Results 2,181-2,200 of 3,484 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: 468. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the weekly allowance payable to foster carers will be increased in line with inflation or if retrospective payment will be made as current rates have remained static since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19091/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: 469. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals and couples currently registered as foster carers with Tusla; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of foster carers in the State from 2009 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19092/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: 470. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on foster carers who give up work to care for children being eligible to avail of the full State pension (contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19093/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: 471. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine additional payments for foster carers in order to recruit more foster carers into the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19094/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: 472. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a breakdown on the number of payments foster carers are currently entitled to; what those payments were in monetary value from 2009 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19095/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Chair, and the witnesses for being here today. In particular, I thank SOLAS, which was a part of the group that hosted two of us in Mount Lucas recently, where we saw with our own eyes the National Construction Campus, and all the fantastic work that is going on. Following on from the remarks by Mr. Brownlee and Mr. Dalton around how the model of learning has changed, it was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: Maybe everybody could answer me on apprenticeships before we get into the individuals. If witnesses do not have a response available, they might send it on afterwards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: Does Coillte currently have an apprenticeship scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: It was great when I was in Mount Lucas to see so much happening in the retrofitting space and people learning those skills, but many of those people were not necessarily people who would be carrying that out. Does SOLAS keep statistics on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: Great. Does the National Standards Authority of Ireland wish to answer the query about the SME supports?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: We did not get to one of the questions so I might come back in on the next round if that is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: I had an unanswered question from the previous round for the OPW, which I will pose again to Mr. O'Connor. It is really around how we can save time and whether any lessons have been learned from the site services perspective. We have had more detailed discussions since then, and I can see the point Mr. O'Connor made with regard to these sites not being Housing for All sites and there being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: Okay. I thank Mr. O'Connor. It is great to hear that things have been streamlined and that wrinkles have been ironed out and things are moving much faster, particularly on the manufacturing side. Forgive me if this is not Mr. O'Connor's side of the business but from a site services perspective, what stumbling blocks were there for which we now have a blueprint for a way forward and best...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: That is super. I thank Mr. O'Connor.

Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023: Second Stage (3 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: The last number of years have brought construction standards to the forefront. We have seen how a lack of regulation has impacted families in the form of issues with mica and pyrite in particular. In so many instances, it has had absolutely devastating impacts on people's physical and mental health. I am conscious on the surface that people might switch off when they hear us discussing...

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

Emer Higgins: I want to raise a point about the local authority home loan. It is a really great option for people who struggle to get a traditional mortgage. I really welcome that we are continuing to expand its income and its house price limits. I would absolutely encourage anyone to look into this option to see if they are eligible. There is, however, an issue that keeps coming up in my office....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (4 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses and apologise for missing the first half of the meeting as I had a prior engagement. The Leas-Cathaoirleach's question dealt with what I was going to ask. In particular, it is in regard to the land value sharing elements for what was rural land when it is still being farmed. In short, is that an exemption?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (4 May 2023)

Emer Higgins: In situations where the local authority members may make the decision on the basis of guidance from the local authority that that piece of land is currently being farmed and is currently zoned RU, or rural, it would make sense if we included it in a local area plan, LAP, and, therefore, would make sense if we included it in a development plan. Where the owner or the farmer is not requesting...