Results 1-20 of 11,740 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (5 Mar 2025)

Niall Collins: 143. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any plans to push back the start date for low-emission slurry spreading (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10029/25]

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: My thanks to People Before Profit-Solidarity for tabling this motion on gender-based violence. I acknowledge also the emphatic contributions made by all speakers across the House. Like other speakers, I also want to acknowledge our visitors in the Gallery today and thank them for their input. As the Minister made clear earlier, the Government is not opposing this motion. We are all in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Coroner Service (26 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter The Department of Justice is committed to driving the modernisation of the coroner service in Ireland. There are many positive aspects to the current service. Foremost is the compassion of coroners and their staff when engaging with bereaved family members. A number of areas would benefit from being modernised. For this reform process...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (26 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: The overall HSE disability budget for 2025 has increased to €3.2 billion. That equates to an 11.6% increase over the previous year. This matter remains an extremely high priority for the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, for the Government and for senior leadership within the HSE. The HSE is supporting families of children while they are on waiting lists....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Coroner Service (26 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on a number of issues. The Coroner Service comprises a network of coroners in districts throughout the country and a coroner is an independent office holder. The Department of Justice has direct responsibility for providing financial and administrative support to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (26 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this important issue. The Government and the HSE are fully committed to enhancing services to better support children with disabilities in Ireland. The Progressing Disability Services Roadmap 2023-2026 focuses on the ongoing development of CDNTs to meet current and growing demand. A child does not require a diagnosis to access services. CDNTs provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Statutory Retirement Age (26 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: 120. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when employees of a company (details supplied) will not have to retire at 65 years and be allowed to remain in their current positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8273/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (26 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: 130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the assimilation of primary school caretakers similar to school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8283/25]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I will convey to the Minister for Finance the Deputy's request to be kept up to date. As I indicated in my opening remarks, there has been no change in the legislation, or Revenue's interpretation of same, relating to the benefit-in-kind charge that is applicable on employer-provided vehicles or the exemption relating to the pooling of cars or vans. However, the nature of this Topical...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I also congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his election. I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this important matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, who has engaged with the Revenue Commissioners on this matter. He has been informed by Revenue that there has been no change in the legislation nor in Revenue’s interpretation of the existing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Tully for raising this important matter. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. The Department of Education and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient mainstream special classes and special school places....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: In conclusion, it is a priority for this Government to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to all our schools to ensure the needs of children with special educational needs are met. It is important to remember that the vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank the Senator for raising this matter on a number of occasions and again today. The large-scale capital project for Rush National School is included in the Department of Education’s construction programme, which will be delivered under the national development plan as part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework. The project brief for Rush National School includes the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank the Senator for raising a project that is very important for her constituency. It is not acceptable to me or, I think, anybody else in Seanad Éireann or Dáil Éireann that this project should take so long. I will be communicating with the Department on foot of what I have heard here today. It beggars belief that so many projects in the Department's school building...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Policy (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Harmon for raising this important matter of leave of absence following assault for teachers and SNAs. Where a teacher or an SNA is injured as a result of physical contact from a third party causing physical injury in the course of their duties, and during approved school activities, they may apply for leave under the leave of absence following assault scheme. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Policy (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: There is an established and agreed process to amend all circulars. Once discussions have concluded with the education partners and the Department of public expenditure, we will amend the necessary circulars to reflect the required changes. The Department of Education developed new guidelines and published them on 12 December 2024. They are entitled "Understanding Behaviours of Concern...

Seanad: Community Safety: Statements (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank all the Senators for their input this evening. It was very interesting to listen to the contributions. All of us, being practising public representatives, citizens and people living in our own communities, have a vested interest in ensuring community safety is key and paramount. We need only look at the programme for Government for the next five years, which has been agreed to and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: 261. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will resolve a matter concerning the free travel pass (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7571/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: 304. To ask the Minister for Finance to examine the case of a person (details supplied); if he considers this to be acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7378/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Feb 2025)

Niall Collins: 706. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the measures under Budget 2023 to address the group of farmers known as "forgotten farmers" will be implemented; if the farmers affected were consulted in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7684/25]