Results 17,681-17,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: In 2018 additional resources will be provided for respite care. It is of enormous importance that family carers in particular are able to take a break and avail of respite. Even though the carers' support grant has been fully restored, many people cannot avail of respite because of the difficulties in supplying it in many parts of the State. Obviously, if that funding is increased it will...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I am sorry but I do not have any information on that particular school but I will ask the Minister for Health to contact the Deputy directly.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The drafters are currently working on the new Irish language Act but we do not at present have a date for publication.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The commitment was to open six Garda stations in urban and rural areas as part of a pilot scheme to see whether the reopening of the stations has an impact on crime levels in those areas. However, the Government is not going to make a decision on which ones are opened and which are not.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: That is an operational matter for the Garda authorities and the Commissioner.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I do not believe any legislation is promised in this area but I will mention the matter to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and ask him to contact the Deputy directly in respect of it.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: Currently, 68% of children referred to CAMHS are seen within 12 weeks and cases that are assessed by CAMHS professionals as being urgent are seen as a matter of priority over those that are assessed as being routine.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: If the question is a local issue and not one relating to promised legislation, I suggest-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: If it is a national issue, I am happy to give the national answer. If, however, I am interrupted with a local issue, I do not see how I can answer that.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The Government is very committed to improving the services that we provide to people with mental health difficulties, with a particular focus on reducing the number of people who very sadly take their lives. Since 2012, for example, the year after my party came to office, the budget for mental health was increased by €140 million. This year, funding for mental health will increase...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The fundamental difference, of course, between people who work for section 38 bodies and section 39 bodies is that people who work for section 38 bodies are public servants. They are employees of something that is recognised as a public body, whereas people who work for section 39 organisations are not employees of the State, but employees of NGOs, charities, religious orders and sometimes...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: Those NGOs, charities and companies are funded by a block grant and it is up to that body to pay its staff and provide the services out of the total grant it is given. We certainly will not stand over any body - a charity or an NGO - that has had its budget increased, cutting back on services. If that happens they will be called out over it.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, spoke about this on the radio this morning. I am not sure if the Deputy had a chance to listen to his comprehensive interview. He indicated that the report is now in the Office of the Attorney General because, obviously, the Attorney General has to review it and potentially redact it before it can be published. Therefore there is not date for publication...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I do not have any information on that individual case and I do not have access to individual patient information, nor should I really. If the Deputy wants to pass on details to me or the Minister, Deputy Harris, I will make the necessary inquiries.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: Motions are the opinions and view of the House, as voted by the House, but, obviously, are not legislation. There are 67 firms operating in this market, which is very competitive. The Deputies will be aware that some people in some parts of the country are having their bins collected at very low prices, paying an annual charge which may be below cost, which is not sustainable. In the...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: ---- exited that market.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: In response to Deputy Curran, the Government is taking a number of measures, as I mentioned earlier. One of the mitigation measures being put in place is a €75 grant to people who have a long-term illness that necessitates them producing additional waste, particularly incontinence pads etc. There will be a public information campaign in place. Officers have already been appointed...
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is quite right to say that people can get Lyme disease in Ireland. Indeed people can get tick bites in our national parks and contract Lyme disease as a result. There is now a Lyme disease awareness week. That started in 2013 and is led by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC. That is designed to draw public and media attention to Lyme disease, how to prevent...
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I assure the Deputy that the Government is advised by the Chief Medical Officer on issues such as this because none of us are medical experts. As even those of us who have degrees in medicine are not experts in all of these fields, we rely on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer when it comes to issues such as this. We absolutely acknowledge Lyme disease. That is why there was a Lyme...
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2017)
Leo Varadkar: First, and as I have mentioned, roughly 50% of households in the State already pay for their waste collection by systems such as this, so I do not think that people should be panicked and fearful. I am sure that if people are panicked and fearful, Sinn Féin will not try to exploit that panic and fear.