The Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands has today published its Pre-Budget submission to the Minster for Social Protection. The cross-party Committee’s submission to the Minister contains 76 recommendations for Budget 2022 including: A rise in all social welfare payment rates – equivalent to the cost of living increases. An increase in the rate …
We need timeline for reopening day services as HSE confirms vaccination completed – Naughten
Denis Naughten has called for a definitive date for the full reopening of all-day services following confirmation from the HSE that all older people and adults with underlying health conditions have been fully vaccinated “It is unacceptable that State funded day services for people with a disability and older people remain closed, or only available for part of the …
Exhausted health staff will have to await bonus deal with all public servants – Naughten
The Government has admitted that frontline health workers will have to wait for a pandemic bonus deal across the public service before they get access to additional time off in recognition of their work, says Denis Naughten TD. “Despite the fact that staff on the frontline within our health service have been put in a unique position during this pandemic, …
Day services must be reopened for older people and disabled – Naughten
It is unacceptable that State funded day services for people with a disability and older people remain closed, or only available for part of the week, despite the fact that both users and staff are fully vaccinated, Denis Naughten told the Dáil last week. He pointed out: “Schools reopened last February and public transport services will be increased to 75pc …
Post Office must be given Government services to allow more staff to work remotely – Naughten
Why is support for our Post Offices always one report away from action? Denis Naughten has called for An Post to be given legal responsibility to provide Government services to those who cannot access online applications. “People who are not digitally literate or who cannot access online services should be able to access such services through their local post …
New school for St. Teresa’s moves a step closer – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten has welcomed confirmation that a 4 acre site has now been secured from the HSE for a new building for St. Teresa’s Special School in Ballinasloe. “This is a very positive development in the ongoing saga of securing a site, but the news will be apprehensively received by the pupils, parents and staff of St. Teresa’s, …
39 local pharmacies offering one shot Covid vaccine – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten is encouraging the public to avail of vaccination as 39 local pharmacies offer the Janssen single dose Covid-19 vaccine free of charge from today (Monday) to people aged 18 to 34 and 50 or over. Those aged between 34 & 69 can register for a free Covid-19 vaccine on the website ww.hse.ie for the two shot …
Failure to back date fair deal could be open to court challenge – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has raised the prospect of court challenge to the reform of the Fair Deal Nursing Home Support Scheme due to the failure to recognise farm transfers in advance of an older person entering long term care. “Under the new law older people who transferred the family farm and entitlements to a successor prior to entering a …
Up to 50,000 homes locked up due to Fair Deal “treble tax” – Naughten
Government rejects call to stop penalising property rental Up to 50,000 family homes could be locked out of the housing market before Government brings forward amending legislation to address an anomaly in the Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme, according to Denis Naughten. Under the current scheme an older person is charged three separate times if they decide …
Has the Department of Agriculture thrown in the towel on climate?
We are exporting €8bn in beef and dairy products every year but we are investing only €2m or 0.025% in addressing agricultural methane, which leads to the question: has the Department of Agriculture thrown in the towel already? While many of us on the constructive side of the climate debate have tried to argue for a practical approach to …