25 to have...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: That is welcome. I attended a conference last week in Denmark on youth mental health. One of the recommendations in Tusla's report is with regard to a pilot programme to explore new models on international best practice. What areas of best practice are out there at the moment that Mr. Gloster thinks would help? I heard numerous ideas at the conference I attended that I was able to bring...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I look forward to that. I thank the witnesses very much.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Mark Ward: I thank Ms O'Hara.