Results 2,661-2,680 of 3,338 for speaker:James O'Connor

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: 11. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her strategy to support the rural post office network; the additional departmental services that could be provided via the network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5388/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: My apologies; I have just come from a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts. I wish to ask a quick question regarding the post office network. As a rural Deputy, I acknowledge the tremendous work the Minister has been doing for rural affairs. However, in improving our rural post office network, what additional services can her Department work with An Post to provide across so many...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: Gabhaim buíochas leis an t-Aire. I am delighted to hear of the return of the jobseeker’s payment to the post office system. It is worth putting on record that what happened in the banking sector in rural Ireland is a cause of worry. Services were stripped away and, unfortunately, many banks throughout rural Ireland became untenable. It is very important that we continue to...

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I apologise that I had to remove myself from the room to ask a parliamentary question in the Dáil. I apologise to Deputy Carthy for walking in front of him. The witnesses are welcome. We have met a number of times. Mr. Walsh must be sick of me at this stage. We have many important things to talk about. On a positive note, it is important to acknowledge that many of the points I...

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: Are both of the projects on budget?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I was under the impression that in the case of Dunkettle, there was a significant overspend on what had originally been budgeted. Is that actually not the case?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: Okay. That is good to hear. My next question relates to the area of the planning process which I spoke about here before. The Attorney General is undertaking a very large project. Has TII had any engagement with him in regard to the reform of the planning process?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I wish to move on to an important point about finances. Over the past year, an issue arose with regard to expenditure on the N73. TII's use of the term "funding uncertainty" has grown over the course of the past six months. Is there any update on the delay that happened in September? Will that project be going ahead? Has Mr. Walsh any information for that committee on that?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: My questions about funding uncertainty relate not only to the issues with the N73 which arose earlier in 2021 but also to the current development plans for major motorway projects and new road projects, including relief roads, bypasses and other strategic infrastructure projects on which TII is working. Is TII currently in a financial position to undertake what has been underlined in the NDP...

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: Will Mr. Walsh explain about the ten-year envelope? Can he expand on that point if possible?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: What projects that are referenced in the NDP are included in that?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: There are not that many.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: So you have sufficient funding-----

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: There has been much media commentary in recent weeks about concerns regarding road projects, major capital projects in the country and funding issues relating to them. I wanted to get the opinion of the Mr. Walsh, as the CEO of TII.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: It is an important point. There needs to be degree of clarification on it. I take it from Mr. Walsh that in regard to Ireland 2040 he is on track to get those projects finished, constructed and commenced, and he has the funding for all of them.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: How much is that?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: In regard to the decision-making process on what projects get funding, how does that work in terms of the signing off and the expenditure in each annual period?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I have a few concerns around the national investment framework for transport in Ireland, NIFTI. This framework is being implemented by the Department of Transport. Does Mr. Walsh have any concerns about this affecting TII's work programme and budgets? Is there potential for that to defer projects for further cost-benefit analysis?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I am not asking Mr. Walsh to criticise but does he have any concerns about its implementation? As a lot of people are quite concerned that it could have a very significant impact on new roads being constructed and the work for which TII has responsibility, it is a fair question.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: To me, a policy hierarchy sounds like some way of slowing down a project.