Results 24,301-24,320 of 24,399 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I am taking this matter this morning on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I thank Senator Stephenson for raising it as it gives me an opportunity to update the House on the ongoing work to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences. The Senator is correct that women deserve to be heard, respected and believed. The Minister for Health has previously said, and I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I again thank the Senator. I will bring her concerns and questions back to the Minister. The Government and the Minister share her commitment to providing women in Ireland with a healthcare system that is agile and responsive to the needs of the women of Ireland today. With regard to the women's healthcare questions the Senator has posed, I do not have the answers, as she will appreciate,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Driver Test (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Senator. She is right that the delays are too long. It is a serious matter and I thank her for raising it, and for highlighting the pressure on young people and their families. She is correct in that regard. I am smiling at the notion that the driving test is a rite of passage. It is. I would have loved to have taken the Senator for a driving lesson. One can imagine the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Driver Test (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is right again. It is about being creative and ensuring that the very important and serious matter of this long-term and long-standing issue in service provision, which the Government understands and recognises, is addressed. We must ensure we have a reliable, high-quality driving testing service. We understand that these unacceptable waiting times have profound implications...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I understand the Deputy's frustration. Primary care and the utilisation of the centre are perhaps matters that the HSE is best placed to tackle. Equally, the local regional health forum is a forum where the Deputy and other public representatives can put pressure on the HSE. However, I take the Deputy's point. Again, on behalf of the Minister, I wish to reassure the Deputy and I thank her...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Procedures (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health. I congratulate Deputy Ward on his appointment as Chair of the European affairs committee and wish him well in the role. He has raised a very important matter regarding women's health and the healthcare provided to them. The urogynaecological transvaginal mesh is used in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I hold responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport. The delay in establishing Oireachtas committees has had no impact on the approval of funding for new Local Link bus services, as with all plans any additional funding for Local Link services is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I hold responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport. Under Budget 2025, the Department of Transport secured a funding package of c. €658.442 million for Public Service Obligation (PSO) and TFI Local Link services (an increase from...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (8 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (8 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I wish to thank the Deputy for his question. The Government has earmarked €5.1bn for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. As the greater portion of this funding becomes available in the second half of the decade, this means that there was a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year. However, I can confirm that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister for Transport, I am responsible for public transport policy and overall funding, but I am not involved in daily operations. The National Transport Authority (NTA) holds statutory responsibility for delivering and managing public transport services, including timetabling and coordination with operators. At a policy level, and as stated in the Programme for Government, this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (8 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Deputy, I would like to reassure you that as per the new Programme for Government, this Government is fully committed to increasing Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities and to enhancing and expanding our public transport services provision across the country. To support this objective, under Budget 2025, the Department secured €658.442...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (8 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I am pleased to confirm that the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan was launched on the 29th of April.Developed by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), the plan sets targets and strategies for local authorities to drive EV infrastructure development at destination and neighbourhood locations, with government support.This is in alignment with both national and EU climate goals,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to continuing the roll-out of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and continued investment in new town bus services. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I think the Deputy will agree with me when I say that the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan has been a huge success, with over 150 new or enhanced services introduced since 2022. This means that over 240 towns and villages have been connected to the public transport network, and approximately 600,000 people have access to new and enhanced bus services. 61 new connections have been...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (7 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The 2025 Electric Small Public Service Vehicle Grant Scheme (eSPSV25), supports the uptake of EVs in the small public service vehicles sector and has a budget of €12.5m in 2025. The Scheme is now fully subscribed with 1,850 applications. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has temporarily paused the scheme to review and process the eligible applications received. Following...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (7 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to EVs. In 2020 an eSPSV infrastructure scheme was introduced which involved installing eSPSV dedicated chargers at major transport hubs...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (13 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Senator Ryan for her ongoing advocacy. I know she wrote to and communicated with the NTA last month regarding Annacotty Business Park I commend her on that. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. It gives me an opportunity to provide Senator Ryan and the House with an update on sustainable mobility options in Limerick. The Limerick-Shannon metropolitan...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (13 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the group to the Gallery. I share Senator Ryan's positivity regarding BusConnects and public transport in Limerick. As a country, we are redesigning our bus network and Limerick is at the forefront of that in terms of the provision of more public transport. As I said, there has been a 70% increase in bus services in Limerick city and suburbs, shorter waits, more direct routes,...

Driving Test Wait Times: Statements (14 May 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Gan amhras, nílimid sásta maidir le tréimhse fanachta na dtástálacha tiomána. Tá an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Canney, ag obair leis an Aire chun tréimhse fanachta na dtástálacha a laghdú. I recognise that my response to the debate will probably be no different from what was said by any of the Members who have spoken. We are all...