Results 81-100 of 24,376 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I again thank the Senator. I will bring her concerns and questions back to the Minister. The Government and the Minister share her commitment to providing women in Ireland with a healthcare system that is agile and responsive to the needs of the women of Ireland today. With regard to the women's healthcare questions the Senator has posed, I do not have the answers, as she will appreciate,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Driver Test (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Senator. She is right that the delays are too long. It is a serious matter and I thank her for raising it, and for highlighting the pressure on young people and their families. She is correct in that regard. I am smiling at the notion that the driving test is a rite of passage. It is. I would have loved to have taken the Senator for a driving lesson. One can imagine the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Driver Test (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is right again. It is about being creative and ensuring that the very important and serious matter of this long-term and long-standing issue in service provision, which the Government understands and recognises, is addressed. We must ensure we have a reliable, high-quality driving testing service. We understand that these unacceptable waiting times have profound implications...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I hold responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport. The delay in establishing Oireachtas committees has had no impact on the approval of funding for new Local Link bus services, as with all plans any additional funding for Local Link services is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I hold responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport. Under Budget 2025, the Department of Transport secured a funding package of c. €658.442 million for Public Service Obligation (PSO) and TFI Local Link services (an increase from...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: To Deputy O'Hara, I repeat that those people from Ukraine who remain in the property will stay at the Merriman Hotel and will be accommodated under new arrangements. That is fairly black and white. I take on board the comments of both Deputies and will bring them back to the Minister. The Department has been working with communities all over Ireland to source and provide accommodation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputies O'Hara and McGrath for raising these important matters tonight and for allowing me, as Deputy McGrath said, to respond on behalf of the Minister. I say to Deputy O’Hara that the Department recently announced that 98 beds for families seeking international protection will be provided at the Merriman Hotel in Kinvara. The property was previously used to house people...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (29 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Burke for raising this matter in the House this evening. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, who shares Deputy Burke's concerns in relation to the current cost of shingles vaccination in Ireland. Varicella is a common, highly infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. The virus is associated with two distinct clinical syndromes,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (29 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Deputy Burke made some very valid points. He is right about the long-term effects of shingles and the ageing population. I thank him again for raising this important matter. He is right that we should be forward thinking. Vaccination is regarded as one of the most effective, cost-effective and successful public health interventions that exist, saving many lives every year. As has been...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Grid (29 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Ó Muirí for raising the matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister. The Deputy is right that we are not immune to extreme events and he rightly illustrated and highlighted our vulnerability in terms of 2.5 times our usage having gone in five seconds. He is bang on. It is important to note that we do not yet know the causes of yesterday’s event....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Grid (29 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I again thank Deputy Ó Muirí for raising the matter, which is of critical importance. The Deputy is right that there must be learnings from what happened yesterday, whatever the cause of the Iberian blackout is, and that has not been confirmed yet. The authorities in Portugal and Spain are continuing to assess the cause and it may take time. The point the Deputy makes is that we...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (9 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Geoghegan for his contribution and ongoing interest in this very important issue. The Deputy is correct. As a member of Dublin City Council, he championed the 15-minute city concept. I fully subscribe to what he said about capital investment in infrastructure, housing and transport, as does the Government. On the current developments, the National Transport Authority has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (9 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Geoghegan for raising this very important matter, which I am taking for the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. Deputy Geoghegan has raised this matter before. There is huge merit in what he has proposed, and I commend his contribution because it is about joined-up thinking and ensuring we are ready for the next phase of the area he mentioned. As the Deputy knows, improving public...

Support for Householders, Businesses and Farmers Affected by Storm Éowyn: Motion [Private Members] (1 Apr 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Chuala muid an díospóireacht. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis na Baill a thug páirt sa díospóireacht iontach sin agus gabhaim buíochas leo. Go mórmhór, gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin as an rún a chur os comhair na Dála. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis na hoifigigh agus leis na baill den phobal a thug cuairteanna agus tacaíocht...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I congratulate Deputy Clendennen on his election. The local enhancement programme is targeted towards enhancing facilities in disadvantaged communities identified in local economic and community plans. The programme seeks to provide small grants to a wide and diverse range of local community groups, to assist with the purchase of equipment and improvements or repairs to their facilities....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an mhéid a dúirt sé mar gheall ar an Roinn. My Department provides guidance to the local community development committees on the eligibility criteria. The guidelines require projects to be in keeping with the ethos of the programme. The Government is very much aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary groups and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Pobal has, as the Deputy knows, independently assessed the community centre investment fund. Information will be given back to the community centres in question and I will talk to the Deputy further after that. As regards Deputy Clendennen's point, the idea of the portal is a good idea. He is right that people move on and there is a lacuna then and a burden of administration placed on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I agree with the Deputy that it is important we ensure people have accessibility and it is about giving them comfort. Donegal has been very good at spending the money allocated to it and has been very successful, with 224 roads completed. It is about ensuring there is flexibility in certain areas where there are pressure points. I will engage with the Deputy and the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As the Deputy is aware, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are very committed to this scheme. It is a very important one and at the heart of what we do about rural Ireland. It is about connectivity and it goes back to the question raised by Deputy Wall. It goes back to Deputy Ward's point about people who live way off the road and are trying to-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: -----end social isolation and enhance connectivity. There are different factors when it comes to roads, such as geography, the condition of roads and the amount of road area to be covered. I will communicate the Deputy's point to Donegal County Council. It is a vast and beautiful county. To be fair, the road network has been improved. There may be some areas that need to be enhanced. We...