Results 421-440 of 1,015,190 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' speaker:Marian Harkin
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: This is a good news story for children. Some families might not have as much as others. At least they know their children are going in every day and getting a hot meal, which is a game-changer. All schools, but particularly primary schools, should provide these meals. Schools can now reapply. We need to contact all the schools in order that they know about this. The programme needs to...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)
Violet-Anne Wynne: The Minister was very good to ensure that all children in Ennis Community School received hot school meals for the entire year. It has worked really well. It is the amalgamation of three schools, one of which is DEIS. I am raising it to highlight it again with the Minister this morning so that she might consider extending that for a further year as it was a huge success. All the children...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)
Bernard Durkan: I congratulate the Minister on advancing the school meals programme. I ask the Minister about the efforts that continue to be made to ensure a balanced and nutritious diet is maintained in what are children's formative years.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)
Heather Humphreys: I say to Deputy Murnane O'Connor that the hot school meals programme is running in 31 schools in Carlow, covering 5,639 children. In response to Deputy Wynne, Ennis Community School was brought to my attention. I was obviously very conscious the amalgamation, involving some DEIS and some non-DEIS schools - that was the secondary school. We were able to provide that support and solution...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)
Bernard Durkan: I asked about the dietary balance.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)
Heather Humphreys: Regarding dietary standards, healthy eating guidelines are set out for the suppliers. They must meet certain standards and I would expect them to do that. There are intermittent inspections by my Department in different schools. It is up to the to the principal and teachers to make sure the appropriate food is coming in because it is being paid for.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (25 Apr 2024)
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (25 Apr 2024)
Catherine Connolly: We will take Priority Questions now.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)
Social Welfare Payments
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 1. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if, in light of her not proceeding further with the consultation on the Green Paper on disability payments, she intends to examine a cost-of-disability payment; and whether she intends to introduce different reforms to the disability payments. [18467/24]
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I apologise to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister for being late. I appreciate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle taking these questions now. I know Deputy Tully has a similar question, namely question No. 6. Many people welcomed the decision not to proceed further with the with consultation on the Green Paper and to walk away from the proposals examined in it. Questions now arise as to...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)
Heather Humphreys: I will deal with Deputy Tully's question later. I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for raising this matter. I am committed to addressing the cost of disability and improving outcomes for people with a disability. I announced a number of measures to support people with disabilities in budget 2024, including a €400 lump-sum payment in November, a Christmas bonus double payment in...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The question still arises as to what happens next. The Indecon cost of disability report rightly indicated that different people have different costs of disability and that people with higher costs relating to their disability should receive greater support. There were a number of problems with the Green Paper. One was that it conflated severity of disability with the higher cost of...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)
Heather Humphreys: One of the main findings of the cost of disability report was that there is a broad spectrum of disabilities. We all recognise that some people need more support than others. We all recognise that. There are some people with moderate disabilities who are able to work and some with profound disabilities who we know will never be able to work. That is the reality. The Cost of Disability...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2024)
Catherine Connolly: As there is still no one here for Priority Questions, I will go to Deputy Cannon's next question and then I will go to Deputy Murnane O'Connor. If those who tabled Priority Questions arrive, I will go back and take those questions.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Apr 2024)
Social Welfare Eligibility
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Apr 2024)
Ciarán Cannon: 12. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when people with epilepsy can apply for the free travel pass; if she will outline the process for applying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18168/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Apr 2024)
Ciarán Cannon: The Irish Epilepsy Association has consistently advocated for the provision of the free travel pass to people with epilepsy who have been deemed ineligible to drive. The Minister has responded very generously to that request and now proposes to make the free travel pass available to people with epilepsy. Will she outline the details of the scheme and particularly how the application process...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Apr 2024)
Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over 1 million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel for 2024 is €103.5 million. As part of budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to extend access to free...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)
School Meals Programme