Results 641-660 of 3,651 for speaker:Michael Collins

Targeted Investment in the Health Service: Motion [Private Members] (17 May 2023)

Michael Collins: This is an important motion, which I fully support. Down through the years we have fought bravely to keep services in Bantry General Hospital which looks after the people of Cork South-West and south Kerry and does so excellently. I pay tribute to the hospital staff. However, we are fighting to keep services there. We are fighting every day of the week to have endoscopy and stroke units...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Revitalising Derelict and Vacant Homes on Farmland: Discussion (17 May 2023)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses for attending. Housing in rural Ireland has always been a major difficulty. All politicians know that there are issues with planning. What we find in west Cork is that young people are being refused planning permission in rural areas because of considerations relating to the scenic landscape and this, that and the other. It seems to us that the planning policies that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Revitalising Derelict and Vacant Homes on Farmland: Discussion (17 May 2023)

Michael Collins: I did. I said that as far as I know, the help to buy scheme does not include the renovation or purchase of derelict properties. Also, the banks are not participating in issuing loans to people who want to do up derelict properties. Why is that the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Revitalising Derelict and Vacant Homes on Farmland: Discussion (17 May 2023)

Michael Collins: Are the banks participating in this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Revitalising Derelict and Vacant Homes on Farmland: Discussion (17 May 2023)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2023)

Michael Collins: 56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the issue regarding almost 60 school projects being on hold due to funding issues including a school (details supplied) in Bantry, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23209/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2023)

Michael Collins: Almost 60 school building projects are on hold due to funding issues. One of the schools affected is Coomhola national school, Bantry, west Cork. The Minister might be able to outline when work will commence on the school's new classrooms.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2023)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister for her reply. In 2020, the school in Coomhola, which is north of Bantry in west Cork, was approved for the building of a new classroom to replace two Portakabins, which are very unsuitable for long-term use as classrooms. As we know, Portakabins are cold and very damp in winter and too hot during warm weather. In August 2022, I wrote the Department on behalf of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2023)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister for her reply. The extension for these two rooms was approved in 2020; it is now 2023. We are three years on and the Minister cannot tell me today when a sod will be turned on the project. She cannot tell me today that in the first week of September or late August when the children go back to the school that it will have these two new classrooms in place. We will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Obligation (16 May 2023)

Michael Collins: 183. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment why the PSO levy has not been removed from ESB bills in view of the effectiveness of the wind energy and solar power in recent years; what plans are in place to remove the PSO levy in totality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23155/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (16 May 2023)

Michael Collins: 310. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grants available for a person who wants to make their own picture frames from their own garage (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23156/23]

Planning and Rural Housing: Motion [Private Members] (10 May 2023)

Michael Collins: I built my own house.

Planning and Rural Housing: Motion [Private Members] (10 May 2023)

Michael Collins: It is still standing, thank God. Many a gale has come up over Mizen Head and, by jeepers, it struck us, but it did not knock the house. I tell the Minister a person cannot build a house today. A young person or couple are stifled by costs. About €100,000 is added to the build before it can even get off the ground. A first-time buyer's grant would alleviate some of this financial...

Planning and Rural Housing: Motion [Private Members] (10 May 2023)

Michael Collins: Planning laws in rural areas are put together to make sure people are refused planning. That is the situation I find for many of my constituents in Cork South-West. Young couples starting off are being refused planning all over west Cork and other areas. Scenic landscape is thrown in as one of the excuses. Someone says, "Oh, you are coming out onto the N71 even though there are five...

Food Costs and High Grocery Bills: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (9 May 2023)

Michael Collins: I appreciate the introduction of this motion by Sinn Féin. Fuel and grocery costs are a huge issue for many families. To be quite honest with the Government, it is standing idly by and letting people suffer. There are interest-rate hikes such that people are now unable to pay for their mortgages, putting them in mortgage arrears. This could result in the vulture funds, the...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Michael Collins: We are marking Europe Day. Europe has been generally successful for so many countries. Certainly, Ireland has seen a lot of benefits down through the years by being involved in the European Union. Yet, we have also seen situations, like Deputy McGrath has just mentioned, such as with the fishing industry, where we have been decimated by our involvement in Europe. That should never have...

Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: Construction safety is important and that goes without being noticed. We are putting those in the construction industry, the builders, in a difficult position. They have to comply with Safe Pass. They have to comply with so much it is making it almost impossible for them to get a day's work or a good week's work done. It will put the price of housing up more severely. The construction...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: Dairy farmers are struggling to make ends meet with the price of milk and dairy products starting to reduce while their costs are still increasing. This is a fight they can take on, but the fight they cannot take on at present is the dropping of nitrates from 250 kg per ha to 220 kg per ha. I attended a farm walk in Farnanes where I met a typical Irish farmer who has 71 cows. He is a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: The Tánaiste was talking madly. He cannot listen to two people at once.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: They cannot deal with the nitrates dropping from 250 kg per ha to 220 kg per ha. It will wipe them out.