Results 281-300 of 1,057,839 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:Steven Matthews OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Paul Kehoe OR speaker:Pa Daly OR speaker:Willie O'Dea OR speaker:Ciarán Cannon OR speaker:Ivana Bacik OR speaker:Holly Cairns OR speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett OR speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn) in 'Committee meetings'

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Pa Daly: It is very frustrating for newly qualified speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who have taken unpaid placements and attended interviews in Athlone at their own expense to still be in limbo, having been offered jobs during the summer but not having had a chance to take them up. A three-card trick has been played by the Government in announcing the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Anne Rabbitte: It is important to begin by saying disabilities never had an embargo on recruiting OTs, physios, speech and language or for any form of therapy. Funding going from the Department to the HSE will be centrally allocated to each of the RHOs, which have sole responsibility for apportioning it according to the needs within their structure. If interviews have been done, I have no doubt the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: My question is similar. I want to speak about the CDNT in Carlow. Carlow has a population of more than 60,000 but in the CDNT there is one nurse manager, one dietitian, two physiotherapists, two social workers, one nurse, 1.7 SLTs and no occupational therapists. In excess of 100 children in Carlow are awaiting speech and language therapy and 170 waiting for OT. The Minister of State knows...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for raising a similar issue to the previous contributor. It is important to reiterate there was never an embargo on recruitment in disabilities. In CDNT teams, we have 700 vacant posts which are fully funded and there is a continuous recruitment campaign under way. Regarding adult multidisciplinary teams, we have in the budget, for the first time ever, a pathway to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Frank Feighan: Recently, we have heard very worrying revelations involving the Sinn Féin Party and its knowledge of serious and disturbing child sexual abuse crimes. We now know this party, which operates across the Border from Dublin, knew somebody under investigation for serious crimes involving children was moved from working for the party to working for a charity where the person had access to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I fully support the Deputy's call for the Leader of the Opposition to make a statement on recent claims concerning individuals in her party, particularly where it has become clear that child safety was not paramount and children were potentially put at further risk because of the actions and decisions of that party. It is essential child safety is to the fore of everything we do. I support...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Neasa Hourigan: We have heard questions from previous Deputies on the issue of people with disabilities, and this is related to that. One of the main reasons some of us got involved in politics was to ensure people with disabilities are safer, feel safer and are protected in their everyday environment. For Dublin, that means walking down the street safely. We are in the middle of implementing BusConnects...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I will have to come back to the Deputy on that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Yesterday marked two years since the Creeslough tragedy that shocked and devastated the community of Creeslough, the entire county of Donegal and the nation. I do not think anyone in the country will forget hearing that day of the tragic event that claimed ten lives and affected the lives of so many in Donegal. Its impact is still felt in Creeslough today. Shockingly, two years on the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I acknowledge the week that is in it and the time that has passed since that national tragedy. I am clear, as I think we all are, that families must get answers as to what happened to their loved ones and that we must ensure this never happens to any family again. As the Deputy will be aware, there is a Garda investigation under way. I have been assured by the Garda Commissioner that a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

John Brady: Wicklow is synonymous with TV and film production, with Ardmore and Ashford film studios continuing to invest in the county and bring more opportunities. The planned Greystones media campus affords a strategic opportunity to create additional meaningful, well-paid jobs in Wicklow, meet industry demands and help grow the sector. Both the Government and the taxpayer are stakeholders in this...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is extremely important we learn from the mistakes of the past and that we learn from the past, whether it is the banking crisis or any other issue. There are times when certain information cannot be put in the public domain, and while I am not clear why that decision has been taken, I have no doubt the Minister can explain or provide information on why those decisions have been taken. We...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Government is deceiving the public about the reference to addressing the crises in our health service. It claimed there was no recruitment embargo. Last week, health workers from all health unions were protesting about the pay and numbers strategy, an effective embargo which means we have unsafe staffing levels in our hospitals. In my own area, we had a meeting with many workers and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: We have provided significant investment since 2020, with more than €56 million allocated specifically to the HSE for the implementation of the safe nurse staffing framework. This is on a phased basis nationally. Our health service has been funded again this year to expand its overall numbers but also to do so next year. However, it is important the HSE operates within its budget...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Seán Canney: I raise the issue of housing aid for older people and the mobility and housing adaption grants. I welcome the announcement by the Ministers that they will increase the income thresholds and the level of funding available to local authorities to provide additional money for the works that need to be carried out. The grants will increase by 30% and I believe the income threshold will increase...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I think we all agree how important the adaptation grants are and how beneficial they are to so many people. The increase in thresholds and the changes are to make sure more people can avail of these vital supports. I cannot give the Deputy an answer on his request regarding the timelines but I can raise it directly with the Minister and ask him to get back to the Deputy about it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Mattie McGrath: We are all acutely aware of the shortage of GPs in Ireland and especially in rural Ireland, but the shortage of dentists and the few remaining in the medical card scheme is very frightening and scary. In some places, people have to travel three counties to get a dentist under the scheme. Remuneration has not been reorganised or reviewed in four decades. I salute dentists like Daniel...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I fully agree. It is absolutely essential we have the appropriate number of dentists to be able to provide a vital service to people, children and adults alike. The figures I just mentioned about a 23% increase of staff overall for our health service includes 9,300 nurses and midwives, 4,000 health and social care but also 3,300 doctors and dentists, so funding has been provided to increase...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: I raise once again the issue of the reinstatement of the 9% VAT rate on the food part of the hospitality sector. I know a decision has been taken in the budget but the finance Bill can still be amended. I am asking the Government to consider this. My own experience in Sligo-Leitrim shows very clearly that small, indigenous Irish-owned cafés and restaurants, many with a local or unique...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I think we all agree and know that so often our small businesses, our coffee shops or cafés, are what makes Ireland a wonderful place to visit but also for people to live. You do not get in many other countries that kind of service or the kinds of cafés and shops we have. This Government is absolutely committed to supporting them and making sure not only that those businesses are...