Results 661-680 of 5,844 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I want to acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed to this evening's debate. I want to echo the comments made earlier by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and reassert the Government's commitment to tackling the challenge in the housing sector. We know the challenges are having a real impact on people's lives and on the nation as a whole. We understand the urgency and the...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: More than 7,700 grant applications were made with some 4,600 already approved and 300 issued. Deputy Ó Broin knows better than most that the grant is paid upon completion of work. That is a critical point. The Deputy knows that the local authorities conduct a final property visit to ensure the works have been completed in line with the grant applications approved. It is imperative...

Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Motion (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 16th April, 2024.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: Thank you very much, a Chathaoirligh. I also thank Senator Burke for his warm welcome. I look forward to working with them and their colleagues in Seanad Éireann. This is an important matter and I welcome the opportunity to outline the current position on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth. Over the past two decades Ireland has made significant progress in moving...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Senator. The points he has made about ownership and which Department is most responsible and most effective in the implementation of this are very valid. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication has run a circular economy innovation grant scheme for a number of years. I understand an announcement is expected shortly regarding this year’s call for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: First, I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter and I welcome the opportunity to address the current position on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. The Senator is, of course, referring to the criminal ransomware attack on the HSE in May 2021. The cost of the response and recovery from the cyberattack to the taxpayer in 2021 was to the tune of €102 million. It...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to address it. I will take the questions he has raised today back to the Minister and departmental officials. As I outlined previously, the HSE has implemented additional controls to monitor and manage threats to the HSE network, including additional staff training and a strengthening of identity and access...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Health on this important issue for the people of the mid-west region. He recognises that there are significant pressures at UHL. He and the Government have undertaken sustained investment in this hospital and in capacity across the entire mid-west region's health system. There are currently two MRI scanners...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator Garvey and recognise the concerns she has raised on behalf of people in the mid-west region who are trying to access these essential services. I will bring the questions she raised back to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and his officials. As already advised, significant capital investment has been made by the Government to expand the radiology department at...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Immigration Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I am.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Immigration Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator Keogan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. As the Senator will be aware, the Attorney General provides legal advice to the Government and this advice is subject to legal professional privilege in the same way as the legal advice provided to a private client by any solicitor or barrister. The proper operation of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Immigration Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator Keogan. I appreciate the points she raised. On behalf of the Minister, I assure her that the Irish Constitution requires that the pact will come before both TDs and Senators, and that is exactly what is going to happen. There will be full debates in the Dáil and Seanad and it will also be discussed at the joint committee. As with all new legislation, the Bill will be...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator Gallagher for bringing this Commencement matter before the House. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee. A central element of delivering on the zero tolerance goal of the third national strategy is the establishment of a statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, agency, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, was delighted...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Senator. The core, overarching goal of the zero-tolerance strategy is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and we continue to work towards that. The Senator will be aware of the Tearmann Domestic Violence Services based in Monaghan, and he mentioned Siobhán McKenna and her team, who provide the services in counties Cavan and Monaghan. That has now...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator Dolan for raising this important topic. I know how passionate she is about advocating for the best interests of the local communities in Galway and Roscommon. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport but neither the Minister nor his...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I will convey the Senator's frustration, disappointment and anger back to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on this very important issue. I wish to reassure the Senator that the Department of Transport, the NTA and the operators will work to ensure they optimise deployment of resources across the public transport network to match changing passenger demand patterns. This will be reviewed and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: Under the vacant site levy provisions contained in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to administer the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (30 Apr 2024)

Alan Dillon: I can confirm that the application for a Foreshore Licence for a pontoon in Ballyshannon, County Donegal was formally withdrawn from my Department on the 26 April 2024 by Donegal County Council. I have also been informed that Donegal County Council will now be pursing an application for a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) for this project with the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority or MARA.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (30 Apr 2024)

Alan Dillon: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of...