Results 24,261-24,280 of 26,181 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: When we talk about Limerick City and County Council, we are talking primarily about the elected council but also the officials in the council as well, and the mayor. It is an inclusive-----

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is correct.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes, absolutely.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: How can we talk about Limerick City and County Council without including the elected members? We cannot. Equally, in the spirit of co-operation, it is important to include the officials on the council as well, and also to include the mayor. Up to now we have have a two-pillar system consisting of the elected members and the CEO, manager, or whatever term one wants to use. It will be a...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: First, if Senator Gavan goes to section 7 of the Bill, it provides that the Minister “shall, not later than 3 months after the end of that period of 3 years, or on the completion of the review, whichever is the earlier, make a report, in writing”. The report has to be made, if he wants to go with his absolute, three years and three months after the mayor is elected. Second, it...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Senator is correct, in that the report has to be put before both Houses of the Oireachtas, which is the correct approach. It will obviously feed into the committee system as well. The Bill is true to what the people voted on, in term of powers. That is my abiding principle. The mayor will now bring forward a budget of €600 million to his or her colleagues in the chamber. He or...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to address amendments Nos. 8 to 13, inclusive, as they have been grouped together for discussion. Amendment No. 8, from Sinn Féin, to section 9 of the Bill proposes that the mayor shall not engage in any other form of paid employment during his or her term. I thank the Senators for highlighting this important point as the office of the mayor is a full-time role, with the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: This important role is reflected in section 32, which provides for the mayor to establish a Limerick mayoral advisory and implementation committee. One of the functions of the committee, which is to be chaired by the mayor, will be, "to promote, foster and support economic, touristic, social and cultural activities in Limerick, in particular the rural areas thereof". I specifically came up...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: All of us here are public representatives for Limerick. I believe that many of the points that have been raised in the amendments are included in the Bill. We can beg to differ but that is what I believe. Consequently, I cannot accept these amendments. I believe many of the matters have already been covered in the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together. My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (7 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: 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 Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery, including specific plans for the delivery of housing for disabled and older people. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under...