Results 101-120 of 5,527 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I echo the expressions of condolence to the family and community of John Bruton. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. I also echo the Minister's comments about the staff of her Department, particularly those on the front line. I was listening in on the meeting but I missed the administration head. I have one question in that regard. On the working age payments-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: For most of the payments, if not all, the processing times are close to target and they are paid in four to eight weeks or perhaps a little longer sometimes. It is increasingly my experience that there are delays. The social welfare appeals office is obviously an independent office that is funded through the Department but the timescale for those appeals can be considerable. Is the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Briefly, sometimes when people are asked for additional information, they were not asked for it in the first place. The appeals office comes back to them looking for information for which they were not asked in the first place and they are then asked to provide it. I say that as a point of information.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Sometimes, yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is true sometimes but sometimes it is-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is precisely the point and I put-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I accept that. To some extent, I see it as a minor bit of progress in that the Minister is not saying there is any policy objection from the Department to examine that. That is positive because there has been a firm resistance in the past to examining that. It was a recession era change. The message that people, particularly the organisations, have got is that it is immovable. If the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am not sure if it is miscellaneous or the working age payments. The point on payments follows on from the point made by Deputy Ó Cuív about payments made to those from Ukraine. I seek clarity from the Minister. In the Dáil last week, when debating one of my amendments, she raised the possibility that one of my amendments might prevent the reduction of payments to people...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I would consider it a matter of fact that the amendment would not have prevented that. I consider it an objective fact. Leaving aside the amendment for a moment, the question remains: what is happening? We have one year and three months until the directive expires. What is the Department's plan? What will the proposed approach towards those claimants be in one year and three months?

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that the 220 and 220X bus service in Ballincollig, Cork is experiencing significant delays, with buses only turning up every 90 minutes regularly on what is supposed to be a 15 minute interval service at peak times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5175/24]

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I should clarify; I made an error there. There is a cliff edge at age 12 as well but it is the cliff edge at seven that I was actually thinking of. When they move from the one-parent family payment to the transitional payment, they can no longer claim working family payment with that. Those 5,000 people will lose their working family payment when they move on to the transitional payment.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have three quick questions. I once again flag the fact that people on the working family payment do not get fuel allowance. It is a peculiar sort of exclusion. Is that something the Department has discussed? People on the working family payment are typically those who have relatively low incomes. I will also flag an issue that is not the Department's responsibility but it might be able...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Will it be in quarter 4?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I will also say that it was a useful and positive intervention in the budget. I acknowledge that. Some members of this committee recommended it and it will make a significant difference. One final point occurred to me there, and this is a slightly unusual one. I do not totally understand the logic of it myself. I refer to the Christmas and the spring bonus for the illness benefit. It...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I wish to clarify a point. The Town Centre First policy is a joint policy between the Department of Rural and Community and Development and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I want to understand which funding is provided by the Minister's Department and which is provided by the Department of housing.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: School Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the application process will open for the Safe Routes to Schools Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4698/24]

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: May I finish my point briefly?

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: To respond to Deputy Murphy, we do not agree with the 90-day provision. I have pointed out the issue with incentives and the challenges they could create. Another consideration is that people in places like the east coast, Cork and so on will not be able to find accommodation and could end up on the streets. It is wrong that this might happen to people who are fleeing their home country...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 14 and 15.

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I did not get an answer to my question as to what in my amendments constrains future action. We might consider this issue further in the Seanad. I just do not accept it is the case. Sometimes, bald statements are made but I am not sure there is anything to substantiate this one. As I outlined, there are currently three tiers of provision. First is the direct provision system that has been...