Results 161-180 of 16,746 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 218, 219, 220 and 221 together. The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Under the School Meals...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Artificial Intelligence (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is currently examining the potential future use of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) technologies. This has involved active participation in several stakeholder groups, such as, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's working group on the implementation of EU AI Act. My Department follows the "Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223, 224 and 225 together. As part of the annual budgetary process, my Department engages with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to agree the level of expenditure required to carry out existing functions in the following year, prior to the introduction of any new Budget measures. This is referred...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Partial Capacity Benefit allows a person who is in receipt of Illness Benefit for 26 weeks, or Invalidity Pension to enter or return to employment or self-employment and to continue to receive a partial or full payment. The personal rate of payment of Partial Capacity Benefit is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction regarding their capacity for work, whether the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Foodbanks play an important role in many local communities in providing food to people who can't afford the food that they need. The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Food and Basic Material Assistance programme in Ireland is a continuation of the EU Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) programme. This supports EU countries’ actions to provide material assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. In addition to the means test, applicants must satisfy a number of eligibility conditions including living alone or only with other qualifying person(s). To assess entitlement, Deciding Officers must have sufficient...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Inquiries (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment for people who are providing full-time care to someone who needs significant support due to age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness. The main objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to carers whose ability to earn is substantially reduced because of their caring...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: As part of the annual budgetary process, my Department engages with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to agree the level of expenditure required to carry out existing functions in the following year, prior to the introduction of any new Budget measures. This is referred to as the "Existing Level of Service" (ELS). ELS funding...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Local Improvement Scheme or LIS is a key support to rural communities in improving non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. Since 2017, almost €184 million has been allocated to the Scheme. On 7th August last, I was delighted to announce €14 million in additional funding for the 2025 scheme. This brings the total amount...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Since 2020, funding of over €94 million has been approved for almost 1,300 projects nationwide. I was delighted to announce funding of €8.7 million...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Artificial Intelligence (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department follows the guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The NCSC guidance recommends that new AI technology should only be adopted based on a clearly defined business need following an appropriate risk assessment. My Department does not...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy, through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. It is a multi-annual programme, with allocations being linked to a programming period set at EU level, rather than an annual basis. The Programme is administered at local level by Local Action Groups (LAGs), ensuring a bottom up...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 370 together. The Local Improvement Scheme or LIS is a key support to rural communities in improving non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. The table below outlines the allocations which form the basis of the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for LIS in each of the years from 2020 to 2025. Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages. It has supported a range of projects in areas such as community facilities, remote working facilities, recreational facilities, public realm improvements, and projects to address the challenges of vacancy and dereliction. Expenditure on...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) is a major capital investment programme which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects that have the potential to revitalise rural towns and villages in line with the Town Centre First Policy. The scheme supports regeneration to drive greater economic activity and footfall; address vacancy and dereliction; ensure the reuse of heritage and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department's CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. It includes funding for community facilities and amenities, and also vehicles for community groups such as first responders, meals on wheels and those assisting people with reduced mobility or to accessing cancer care services....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Expenditure on projects approved for funding under the Scheme is managed on a multiannual basis. The table below outlines the allocations which form the basis of...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) was introduced in 2022 to support the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. Expenditure on projects approved for funding under the Fund is managed on a multiannual basis. The table below outlines the allocations which form the basis of the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for CCIF in each...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together. The Local Improvement Scheme or LIS is a key support to rural communities in improving non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. Since 2017,almost €184 million has been provided to local authorities under the Scheme. On 7th August last, I was delighted to announce €14...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is committed to supporting thriving communities across the country through a range of funding initiatives. Over the last three years, my Department has allocated in the region of €18.5 million in funding to County Laois. My Department’s funding programmes have delivered significant capital investment in County Laois, examples include:Over €3.3 million in...