Results 401-420 of 685 for speaker:Albert Dolan

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: I intend to raise the issue of development levies later tonight as a Topical Issue but wish to say now that, since the development levy waiver was taken away, many young people in my constituency, Galway East, feel like they are being scammed. I realise that sounds harsh, but what I mean is that a young person in east Galway today building a one-off home can pay the local council up to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: 26. To ask the Taoiseach Cabinet committee that deals with rural affairs and community development will next meet. [22658/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (20 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: 366. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether the OPW has applied for Ministerial consent for the new enclosure for the Turoe Stone, National Monument number 327, which was granted permission by Galway County Council under planning reference 22/580; and if this consent has been approved, when the tender will process begin and when works are expected to commence. [25903/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins has visited the homes that have been delivered in Claregalway. It is a fantastic initiative and a fantastic price for people to be able to purchase a home. The problem is that in Galway East, we have not seen a single affordable home delivered yet. I know the Minister is aware of this. We need to see affordable homes delivered in towns such as Tuam,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: Galway County Council is not short of ambition when it comes to affordable housing. Our chief executive set out an ambitious plan last year. At the time, I was a councillor. We approved loans for affordable housing across our local authority and sought departmental approval for them. We do not lack the ambition. We have the ambition to deliver the homes. In the town of Athenry, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: 8. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his expectations for the delivery of affordable housing in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24661/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: One of the lead indicators of a country's future likely success is how many young people choose to stay. What are the Minister's expectations for affordable housing delivery in 2025, given it will be one of the key tools to ensure our young educated workforce can stay here?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: I apologise because I was just observing a set of financial statements and they prompted a question for me. Grangegorman had a 6.6-fold increase in its travel and subsistence expenditure between 2022 and 2023. It is a very material sum. It went from €1,500 for the year to €10,000. I spotted it and I was curious as to why there was a 660% increase in travel expenses. It does...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: I do not even know-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: I propose we write to the Grangegorman entity and ask for an explanation as to how the travel expenses increased six times. It is a significant increase. Maybe as Mr. McCarthy said, that is possible coming out of Covid, but I said I would flag it.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: That was a proposal to write to Grangegorman to query its six-fold increase in travel expenses between the years 2022 and 2023.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: That is fair. It is a small figure. As we go down through financial statements there are a significant number of things that will fall below materiality levels, but that does not mean it is not important and it does not mean it is not important to flag it. I am not asking to bring them here. I am just asking to write for them to explain it further.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: In light of the fact that Children's Health Ireland is coming in next week and that the Comptroller and Auditor General has raised with us the fact that a previous CEO's contract and the settlement of same led to her being reappointed within the entity as a strategic director, would it be possible for us to ask Children's Health Ireland to prepare a briefing for us as to that person's role,...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: I was not really asking a question. I just wanted to make sure that we get the strategic director's job description when Children's Health Ireland comes in next week.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (13 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: 131. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the planned primary care centre for Portumna; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23779/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (13 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: 386. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport why the direct bus service from Heuston Station to University College Dublin has been removed during off-peak times, particularly on Friday and Sunday evenings, when many college students rely on it to travel home for the weekend; if any consideration was given to the needs of students when making this change; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Colleges (13 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: 922. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the exclusion of the Level 9 MSc (Agriculture) in Environmental Resource Management at University College Dublin from Schedule 2B of the Finance Act 2007, given that shorter, fee-based courses offered by private providers such as FarmEd.ie are currently accepted under this framework; and if, in this context, he...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (8 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: I agree that the passing loop is welcome but it points out a huge issue with how we manage infrastructure in this country. Galway County Council was granted urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, funding in March 2021 for that passing loop. It was March 2024 before Irish Rail submitted a planning application for the passing loop. I welcome that it is to commence construction this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (8 May 2025)

Albert Dolan: Absolutely there can be no doubt that the economies of public transport have completely flipped the script over the last few years. We have seen fares come down and the cost of using a car has gone up. It makes more sense for people to use public transport. As the Minister of State well knows, Athenry is a booming town with huge growth potential over the coming years. We need to see a...