Results 2,881-2,900 of 6,949 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: On that, are we not at a huge disadvantage compared to somewhere like the Netherlands, for example, where there is active land management by the local or municipal authority? Dutch authorities assemble land banks, put in some of the infrastructure up front, and then use the sale of the land back to builders for housing to fund that. The way we do it effectively means there is no active land...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I have a question for the Office of the Planning Regulator. In her opening statement, Ms O'Connor spoke about district heating systems and said they can only happen at scale if they are planned for in development plans. I ask her to expand on that, explain why that is the case and why it is necessary to do it via the development plans.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Thank you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a progress update on the various school projects (both primary and secondary level) that are either in planning or construction stage in Dublin bay north; to provide a provisional timeline for when these projects are due to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41163/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the commitments made in the Programme for Government around education policy for the Irish language; what has been done to date to honour those commitments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41441/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 342. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has launched an investigation into the incident (details supplied) that took place in a homeless hostel on 2 August 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41407/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gaeltacht Policy (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 343. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the Section 28 planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas will be published; for an update on the interdepartmental group's progress on these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41443/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gaeltacht Policy (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 344. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether he will consider expanding the working group on planning and housing in Gaeltacht areas, to include representatives from the Irish-language community which has not yet been given this opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41444/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Irish Language (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 385. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if, in the interests of promoting the Irish language and boosting employment opportunities, she will consider introducing a new Irish-language training course for people in receipt of social welfare payments, as no such course currently exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41445/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 494. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the numbers of naíonraí being forced to close due to increasing costs and lack of supports; what support his Department offers specifically for naíonraí that are struggling to stay open; what his Department will do to reduce the numbers of naíonraí closing; and if...

Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank all Deputies who have contributed to this important discussion. I want to respond to something the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, said when he was articulating Government policy. He said the Government's position is that a reinstatement of the winter eviction ban would not work because it would deter investment in the rental sector and supply. We are not looking for...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — the cost of buying a home has increased by more than 25 per cent since this Government came into office; — it now costs almost €330,000 on average to buy a home, an increase of more than €66,000 since 2020 and €90,000 since 2017; — the median income for first-time buyers of new homes is now...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I will ask about conditions in privately run homeless emergency accommodation. On 2 August, a woman named Mairéad was physically assaulted by a member of staff in a privately run hostel for homeless people. While this hostel is run by a private company, it is funded with public money. The incident was recorded on video, which clearly shows the male staff member telling Mairéad...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I have raised the issue of conditions in privately run emergency accommodation with the Minister multiple times before. He needs to act on it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Am I to take it from what the Minister has said that it is his view that it is appropriate to have increases, as long they comply with the RPZ legislation? As I am sure the Minister is aware, there is huge stress on students, as well as mental health and well-being issues for students who cannot find affordable accommodation. There are ever-longer commutes. This has impacted...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister for that response. This has been well documented. There is evidence of student accommodation providers clearly circumventing the RPZ rules with additional costs. It is not for discretionary items they can choose to opt into or opt out of.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: They cannot rent their accommodation without paying those additional charges that have been increasingly introduced. They are a way for large providers to get around these rules. It has been brought to the attention of Government Ministers before. This urgently needs action. I welcome that the Minister says he will look into it-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: -----but it urgently needs to be addressed, because this is going against the spirit of the law, if not the actual law. The Government needs to take a view on this and act on it. It must either change the legislation or, if the legislation is robust enough in this area, it must enforce it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Given the cost-of-living crisis we are in, and the very real financial hardship and stress that many students and their families are in, does the Minister think it is appropriate for universities and colleges to increase the cost of student accommodation for this academic year?