Results 1-20 of 11,195 for speaker:Colm Burke

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: Blackpool suffered flooding damage in 2010, 2012 and 2013. It was agreed that a flood relief programme would be put in place. Environmental impact studies were carried out and presented by the Office of Public Works, OPW, to the Department of public expenditure. There was a judicial review in 2021, but the environmental impact study was left on someone's desk for 12 months in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: If the Minister of State is in Cork at any stage, he might come to my home parish of Inniscarra, which has 50 acres of sports grounds. The rugby club, the soccer club, the GAA club and the camogie club all have their own individual pitches, all of which were developed over the past 25 to 30 years. They are very well planned facilities and are all together in one area. We need to do that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount that was spent by his Department in supporting sports clubs and organisations in Cork in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22679/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: Will the Minister outline the amount spent by his Department in supporting sports clubs and organisations in Cork in 2024?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister and fully agree with him there was a huge amount of funding provided last year and over the past ten years. It is a huge initiative for sports organisations. I find that for every euro the sports organisations get in grants, they raise another €5 through voluntary effort. The facilities provided have been superb. An issue I want to focus on is large-scale...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State very much for his reply. What we need to do, however, is to set out a clear plan to try to get the waiting time back to ten weeks. At the moment, there appears to be no plan. There is a plan to recruit people but targets do not appear to have been set. This is extremely important. It will probably take three years, and a clear plan should be set out now for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 52. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting time for driving test appointments at test centres in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22681/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (8 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I had two people on to me this week. One person got their appointment for 22 December in Wilton, in Cork. The other person's appointment is for 5 January 2026. That is an outrageous period of time that people have to wait for a test. I have parents on to me. One parent's son has to be dropped to work at 4 o'clock in the day and his other parent has to collect him after midnight every...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: In rural and urban areas, support groups provide an important service, particularly for those living alone or who are elderly and need support. It is important that, in reviewing those supports, there is work done across the Departments of Health and Social Protection to ensure that those groups get support to help those who need care and assistance, be they in urban or rural areas. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I mentioned the growing population and people living longer, but there is the additional problem of people living alone, especially in rural areas. As the Minister will know, having come from a rural constituency, transport costs for someone living alone in a rural area is a matter we have not focused enough on and we need to look at. The cost of getting from A to B, be it ten miles, 15...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 97. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an examination of improvements to key ancillary benefits such as the fuel allowance, household benefits package and living alone allowance to support vulnerable groups has occurred as per the programme for Government; if not, when this examination is to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21297/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: I ask the Minister if an examination of improvements to key ancillary benefits, such as the fuel allowance, household benefits package and living alone allowance, to support vulnerable groups has occurred as part of the programme for Government. If not, when is this examination to occur? Will the Minister make a statement on the better?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: My concern in regard to carer's allowance is the fact that the population is aging. Thankfully, people are living longer. The last census showed 832,000 people aged over 65 living in the country. Within the next four years, that figure will reach 1 million. The cost of nursing home care is at least €1,100 per person per week. Regarding long-term planning for the carer's allowance,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 24. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update regarding the implementation of an appeals system for the power up scheme; when it is likely that businesses will be able to lodge appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21730/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 67. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date by his Department in respect of streamlining the employment permit application process, whereby a single application process for employment permits and entry visa applications would be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress that has been made in removing the means test for carer’s allowance; if a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Application Forms (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 285. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their jobseeker’s allowance application, given the application was submitted 12 weeks ago; if serious consideration will be given to granting this allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21991/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (1 May 2025)

Colm Burke: 286. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that consideration will be given to amending the rules surrounding pension entitlements so that women who had to leave work due to marriage could qualify for a pension in their own right regardless of their husband’s means (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21995/25]