Results 23,301-23,320 of 26,178 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: My Department provides exchequer funding to local authorities to support the Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability which supports disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. This grant is for people with a physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability. In general, it can be used for works such as level access showers,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mayoral Election (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: My Department is engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in relation to the drafting of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick city and county) Bill, which is well advanced. Finalisation of this complex Bill has been identified as a priority and I am working towards the Bill being published in April. It is my hope that the Bill would...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan (NDP), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) provides part-funding to applicant-led projects, enabling more compact and sustainable development within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns, while also ensuring that more parts of our urban areas can become...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: An estimated 16,000 additional households may be eligible as a result of recent changes to the social housing income eligibility thresholds. Under Housing for All, the Government is providing significant investment to support the delivery of some 90,000 social homes over the lifetime of the plan. This includes 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 homes through long-term leasing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: This is my second visit.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: This visit is just as important.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Acting Chairperson for his words of welcome. As a former Member of this House I am always glad to come back here for its excellent debates on various topics. I thank Senator Davitt for raising this matter. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to come before the House today to speak about the important issue of councillors' security. Local government plays an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Just directions.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: To give clarity to the Senator, under the current directions, statutory instruments and guidance issued last September, councillors are entitled to get the full cost of an installation of a CCTV camera system in their home. They are entitled to 20% of the annual running cost thereafter. I take on board the Senator’s point. They will be issued with revised directions for expenses of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Urban Development (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Boyhan very much for raising this matter. The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040 and was established to support more compact and sustainable development through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland's five cities and other large towns. The Senator noted that is based on populations exceeding 10,000. The fund...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Urban Development (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As I said, many of these projects are now coming to fruition. The Senator will see much more of that €1.5 billion in funding being drawn down. As I outlined earlier, a key action in supporting the Government's vacant homes action plan is the third round of URDF support, which will be specifically designed to address long-term vacancy and dereliction across our URDF cities and towns...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: When was the letter sent?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important issue. In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. They also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the specific issue raised by the Deputy, Dublin City Council has received State funding. In respect of the energy efficiency schemes in phase 1, with funding from my Department, it saw 8,057 housing units upgraded with cavity walls and attic insulation. In phase 2, a further 1,110 units had their facades wrapped and windows upgraded. Some 80% of the council housing had been upgraded by...

Council Development Levies: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the members of the Independent Group for bringing forward the motion. We have heard from Deputies Collins and Connolly and no doubt we will hear from others. It is clear from this motion it is in everyone's interest that proper planning and development ensures community services and infrastructure are funded, if and when such new developments arise. We all agree on that.

Council Development Levies: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will arrange for that. The Government shares that interest and, therefore, will not oppose the motion. I will share with Deputies an outline of the existing measures in place in addition to those further proposed measures that are in line with the spirit of the motion, namely, that the uplift in funding derived from new developments benefits those affected communities. The Government...

Emergency Housing Measures: Motion [Private Members] (9 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have listened to the entire debate, though I was not here physically for it all. Many constructive points were made. I may not agree with them all but they had merit. Before I go through the script, I will deal with a number of points raised. Deputy Bacik and Labour referred to HAP. “Tenant in situ” is a term used by Dublin City Council. In layman’s terms, it is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Process (15 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I acknowledge how serious an issue this is for families. Obviously, Senator Seery Kearney has been a pioneer on this, has campaigned on this and has done a huge amount of political work on it. It is a matter that needs to be expedited. With that, I begin by thanking the Senator for giving me, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, the opportunity to inform the House of the up-to-date...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Process (15 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will conclude by emphasising the urgency with which the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, wishes to be in a position to bring the new surrogacy provisions on Committee Stage of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 to the Select Committee on Health for consideration. He is particularly determined to seek a way to speedily resolve the predicament and uncertainty faced by...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Children's Hospital (15 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, for this opportunity to update the House on this important matter. The children's hospital project will truly transform how paediatric care is delivered in Ireland. The new children's hospital building is at the heart of this transformation bringing the acute paediatric hospital service and specialties in...