Results 481-500 of 1,027,347 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Joe O'Reilly OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Mairead Farrell: Will the Minister of State update us on his progress in addressing the current challenges in the craft apprenticeship system? We are at the end of the leaving certificate examinations - hence a bit of a change in the weather - and young people are looking forward to what they may try to do later in life. One of the things that appeals is apprenticeships. That is a welcome decision to make,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Niall Collins: The Department continues to oversee the implementation of a plan put in place by the national apprenticeship office to significantly increase apprenticeship capacity and respond to the rise in craft apprenticeship registrations that are a result of the buoyant construction sector. The number of craft apprentices waiting for six months or longer for phase 2 of their job training has decreased...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Mairead Farrell: I agree with the Minister of State that we want to see a growth in craft apprenticeships. That is what we are both looking for. Previously when this was discussed, one of the big things that was said about the apprenticeship system is that it is employer led. One of the biggest employers in the State is the public service. Sometimes, people would be forgiven for thinking only the private...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Thank you, Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Mairead Farrell: Oh did I have one minute? I apologise. I got confused.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Niall Collins: As it is a priority question, the Deputy will have the opportunity to contribute again. The matter is topical. The Deputy mentioned that it is leaving certificate examination time and that people are looking at their various options. People will look at the time apprenticeships take to complete. Two programmes are unfortunately taking longer than 48 months. The duration of craft...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: We will come back to the Minister of State. We are out of time.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Mairead Farrell: I apologise. For some reason I thought I had two minutes so I was in the middle of my contribution when I had to finish speaking. Let us look at the local authorities as an example. At the moment, information on how many apprenticeships there are is not collected centrally. The reality is that in most of our cities, maintenance of our existing housing stock is a huge issue. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Jun 2024)

Niall Collins: I will request updated information on the numbers. The Deputy has researched some of her own numbers. Suffice it to say that an integral part of our action plan for apprenticeships is that they be rolled out across the Civil Service and public service. That includes local authorities. The Department wants to see that action executed by our local authorities, by the Civil Service and by...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The next speaker is Deputy Ryan who will share time with Deputies Gould and O'Rourke.

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Patricia Ryan: I thank my colleague Deputy O'Rourke for the opportunity to shed a little light on this, although perhaps not for everyone. Ireland's electricity prices have been spiralling skywards while the Government has sat on its hands, choosing to give energy credits that swelled the coffers and profits of energy providers while leaving electricity prices at eye-watering levels. Ordinary working...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: That is right.

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Patricia Ryan: Over two weeks her pay-as-you-go meter cost her €500 just to run an air-to-water heating system. How affordable is this on an old age pension? The Minister of State and I both know it is not. A young mother with the same heating system was left paying a bill of more than €3,000 to keep her house warm. It is no wonder we have food banks, and we have the Minister of State's...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: In an attempt to be helpful, if a constituent was coming to me about an electricity bill of €2,000 or €3,000 I would tell them to go to their supplier first to question whether there is something seriously wrong on that front.

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Patricia Ryan: Fair point, thank you.

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Thomas Gould: A gentleman came to my clinic last week. He is a lovely man in his early 70s. He is a fine fresh guy. He said he pays €20 a week out of his pension to put towards his electricity bill. At one stage last year he was more than €700 in credit but because the price rises kept coming, the €20 a week is not enough to meet the bills coming in. He has slowly run into arrears...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Deputies for their contributions over the course of the debate. I am disappointed the Government has tabled a countermotion. I do not accept its rationale or argument. We have to look at the evidence, which is that large numbers of people are in arrears with their electricity bills, with 10% of domestic and commercial electricity customers and 25% of domestic and commercial gas...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion, especially given that electricity prices in Ireland are two thirds above the EU average. The rising cost of living has had a detrimental effect on households, families and workers, leaving so many having to choose between heating and food. The households most at risk are those that are most in need. The ESRI compared recent data...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I welcome the opportunity to discuss our energy system and the pressures Irish households have faced because of high energy costs. I thank colleagues from across the House for their contributions. The pressures placed on households and businesses by high energy costs remain of deep concern to the Government. Providing supports to alleviate this pressure has been a priority for the...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Carol Nolan: As I listen to the same issue being brought up again and again in this House, I am obliged to ask for how much longer the Irish people are meant to put up with being ripped off and exploited by electricity companies. Have much longer will businesses have to try to put up with this situation as well? I know for a fact that many small businesses have closed because the electricity prices were...