Latest news with #AidanFarrelly
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Childcare fees for some parents to be reduced from September
From September, childcare fees for parents paying the highest rates will be capped at €295 per week. With the National Childcare Scheme subsidy, many parents will effectively pay around €198 weekly, closer to the national average of €197. Advertisement The cap applies to full-day care of 40 to 50 hours and follows a fee freeze introduced in 2022. State funding for childcare will also rise by €60 million next year. Minister for children, Norma Foley, told Newstalk that some parents fork out €400 a week. "So the maximum amount that can be charged is €295, and when the subsidy that's applied for parents, when that's injected that's €198.70 per week, so for those parents on those very high fees, that's a saving of more than €5,460 a year or almost 5,500 a year," Ms Foley said. Advertisement However, according to figures from the Department of Children, the highest average fees being paid at the moment is in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area of Dublin at €258. The department said the fee cap will bring fees 'closer to the average weekly fee of €197 for full day care'. The figures, released to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, show that Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow are the only counties with a current average above €197, the Irish Examiner reported. Mr Farrelly said that while he welcomes the announcement, the move falls short of addressing the significant issues facing families who are trying to find a place for their child or workers who do not have pay parity with their peers. While announcing the fee cap, as well as an increase in investment of €60m, Ms Foley said it would reduce the cost for families who are facing the highest fees across the country in around 10% of early learning and childcare providers. 'It will address some of the extreme fee disparities across the sector in a meaningful way, so that there are more consistent rates in place for families in their local area,' said Ms Foley.
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
DAFM seized 80t of illegal meat at ports and airports last year
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) seized a total of 80.48t of illegal meat at Dublin and Rosslare ports and at Shannon and Dublin airports in 2024. According to DAFM, the figure comprised 'seizures of commercial and personal consignments which includes products seized at temporary storage facilities and from passenger baggage'. Separately, latest figures suggest that in 2025 DAFM has also seized in the region of 79.21t of commercial consignment 'food products' at Dublin Port and Dublin Airport. According to latest figures, the department also identified and removed 6.02t of 'personal consignments' including products seized at Temporary Storage Facilities (TSFs) and in passenger baggage. Commercial food consignments are subject to documentary, identity, physical, sampling and, if necessary, laboratory inspections to confirm that they are in compliance with EU legislation. DAFM According to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, food consignments that do not comply with strict requirements 'are rejected and are either destroyed, re-exported to the country of origin or are subjected to special treatment under the control of DAFM, to mitigate the risk associated with non-compliance'. The Social Democrats TD, Aidan Farrelly, had asked the minister to specify the penalties that currently apply to individuals that fail to declare they are bringing in commercial amounts of food to Ireland. Minster Heydon said that if an individual fails to comply with Ireland's regulations 'they are liable on summary conviction, to a class a fine or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both, or on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €500,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both'. 'For a small number of summary offences, a fixed payment notice of €250 may be served in lieu of prosecution,' he added. DAFM can also issue Import Control Notices which are enforceable by law.
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Bill to lower voting age to 16 introduced in Dáil – and Taoiseach ‘wouldn't rule anything out'
Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, who represents Kildare North, introduced the Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Reduction of Voting Age to 16 Years) Bill yesterday. The last reduction in the voting age was in 1972, when the electorate endorsed a drop from 21 to 18. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he 'wouldn't rule anything out' in relation to a voting age of 16, adding that the issue merited 'serious consideration'. 'I don't have an issue with reducing it to 16. We will give that serious consideration. We'll engage in the debate,' Mr Martin said. Tánaiste Simon Harris, however, said he was not sure now was 'the right time' for such a proposal. Two separate government referendum proposals in March last year were heavily beaten. Mr Farrelly, in introducing the bill, said lowering the voting age to 16 was one of the recommendations from the Convention on the Constitution in 2014. 'If one can work full-time and pay taxes at 16, it is only fair that people have the formal opportunity to influence how these taxes are spent locally and nationally,' he said. He acknowledged that many young people choose not to vote, and there was no doubt that many aged 16 and 17, if afforded the opportunity, would also choose not to do so, he said. But he called for a focus on those who will: 'The many thousands who care about their communities and their society, who are as passionate about politics, public administration and civic duty as their peers aged 18-plus.' ADVERTISEMENT Mr Farrelly said he had been a youth worker and had run many mock elections over the years encouraging young people to participate. 'Whether it was a referendum, or a local or general election, the vote was nearly almost mirrored in their local ballot box, or nationally,' he said. He said the Dáil could achieve something momentous. It was 'an opportunity to tell the 16 and 17-year-olds of Ireland that we value them and their voice, that we trust them and their power, and that we need them and their participation'. He added that the bill was 'one of inherent importance to me as a father, youth worker and citizen of Ireland'. It was an issue of fairness and equality, not maturity, he told fellow TDs. Government Chief Whip Mary Butler said the legislation was not opposed at this stage.
The Journal
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Social Democrats to table Bill to reduce voting age to 16
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS will later table a Bill seeking to reduce the voting age in Ireland from 18 to 16. Soc Dems TD Aidan Farrelly is the party's spokesperson for children, equality and youth. He will introduce the Bill today and remarked: 'People aged 16 and 17 are as civically informed as their peers aged over 18, but are unjustly restricted when it comes to democratic participation. 'If one can work full time and pay taxes, it is only fair to afford that person with the formal opportunity to influence how these taxes are spent, locally and nationally.' He noted that reducing the voting age to 16 was one of the recommendations of the Convention on the Constitution in 2013-2014. Ahead of last June's local and European elections, Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne had called for the voting age to be lowered to 16 in time for polling day. A Bill sponsored by Byrne and fellow Fianna Fáil Senators Mary Fitzpatrick and Erin McGreehan which would lower the voting age to 16 for local and European elections is currently before the Seanad . Advertisement 'The last government was to consider reducing this change in time for the Local and European Elections in 2024, but failed to do so,' said Farrelly. He said the Bill he will table seeks to facilitate a reduction in the voting age in time for this year's Presidential Election. Farrelly also noted that 16-year-olds were able to vote in the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum and that 16-year-olds can vote in Welsh Parliament and local elections. 'Our youth should be able to participate in our democratic processes, the outcomes of which will affect their lives as much as anyone else's, and more than some,' said Farrelly. While he acknowledged that some 16 and 17-year-olds would not vote if able to do so, he noted that this is also the case for those aged over 18. 'We should focus on the many thousands who care about their communities and their society, who are as passionate about politics, public administration and civic duty as their older peers,' said Farrelly. 'The Reduction of Voting Age to Sixteen Years Bill 2025 is an opportunity to tell the 16 and 17-year-olds of Ireland that they and their voices are valued, that they're trusted, that their insight is needed for the future of this country.' This will be Farrelly's first Bill as a TD and he said that it is 'one of inherent importance to me as a citizen of Ireland, a youth worker, and a father'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
HSE says ‘hyperinflation' among factors behind building projects' €26m price rise
'Hyperinflation' is among issues blamed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) for a €26 million increase in costs across nine building projects in recent years. The largest price rise was for a new 98-bed wing of the Mater hospital in Dublin, which ended up costing some €9.75 million more than the sum initially approved. The HSE and the Mater hospital say value for money was achieved with this nine-storey trauma building, which opened in April 2023. The figures, which exclude VAT, were contained in a report submitted to the HSE's audit and risk committee on works contracts greater than €10 million. Set out in the data, which was provided to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, are projects where the 'agreed final account value' was higher than the 'contract award value approved'. READ MORE A HSE statement said it would not be accurate to describe these projects as over budget because these before and after figures do not match. It said contract figures are 'not a fixed price' and 'provision/contingency is made in the contract for claims where there may be scope changes to the project, service delivery, legislative or socioeconomic issues which may impact on the delivery timelines and the out-turn cost of the project such as inflation, poor weather events, etc'. The approved contract value of the Mater's Rock Wing was €58.5 million. The agreed final account for the construction of the main ward block, several shell and core spaces and subsequent fit out of nine rooms, ended up at €68.25 million. A HSE statement said 'the project was sanctioned in 2020 in direct response to the Covid-19 emergency'. It 'went through an accelerated design and contract award process to ensure the infrastructure was provided as swiftly as possible', the statement said. A post-completion examination indicated contract price rises were 'offset by inflationary cost increases' that would have occurred if the project had not been accelerated, the statement said, adding that this shows the HSE secured 'value for money'. A Mater hospital statement said that 'working closely with its construction and funding partners' it had 'demonstrated good value for money and delivered the Rock Wing on time'. Other projects with increased costs were a radiation oncology building at University Hospital Galway that cost €33.1 million, up €4.16 million from the contract price; a community nursing unit in Nenagh that was up €3.32 million to €18.12 million; and a ward block at Mercy University Hospital , Cork that saw a €2.73 million price rise for a final bill of €22.53 million. A residential care centre in Tuam cost €19.76 million, some €2.38 million more than originally expected, while a critical care unit at Tallaght University Hospital cost €15.74 million, up €2.23 million. The HSE said the average increase across all projects is within 15 per cent of the original contract award, 'which would be within normal contingency expectation for projects of this scale and complexity'. It said the majority of these contracts were carried out 'during a period of hyperinflation in the construction industry'. The HSE said a Government 'relief' under the Office of Government Procurement co-operation framework agreement was applied, which 'entitled contractors to ex-gratia payments to assist in dealing with hyperinflation'. Such payments on these contracts were in the region of €7.5 million, it said. If these ex-gratia payments were excluded the increases are within 10 per cent of the original contract award, it said. A HSE statement said it adheres to strict national and European Union public procurement procedures when undertaking any capital build works. Responding to the figures he received, Mr Farrelly described the situation as 'extremely disappointing'. The TD said he wanted to see 'what the Minister for Public Expenditure brings to the table on curbing financial overruns on capital projects now that infrastructure forms part of that brief'.
