Results 17,041-17,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is public consultation under way - the Deputy is one of the people who led on this and helped to instigate it - on moving to a whole new system of home care, something similar to the fair deal scheme. We are keen to progress that as soon as possible.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is no legislation but the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, announced a few weeks ago at the housing summit at the Customs House a policy change to do exactly as outlined. Instead of purchasing houses, local authorities have been asked to build them. Eight hundred houses that were to be purchased next year will now be built by local authorities instead. That is not to say the local...

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is very aware of the importance of the post office network around the country and the value that people attach to it in their communities. It is important to point out the number of post offices closed between 2002 and 2011 during the last Fianna Fáil Government was 700. However, in the past five or six years, notwithstanding the economic downturn, the number of post...

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The word around the campfire in the HSE is always that the cupboard is bare yet the facts say otherwise. We have the biggest health budget in the history of the State.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We have the biggest health budget in the history of the State and it will rise again next year. It will not be long before we are in the top two or three in the world in terms of spending per capita. We need to move the debate on from how much money we spend to how it is being spent and what difference it is making for patients. We have a couple of hundred more consultants now than there...

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----but given what the session is, a question like that would be best asked to the Minister for Health as a parliamentary question rather than-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand this relates to a dispute over the introduction of new rosters in Bus Éireann. As it is an industrial relations matter it is of course a matter to be handled between the unions and the company.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Bill was approved by Cabinet this week, so it will come before the House and will be enacted, or it is intended it will be enacted, through both Houses before the end of the year, as it has to be. As the Deputy mentioned health insurance, I certainly welcome the news this morning that VHI, the biggest health insurance company, is going to reduce its premiums across a number of plans....

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, will announce changes to some of the planning regulations within the next ten days. The Deputy will also be aware of Deputy Barry Cowen's Bill which is before the House and which the Government is supporting which has been designed to make it easier for people to bring vacant units into residential use. The Deputy will also be pleased to know...

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know the reason for the delay in the particular project. I will ask the Minster, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to contact the Deputy about the matter. On the provision and funding of social housing, someone suggested we use the term "public housing" which I agree would be a better term than social housing. We have gone from the construction of only a few hundred units two years ago to...

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The figure will increase to 3,500 next year. The number of planning permissions has increased by 49% year on year. The number of commencement notices has increased by 47%, while the number of active residential sites in Dublin has increased by 18%.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know about the project mentioned, but I will ask the Minister to correspond with the Deputy on the matter.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: This refers to the pyrite and mica issue. The matter is being dealt with by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. It has not yet come before the Cabinet, but we will give the people affected an answer when we have one.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure legislation is required in this area. I would have to check that with the Minister for Health. I understand we use some biosimilars but I will ask the Minister for Health to contact the Deputy directly.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is funding for waiting list initiatives this year. There is €15 million provided for the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF. Precisely how that is allocated to different procedures is a matter for the HSE and the Minister for Health.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is no timeframe for it. It is very much a long-term project. In the meantime local authorities will continue to manage the electoral register and the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPOC, will continue to carry out its role.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is indeed a programme for Government commitment to advance a town and village renewal scheme. Deputy McLoughlin may be interested to know that the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, and the Ministers of State, Deputies Moran and Kyne, are in Longford announcing €21 million in funding for towns and villages, including 14 projects in County Sligo, including...

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----Rosses Point, Gurteen, Easky, Coolaney, Carraroe, Carney-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----Bunnanadden, Banada, Ballymote, Ballygawley, Ballisodare and Achonry-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will. The Deputy will be aware that Tusla was established in 2014 as a dedicated child protection agency. Its budget for this year is €713 million, a 5% increase on its budget for last year. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katherine Zappone, is absolutely committed to ensuring and improving child protection in Ireland. The One in Four report states Tusla was...