Results 1-20 of 981 for at speaker:Dessie Ellis

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (2 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a bheith anseo. Scoil Chiaráin was founded in 1970 and educates boys and girls of primary and post-primary age with mild to moderate special needs. Scoil Chiaráin helps them to develop socially and educationally within a stimulating, friendly environment. Every child, particularly those with special needs, should be given whatever supports...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (2 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: ...unique, special school covering the north side of Dublin. It has been more than ten years since the school was surveyed and deemed not fit for purpose. The planning permission was granted in 2021. What the Deputy outlined is going to take us to 2026 and beyond, from what I understand. That is unacceptable. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Government, signed up to the UNCRPD for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (1 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the witnesses from PAS, SOLAS and the WRC for their input. In 2022 the European Commission reported that Ireland had the highest disability gap in the EU at 39%. In 2023 that increased to 42%. The EU average is supposed to be around 24%. We are not meeting our targets. I do not know what the figure is for this year and whether the gap has got even worse. We do not seem to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (1 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Yet but it was aimed at the PAS.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Mr. Jones and Ms Ellis for their opening statements. It is interesting to see how the Garda and the court system is dealing with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and its implementation. It is very important. Ms Denning said that 7% of the workforce in the Courts Service have declared themselves as having disabilities. That is well below the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: It is the time factor relating to when the person arrives at or is brought to the station. In some cases, it can be an hour or two hours and the person has come down from the psychosis. I have experienced this on a number of occasions. People were let out when they should not have been but it happens.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the witnesses for the introduction. Most of what I experience comes from my constituents telling me what problems they face. I know that some of the problems we face involve people getting on buses and wheelchair spaces being taken up. I know that most buses have one wheelchair place and some have two. What are the plans to improve the process? The drivers have made it clear they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: The Northside Partnership was mentioned. At one stage, we did not cover a lot of areas. We did not cover Santry, for instance, and now we have expanded into those and other areas, which I think was absolutely necessary. We have a better picture of things now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Role of Disabled Persons Organisations and Self Advocacy in Providing Equal Opportunities under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Implementation: Discussion (8 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank everyone who came here today. We have heard from various different people involved in disability services. It is mind-boggling when you listen to all the different areas that have been addressed. We know that about 20% of the population have some form of disability. That is a huge number of people. I thank Ellen, Jean, Gary, Claire and Derek for their input. A number of things...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Yes, for housing adaptations. Is there a plan? The Minister of State said work on a review is at an advanced stage and that he will bring forward regulations to govern the scheme. I would like to hear more about what that means for housing adaptation grants, including those for older people. The Minister of State will be aware that some local authorities implement the grants well and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I am talking about council properties specifically. There are some complexes where two units have been turned into one. Are there any further plans in that regard? Many people spend a great deal of time in these places, and it is not really a good environment for them. I hope the Minister of State will give me an idea as to whether anything is being done about that. In the context of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Dessie Ellis: ...local authorities. If people have a very good case and want to put in an extra room, there is general opposition and they are told it is not necessary. The standard has been set so high that it is quite worrying when you look at some of the cases that I have seen. The standard is being set far too high. I know of cases where people with three children with disabilities have been...

Child and Youth Mental Health: Statements (29 Feb 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Statistics provided to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs in 2019 showed that one third of young people were struggling with mental health issues on an ongoing basis. My constituency of Dublin North-West is an area that reflects the dysfunction in the provision of mental health services, with a lack of proper resourcing and severe underfunding. Since 2019, when it...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2024)

Dessie Ellis: ...form payments are delayed, often up to two months, putting many of these preschools in jeopardy with regard to their ability to offer a valuable service to the community. The Minister for Education and her Department need to look at the way the current service agreements are implemented, with a view to overhauling them and making them fit for purpose. Will the Tánaiste ensure that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Safeguarding: Safeguarding Ireland (21 Feb 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Mr. Cavanagh for his input. As I listened to him speaking about the huge gaps, and when I looked at those gaps, it occurred to me that there are a lot of areas in question and there is a lot to do, whether that is through legislation, the HSE or An Garda Síochána. He said that abuse, exploitation and neglect of adults are happening on a daily basis and that is fairly...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Hospital Waiting Lists (30 Jan 2024)

Dessie Ellis: 560. To ask the Minister for Health the number of outpatient appointments before cancellations at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh, in tabular form. [4164/24]

Housing and Homeless Prevention: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Jan 2024)

Dessie Ellis: The homeless figures released before Christmas showed a shocking increase in both adult and child homelessness. They showed that there is no respite in the growing number of people becoming homeless. The reality is these figures do not reflect the true number of those who are in homelessness. These figures do not tell us how many people are couch surfing or how many rough sleepers there...

Investment Funds Trading in the Residential Property Market: Motion [Private Members] (17 Jan 2024)

Dessie Ellis: The latest housing scandal involves the bulk purchase of 85% of houses in Belcamp Manor. This is just another example of what is both an unacceptable practice and a kick in the teeth to those struggling to buy their own homes. The most recent homelessness figures show a record level of homelessness, with 13,500 people having been made homeless, over 4,000 of them children. Renters are...

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Dessie Ellis: The attack on schoolchildren and a member of staff in Parnell Square last Thursday was a horrific event. My thoughts are with the injured children and the member of staff who was injured while protecting the children. I commend those who prevented a much greater tragedy from occurring and thank the Garda and emergency services for preventing greater destruction in our city. This terrible...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Article 23 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank everyone for their input. I have read the different reports and the first thing that occurs to me is that many people who have disabilities are unaware of their rights, which is a big problem. Disabled parents are more at risk of losing custody of their children than anyone else, with removal rates as high as 80% in some cases. What barriers do people with disabilities who are...