Results 23,341-23,360 of 26,178 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The fund is specifically about vacant housing units. Workshops are taking place between the Department and local authorities because we want the local authorities in five cities to proactively use the fund to activate vacant units for housing. The URDF funding is a targeted measure. The public realm was the previous round and it may return to the public realm. The URDF is specific funding...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is correct.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The URDF is specifically for cities. As the Chairman will be well aware, local authorities can access other schemes that cater for towns and villages, which we encourage them to do. The URDF is a specific fund where we want local authorities to come forward with proposals. The Department is directly engaging with the local authorities on an intensive basis. Officials from the URDF section...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the last question in respect of staff, 250 staff were to be recruited for the social housing project and 180 of those are currently in place. Recruitment is ongoing for the other 70. There are 69 staff in place for affordable housing. As I said, 250 new staff were approved to support the delivery of social housing and it is an important measure. Recruitment commenced in late 2021 and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As the Deputy will be aware from the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the regulations are out. They are with the local authority. The Minister has met with various political groups. He hopes and intends to meet with residents very shortly on the mica issue in County Donegal. The Minister is very much engaged on this and wants this-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is certainly something I will take back to him. He has met various councillors. On this particular issue, however, he is very keen to meet the residents first and foremost. That will happen relatively shortly.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: If the Deputy was in the Chamber for questions on housing about three weeks ago, he will have heard the Minister give a commitment that any local authority that wishes to appoint additional housing officers can make a business case to the Department, which will be very receptive to it. I ask the Deputy to go back to Tipperary County Council to make a case for additional vacant homes officers...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy for raising that point. He might give us the specifics of that case, but the point he makes is valid and is one we in the Department will look into under the tenant purchase scheme. He raises a point on which there appears to be an anomaly. He might bring forward the specific case so we can look at it in the context of the overall policy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Donnelly might bring the specifics of the point he raised to me. I am not aware of it but we can look at it. We want people to be able to remain in their homes. That is certainly the intention. In response to Deputy Leddin, we are on track to have the legislation for a directly-elected mayor published in April. It is a priority for this Government, particularly for the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for his congratulatory comments and I thank him for raising this very important issue. The policy paper on water sector transformation, as published in 2021, set out the Government's vision for the development of water services in Ireland based on the full integration of water services under Uisce Éireann as a single national water services authority in public...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Senator has made clear points. He understands the issues at hand in Clonmel. I understand that my Department and I will make direct contact with Uisce Éireann to ask its officials to engage directly with the Senator, and councillors John Fitzgerald and Michael Murphy in Clonmel, on this particular issue. Ultimately, we all want to improve the quality of the water supply, which is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I will speak on CF overall and go into the details. Is the patient to whom she referred a woman?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: If we can do anything for that lady, I ask the Senator to provide me the details and I will follow up on it. I know many people who have CF. They are a group I admire. Many of them are highly successful. A member of my extended family who has CF is a credit to her parents and leading a very full life. I fully support the provision of any supports that are required in the context of CF....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I make the point to Senator Seery Kearney, soon to be Deputy Seery Kearney, that although it is regrettable that recruitment for a consultant respiratory and lung transplantation physician in the Mater hospital has been delayed, the HSE ODTI is working to recruit to the position as soon as possible. Once in place, this consultant physician will provide greater support to lung transplant...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. The Senator and I are colleagues in Limerick and I am fully aware of this issue. Senator Gavan will know that I, along with colleagues, have looked to highlight the issues at UHL with overcrowding. I intend to explain the difference and then I will deal with the more local, substantive...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I acknowledge the phenomenal work being done by front-line workers. I acknowledge the difficulties being experienced by patients who are presenting in UHL. Staff are doing their utmost. We have a capacity issue and we all accept that. The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, is fully aware. These are two different metrics. If someone presents to UHL, I would prefer for them to be in a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. The Department of Health recognises the key role of pharmacy services in the community and the ongoing significant contribution made by the sector to patients and the public, particularly during the pandemic. The potential role pharmacy services can play in the development and implementation of future healthcare reform, especially in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator again for speaking on this topic. The Department of Health appreciates the expertise of pharmacists and the valuable contribution they make, both in working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals as part of a team and working independently. By leveraging their knowledge, they make a significant contribution that adds benefits to patient outcomes. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2022 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. Section...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Section 16 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 obliges a tenant to pay any charges or taxes in accordance with the lease or tenancy agreement unless they are unlawful or contravene any other enactment. Typically, these may include electricity, gas or other utility charges. Will the Deputy provide the details of the specific case he raised to us? Typically, if a system has been in...