Results 24,061-24,080 of 26,185 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We all share the Deputy's sentiments.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am not sure what this has to do with this Bill.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: He is in the senior group now.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is sterling service.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Like everyone else, my thoughts are with the five-year-old girl and the crèche worker who is still recovering in hospital. That is why we are all here today. I have absolute confidence in the Minister for Justice. It is 12 days since the riots took place in Dublin. I want to contrast the behaviour of Sinn Féin and the Minister. Within a day, Deputy Louise O'Reilly was calling...

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Chair. I am delighted to be here for this debate. I thank Senators Boyhan, Craughwell and Keogan for tabling the motion.I commend all Members in the House on their advocacy for both councils and local government. I acknowledge LAMA and the AILG for their advocacy. I have met with their representatives on many occasions. The work they do on behalf of their members is very...

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am. That is under a different Act so it would not apply. Is that the Department of Transport?

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will inquire about that.

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Senator Craughwell made a point about broadband and expenses incurred. I am going to look at the LRA allowance specifically on that. I gave a commitment on that particular issue. Senator Fitzpatrick made reference to the executive and a directly elected mayor. In the Limerick situation, I have gone back to what the people voted for. Fundamentally, we are democrats and, fundamentally, I...

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes, absolutely. Senator Gallagher made a point. I look forward to the deliberations from Senator Mark Daly's public consultation committee and look forward to working with Senators that. Senator O'Loughlin said we should ensure more people go for election to local authorities. I was elected a councillor many years ago in 2004. I hugely value the role of councillors. I have said on many...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (6 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. On 4 August 2023, my Department granted Stage 1 approval to Cork City Council for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (6 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 96 and 99 together. My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to administer 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. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (7 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy. The Department’s role regarding homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. The named organisation informed the Dublin...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (7 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy will appreciate it is a difficult time. Our particular concern is for the more than 1,000 users of the Peter McVerry Trust, along with the more than 600 employees and the more than 600 people on the housing first scheme. The trust received €1.1 million on 4 December from the DRHE. It will receive a further €2.8 million by the end of December. It is then required...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (7 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The substantive question is about the trust. We want to ensure it is put on a sustainable footing, particularly for service users, staff and their work in delivering homeless services. The restructuring plan must be provided by the end of January. We note the points the Deputy raised on the broader context and will take them on board.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Planning and Development Bill 2023 provides a range of measures to improve consistency across the planning system through clearer, more consistent policies and guidance throughout all tiers of planning, from national to local. Ministerial guidelines and policy directives will be upgraded to national planning statements. These statements will be approved by Government and subject to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As the Deputy is aware, the Bill itself provides statutory timelines for An Bord Pleanála. That will provide a degree of certainty and it should speed up the process in terms of appeals. On the second point the Deputy raised, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any individual planning cases. It should be noted that the Government is opposed to the abuse of any process,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As the Deputy is aware, we are increasing the staff of An Bord Pleanála to 300, so we are putting the resources into the bord. The point I would make is that we are open to consider any amendments to the Bill on Committee Stage. I expect the Deputy will bring them forward and we would welcome that. What we are looking for, with the new planning Bill, is to have a robust and fit...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (7 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The documents referred to in the question are documents that are prepared and published by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The abridged Estimates for public services, AEV, are published as part of the expenditure report budget documents and detail provided for the Votes is limited to programme level. They vary and are hence called "abridged". They are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (7 Dec 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy has raised this matter previously. Departments and governments have to have their own process in how they deal with documents. I reiterate that the Revised Estimate Volume for public services obviously provides considerably more detail. It is prepared and published by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe. I...