Results 23,661-23,680 of 26,185 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): School Facilities (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I join with my colleagues in welcoming the Kennedy family. I represent the city of Limerick. John F. Kennedy visited Limerick in 1963 at what was then the old racecourse. The racecourse has moved but the structures are still there. At the time, the mayor was female, which was very unusual. Both of my parents were there. My dad has passed away but my mother is still alive and remembers...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): School Facilities (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The notes say 589 but we will take it that 620 students were enrolled in the school for the 2022-23 school year. The Department’s planning and building unit recently received an application from St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School seeking funding for a new PE hall and social space for students. This is in addition to funding that was approved under the additional school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): School Facilities (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I again thank Senator Joe O'Reilly for allowing me to outline the Department of Education's position to the House. As the Senator will be aware, St. Aidan's Comprehensive School is currently advancing an additional school accommodation project which is delivering additional specialist classroom and ancillary accommodation. This project is currently at design stage, stage 2(b). As I stated,...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am delighted to be invited to speak about local government and planning in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for that area. I was delighted to accept the invite. As a former Member of the House, I am aware that Members have a huge interest in local government affairs and are fierce advocates for strong local government. As Minister of State, that advocacy and support are...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It has been a very informed debate. I wish to respond to the points raised. I propose to give a general overview and then go through the specific points. I thank Members for their incisive and progressive contributions. Some of my points will touch on items raised. In April, Ireland welcomed a monitoring mission from the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: One of the key features of the Croí Cónaithe scheme is that it is relatively straightforward. It provides for €50,000 for a unit built prior to 2008 that has been vacant for two years or more. The figure is €70,000 if it is derelict. It is very straightforward. With regard to the over-the-shop scheme, if a retail unit or office is downstairs and the upstairs has...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are in the process of finalising the legislation. I am looking to have it prior to the summer recess as quickly as possible. I cannot be more honest than that. That is my intention.

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Senator Gavan also spoke about social and affordable housing. I want to see more of that. He made reference to Castleconnell in Limerick. The local authority is looking at an affordable cost-rental scheme of upwards of 20 units in Castleconnell. I do not know the number of tenants in situ as that is private information. I want to see Part V applied in new estates, with 10% social housing...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Fundamentally, the directly elected mayors will be underpinned by the legislation. Like everything in life, there probably will be elements in respect of which people will have questions but I am determined that we get legislation that is fit for purpose. It will be then up to the Government to decide when the election will be held. It will be held. Senator Hoey referred to local...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----the margin was very narrow. Our margin was very positive in the other direction. I am conscious that, whatever we bring forward, we are in a new phase and need to ensure we bring people with us. There will be a review after three years of the role. That was built into the general-----

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I did. I will mention it again.

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As the Senator is aware, as matters currently stand, councillors can claim for the installation of a security scheme under the local representation measures that are available to them. In addition, they can get a percentage of monitoring costs thereafter. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission came forward with its own stand-alone scheme for which Deputies and Senators now qualify. That...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Members for their insightful contributions and look forward to continuing to work with them.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I refer to the reply to Question No. 99 of Wednesday 21 June 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Canney for raising this matter. My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support 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. I agree with Deputy Canney that the scheme is hugely beneficial. The total...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: To give reassurance, we are looking at all grants, including housing adaptation for older people, the mobility aids grant and the disabled persons grants. The review looked in the round at both income thresholds and the level of grants. They are all included in the review and the submissions made to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I absolutely concur. We see on the ground, even in my role as a Deputy in Limerick city, the impact and benefit it has. I want to acknowledge that there is a significant body of work under way by our officials in the Department. I acknowledge the work of the officials in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform as well. At this moment in time, it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am well aware this is a matter the Deputy has raised consistently. I wish to advise her that I have received a report from the chair of the Galway task force covering social housing and related issues over the period of 2021 to 2022. Once I and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, have completed a review in consultation with officials, we will arrange for a copy of the report to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I cannot answer that. I will certainly clarify that point. On the Galway issue, the Deputy brought this up recently in the House and asked for the report to be published. We have gotten a report, which we have just received, as the Deputy will appreciate. She will appreciate that we need to give it proper due consideration. We have just received it. We are going to go through it in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: When the Deputy brought this up previously, I undertook that we would get the report. We have a report now. We have a working document. It is not fair to say what the Deputy has said. Social housing delivery has taken place in Galway. We would obviously like to see a lot more but it is not as if there has not been any. In 2021, Galway city delivered 129 houses and Galway county...