Results 121-140 of 1,068,353 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:James Browne) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Okay. While the Government indicated that, in recognition of this issue, we did not oppose the legislation, we indicated our significant concern that we believed it would be difficult to legislate for the behaviour the Deputy has referred to and the harm it could cause. I know we need to debate this issue and consider it more carefully. I cannot imagine how any of us would feel if we were...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paul McAuliffe: I raise the issue of lengthy waiting times for oncology services in the Mater. This issue was brought to my attention by a constituent of mine called Maura, who was referred by her GP in early February for an urgent ten-day appointment with BreastCheck. Unfortunately, it was May when she received a letter, and she was told there was a five-month waiting list for an urgent ten-day...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, it is. I thank the Deputy for raising it. He and I are aware of the great work the Mater hospital does, how much it is respected and how hard its staff work. I also know how important and sensitive the issue he is raising is. I understand that, last year, approximately 60,000 women were seen in a rapid access clinic. The HSE, in recognition of this issue, has set a target for 95% of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Funding for further education and training has been cut by approximately €40 million. In my own area under the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, the funding cut is in the region of €14 million. That is very significant and will have an impact on apprenticeships and further education courses. They will be delayed, postponed or cancelled. We have also been...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Funding for apprenticeships is increasing. Funding for higher and further education has increased as well. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, is committed to this. He is doing important work in this area. We have seen in recent years the funding we are making available has been prioritised particularly for those who need to retrain and want to move into parts of our economy where we need...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy O'Shea for raising this important issue. I know the local improvement scheme is really important for the communities he represents and the many other communities that need additional support in upgrading their roads. Since 2017, €169 million has been invested in this scheme. Last year, the figure stood at €40 million, which represented an increase of €12...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin: The Arklow to Shillelagh greenway project, which is of great important for tourism on the east coast and in south Wicklow and north Wexford, is still stuck at phase 2. There has been no update since 2023 so two years have passed without visible progress. It will be an absolutely tremendous asset for the area, providing scenic walking and cycling routes through the beautiful valleys of south...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy knows I do not have the information. He knows it is not reasonable to expect me to know the status of every greenway in this country when answering questions on promised legislation. If he wanted an answer, he should have let me know he was going to raise this particular issue. I then could have given him a more detailed answer. It is not acceptable to expect that, when I am on...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin: Even next week would be grand.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: Planning regulations stipulate that new housing developments of up to 75 units must provide a childcare facility with up to 20 places. We are in a childcare crisis and this is simply not working in small, medium and large towns. In my own town of Westport, we recently saw separate developments of 50, 48 and 20 units, a total of 118 units, but no new childcare facility. There is a new...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As we build more homes, which we need to do, it is really important that we do so in a way that makes services and facilities available for those who will live within them, including families. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Foley, will be giving this matter consideration. I will raise the issue with her and let her know the Deputy has made this...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Erin McGreehan: Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda is one of the busiest hospitals in the country. It has serious capacity issues. The base bed numbers do not match the need. The accident and emergency department is regularly at capacity, requiring the hospital to enable surge capacity. This has knock-on effects such as outpatient appointments being cancelled. That is not to mention people on...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the issues the Deputy has referred to, which affect not only the people of Louth, but also those of the wider north east, as the Deputy has said. The location of surgical hubs depends on the evaluation and recommendation of the HSE. The Minister and the Department of Health then do their best to act on such recommendations. I am not aware whether such a recommendation has...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I have a question the Minister should be fairly familiar with. Many parents and families have contacted me in the past few days wondering how they are going to pay their children's student fees and rent. People are beginning to see through this Government. The reason it decided to put a halt to the promises made to students and not to include a cost-of-living package in this year's budget...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. I will outline what we are doing to support people with the cost of living, which we know continues to be a significant issue and problem for many, even when the price growth we have had to deal with for many years is slowing. What has the Government done to respond to the needs we know are there? We are rolling out the free hot school meals system and making free GP...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paul Murphy: As the Minister will know, there is a two-tier system in place in respect of homeless HAP. Those who entered the scheme after July 2022 are able to access a higher rate than those who entered before that time. This has resulted in an unjust situation where people are faced with the prospect of renewed homelessness in order to be able to access the higher rate. I will give an example from...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The very reason the higher rate of HAP was made available in the first place was that the Minister and the Government recognised the need for that payment to do more, to help more and to make a difference in preventing homelessness. I am not aware of the exact issue that could prevent somebody from accessing the higher rate. Of course, the last thing we want to do when designing something...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

John McGuinness: I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, the Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia, Mr. Orhan Murtezani, and the special adviser for foreign policy and EU affairs, Ms Elena Presilska. I hope they enjoy the proceedings and their time in Leinster House.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Sinéad Gibney: I also welcome our distinguished guests. I wish to express the sympathies and condolences of the Social Democrats to the families in Donegal and of Brother Kevin. The official death toll in Gaza has now exceeded 57,000 people but we all know that the reality is much worse because tens of thousands of people are missing, presumed dead under rubble. As the Israeli Government ramps up its...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy who is, of course, raising such a serious issue regarding what is happening in the Middle East and what is happening to the people of Gaza. I have outlined the Government's view on it and what we are doing to make a difference. I am not in a position and nor do I have the necessary information in front of me today to offer a view on the actions of other parliaments or...