Results 161-180 of 1,228 for speaker:Albert Dolan

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Fáiltím roimh an gcruinniú seo inniu. Tá fáilte roimh gach éinne agus tá súil agam go mbeimid in ann comhrá iontach a bheith againn. I thank the witnesses for being here. I hope they are keeping well. I want to frame the conversation around the importance of the role played by Tusla. It has been broadly acknowledged...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: I appreciate that. That provides clarity. Tusla's financial system changed. I want to turn to public versus private care settings. In my constituency of Galway East, we have a significant number of foster care homes. These people and the work they do are amazing. The relationships they build with these young people and the way they care for them is to be commended. What is the weekly...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: Residential.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: It is €420,000 per year. Is that just under €10,000 a week?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: It is just under €10,000 a week. How much do a foster care family get paid per week?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: That aligns to what I expected. I do not understand why we are paying a pittance to foster care families and we are then going and paying over €9,000 a week to a private residential setting. Can Mr. Smyth explain how that has come about and why we are doing it?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: Okay. Is there a much larger wraparound service in a private residential setting?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: Does Ms Duggan think Tusla would get more foster carers if the weekly payment was higher?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: I would assume it is one of the main contributing factors, in respect of whether people can afford to provide this care. That is a big question for anybody contemplating going into foster caring, because it is not something to take on lightly and the costs are a big consideration. I have met many foster carers. There is a huge amount of additionality in what they have to spend day in, day...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: Okay. I just want to move on to non-compliant public procurement. It amounts to approximately €5 million.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: Tusla is aware of it. The C and AG has highlighted it. If the procurement has been non-compliant this year, then it has probably been non-compliant for a few years. Can Tusla give a commitment that when it comes back to the committee next year or in the next 18 months, there will be no non-compliant public procurement?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: How does Tusla enter into a contract that is non-compliant? Who signs off on that?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: I am just conscious that this time next year, if it was possible to have no non-compliant procurement, that would be welcome. On expenditure for 2024, 18% of the budget went to community, voluntary and charitable organisations. How much money was that?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: Okay. No, that is fine. I am very tight for time. A total of €8.9 million was spent with the Peter McVerry Trust. We are well aware from all the media reports the significant woes it has been suffering. Is Tusla satisfied the money that was given to the Peter McVerry Trust was spent appropriately?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: I just have one last question.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: I just want to make sure that Tusla is satisfied that money was well spent.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: A HIQA inspection for February through to May 2024 found in ten service areas at least 25% of children had no allocated social worker. Has that situation improved in the past year?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2024: Tusla - the Child and Family Agency (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: I thank Mr. Hone and everyone from Tusla. I appreciate it.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: 69. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for an update on the roll-out of high-speed fibre broadband to communities across the Galway East constituency; and the expected timeline for full coverage in the area. [52333/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Oct 2025)

Albert Dolan: 130. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the current status of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe; and to outline the measures being taken to ensure the long-term sustainability and safety of maternity care for families in this facility. [52335/25]