Results 1-20 of 3,729 for speaker:Mark Ward

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I want to raise the issue of an email I received from my local authority last week regarding an email from the Department of housing saying that the local authority was not to proceed with 73 social homes and a community building under PPP bundle 3 at a site in Ardrew in my hometown of Athy. My understanding is that in this case the preferred bidder was selected as long ago as last October....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I first attended St. Kevin's 37 years ago and these prefabs were in situ when I went to school. It is a school in an extremely disadvantaged area, but one that often punches above its weight. In fact, the Taoiseach visited the school last year to see the award-winning DEIS Connect programme. I wonder whether he knew there were kids in 50-year-old prefabs out the back. As I said, I used...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: Okay.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: It has been completed. I am again going to press to see when these prefabs are going to be replaced. Will it be in the next six months, next year or the year after?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the application from a school to replace their 50-year-old prefabs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30986/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I am asking for an update on the application from St. Kevin's Community College in Clondalkin to replace their 50-year-old prefabs. These prefabs are old. They are not fit for purpose. They are not a good learning environment for pupils or a good working environment for teachers. I have health and safety concerns that I have reported to the appropriate authorities. When will these...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I am a former pupil of St. Kevin's Community College and have been working with the school for a long time - not just since 2024 - to get these prefabs replaced. The school and I have been receiving some contrasting information from the Department in the last months. In April, a communication referred to when the school had appointed a design team and the site presenting technical...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 34. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans for recruitment of air traffic control staff at Baldonnel Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30989/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the Department's decision to not provide school transport for students of a school to their temporary location (details supplied), to outline the alternative options available to families for transport to the temporary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30985/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (12 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 494. To ask the Minister for Health if HIQA has the ability to prosecute entities under its remit who act outside of regulations in a nursing home setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31343/25]

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I would have been all over this Bill had it been brought before the House last year, when I was still the spokesperson on mental health. I will ask a question and I presume it is in this Bill because it is about involuntary admissions and the lacuna as regards the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act. If the Minister of State remembers correctly, there was a lacuna between that Act and...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: For too long, members of An Garda Síochána have been the gatekeepers for mental health services. When I speak to gardaí in my constituency, which I do on a regular basis, one of the issues they raise is when people arrive at the station under mental duress and they try to help them. A psychiatrist will sometimes come out to a Garda station and may or may not make a decision...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I appreciate the work that has been done by the Minister of State and the HSE in reducing the number of young people who have been admitted into adult psychiatric facilities under her tenure. It is acknowledged and it has worked but, as she knows, I always say that we should set the bar high. Let us aim for zero because that is what we should be aiming for. I am not questioning the...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: It was ruled out of order for the money rule. I find that really disappointing. My concern is that because it has happened in the past, it could happen again. I appreciate that the Minister of State has done an awful lot of work on it over the last while. I wonder what safeguards we could have in place. If there is no appropriate facility where a child can access the appropriate mental...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: The Minister of State and I have had many debates over the years on mental health and dual diagnosis. The very first legislation I introduced here in 2021 was the Health (Amendment) (Dual Diagnosis: No Wrong Door) Bill. I introduced it because working in mental health and addiction services I saw the real need for that. I understand 100% why Deputy Clarke is looking to have this enshrined...

Housing: Statements (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: As we speak, there are 83 vacant homes in my area of South Dublin County Council, five of which have been empty for more than a year. Each one of those homes should have a family living in it. It is disgusting that adults are stuck living in their parents' back bedrooms while the house next door is boarded up. Young people are boarding planes to Australia when they could be starting...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Disability Services (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: At the weekend, I attended the Equality in Education protest in Dublin. The parents I met had a simple message. They want fairness and equality for their children with disabilities in education. No child should be left behind. Every child should get the support they need so they can grow, learn and flourish. Every child should be given every opportunity to reach their full potential....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Disability Services (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 18. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will next meet. [30180/25]

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Policing Matters: An Garda Síochána (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: It was mentioned in the opening statement that there was a new policy being developed on community policing. Would this issue be in the new policy? We need to see something in writing.

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Policing Matters: An Garda Síochána (10 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: It was also mentioned in the opening statement the benefits of a new operating model, but the GRA stated at its annual conference that this would single-handedly remove community policing. How do the witnesses marry up these contrasting positions?