John Connolly

6. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs will meet next. [22378/25]

The Taoiseach mentioned the Cabinet committee's role in the area of local area disadvantage. Earlier this afternoon the Taoiseach spoke about the positive health statistics in the country. It is important to recognise that they are not universal. There are minority groups and some disadvantaged communities where those health figures are not as good. Yesterday we also saw that there is a greater im…

6. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding he has provided to housing authorities for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24777/25]

I ask the Minister to outline the level of funding he has provided to housing authorities for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2024 and 2025. I understand that it may not be possible to present all of the data here in tabular form but I would appreciate it if I could get that information.

I thank the Minister for the response. I also thank him for noting that we need to develop solutions to make sure that we can reduce this bill as we go forward. It is a very necessary but, unfortunately, very high bill. The figure of €385 million is quite startling but it is very necessary. Of all the problems we have in housing, and many of them have been discussed this morning, the one that caus…

I thank the Minister. It is important to note that emergency accommodation and homelessness services are organised on a regional basis. In the west region there are four local authorities, namely Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council and Roscommon County Council involved but Galway City Council is the lead authority. I am concerned that additional resources, both human an…

I wish to ask about the basic income for artists pilot scheme. It is almost three years to the day since the application process closed for applicants who wanted to participate in the scheme. Over 9,000 applied. Some 2,000 were successful in the pilot scheme, which had a three-year lifespan and comes to an end this August. There have been a number of interim reviews of the scheme and reviews by bo…

I welcome the Minister of State's initial comments where he outlined the measures he had taken to try to repair this system which is clearly broken. While I recognise that this is something he has inherited, the measures he outlined at the outset of the debate will go some way towards remediating the issues presented here. As has been well outlined by others, it is deeply frustrating for people wh…

7. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [20995/25]

I share the sentiment of my colleagues on the left regarding the work of NESC and the extensive research it undertakes. One concern I have is that following much of research it undertakes, it goes on to suggest action points or new departures the Government should make. Is there a particular formula for putting these into action? I speak particularly about recent research on Ireland's future power…

Like previous speakers, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate. I echo the sentiment expressed so well by the speaker before me in complimenting the Minister on seizing the opportunity that has been afforded to the country to attract new talent and new research opportunities in the third level sector through the global talent initiative. In early monastic times, Ireland was known …

This question is similar to Question No. 80. I am surprised they were not grouped because they are very similar. I want to ask the Minister about the number of employers who are employing people with the support of the wage subsidy scheme. There are three strands to the scheme. I asked about strand 1 and strand 2 and I am not sure why I left out strand 3 but if the Minister has that information, i…

I put my question.

The review is very welcome, because those figures are quite low. I thought there might have been greater uptake of the scheme by companies. There is great capacity in the scheme to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and enhance the workplace by increasing diversity and making it more accessible. I welcome the review and the fact it has suggested changes that, hopefully,…

I thank the Minister for his response and his openness to looking at the subsidy that is available. Perhaps there will be an opportunity in the next budget to increase the subsidy. I look forward to the information campaign around the scheme. I am sure the Minister will share that with all his colleagues in the House. We will be available. I agree with him that the opportunity for employers to emp…

I recognise the Minister of State's full commitment on this. I have engaged with him on this issue. I have heard him talk about it at parliamentary party meetings and he has shown great commitment and enthusiasm in this role. There has to be some recognition that in the space and time he has been allowed 400 special classes will be introduced from September. I am not sure if that is a record but i…

I welcome the publication of the revised framework. It has been somewhat signposted as part of our response to the housing crisis. I hope it will have that impact as it goes on in the alignment between national, regional and local planning policy. The revised framework reaffirms the commitment of the 2018 framework to balanced regional development, where 50% of the population's employment growth …

The Minister of State cannot get involved with An Bord Pleanála. However, will he ask it to make its decision as quickly as possible?

Bhí na sluaite amach ar an R336 an Chéadaoin seo caite, agus beidh amárach, ag glacadh páirt i siúlóid agóide mar gheall ar cé chomh contúirteach is atá an bóthar sin agus an easpa muiníne atá ag tuismitheoirí a bpáistí a ligint dul ar scoil ag siúl nó ar rothar. Tá a fhios agam gur faoi dhualgas na comhairle contae atá an tsábháilteacht bóthair, ach ba mhaith liom aird a tharraingt ar an dul chun…

There are nine phases of approval through the scheme. We need to look at it again.

Of the 421 schools, just 96 have had their work completed.

2. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the child poverty programme in his Department. [9481/25]

The Taoiseach identified the six areas where the Government sees the potential to make the most difference to children living in poverty. One of those mentioned is family homelessness. If the Taoiseach will forgive me, I am going to be parochial on the issue. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the homelessness figures are calculated monthly per region for nine different regions. A consistent statist…

110. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that sufficient efforts are being made to ensure teachers, schools and pupils are adequately prepared for the introduction of the new leaving certificate cycle in the next academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17201/25]

Cuirim ceist ar an Aire faoin obair atá ar siúl sa Roinn faoi láthair chun múinteoirí, scoileanna agus daltaí a shásamh go bhfuil an t-ullmhúchán ceart déanta acu don ardteist nua i mí Mheán Fómhair seo chugainn. I ask the Minister about the efforts under way in the Department to make sure schools, teachers and pupils are adequately prepared for the introduction of the first tranche of the new le…