Results 2,701-2,720 of 2,737 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rural Recreation Policy (30 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Barrow Blueway Project is a significant initiative that will support communities and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives. Waterways Ireland is responsible for the delivery of the canal-side works elements while the roadside works elements are being undertaken by Kildare County Council. Kildare County Council is...

Community Pharmacy Agreement: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: They must have been over for the Steelers game. To answer Deputy Toole's question at the outset, the chief pharmaceutical officer commitment will be fulfilled. I do not have a timeline on that but it is absolutely a commitment that we will follow through and fulfil. I would like to thank the Deputies for their contributions today, especially those who spoke in support of community...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Educational Disadvantage (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy for speaking on this issue with such passion. He has a lot of knowledge in this area. He has seen the benefits that DEIS has provided with those extra supports in terms of schools where there are a variety of challenges. There are disadvantages areas and students from all different backgrounds. I have also seen first-hand in my own constituency the benefits those extra...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Educational Disadvantage (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I reiterate that the Government is committed to tackling child poverty and it sees education as a key enabler to achieve that. The development of the DEIS plus scheme will be a further positive step in this commitment to lifting more children out of poverty to give them the futures they deserve. Since its introduction the DEIS programme has tackled the impact of poverty through supporting...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Eligibility (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy for addressing this. She has certainly outlined a hardship case. It is hard to disagree with her description of it as a gap in the system that needs to be addressed. I will just outline the current situation and then perhaps from there we can bring this back to the Minister for Social Protection to ensure he is aware of anomalies. I will first provide an overview of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Eligibility (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: As I referred to in my opening statement, the social system operates on the general principle of one person, one payment. This approach is a standard feature of social security systems throughout the world. It means that, generally, the bereaved partner's pension cannot be received at the same time as illness benefit. I know it is probably no comfort, but my earlier contribution also...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Wall for raising this issue. I have taken a couple of Topical Issue matters from him and Athy seems to feature fairly prominently. Fair play. He is representing the place well. It is interesting that he is providing a bit of a taxi service for anybody who misses a train. That is the right thing to do. Fair play to him. Funding and policymaking for public transport is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: That is a point well made. Athy is obviously a growing town. It is an important commuter town, not just for people to work and commute but also for people to study and commute, so it is important that we facilitate that, take cars off the road and provide as much public transport as possible. The investment in the extra carriages, as outlined, on the Drogheda line will free up carriages....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospice Services (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know the LauraLynn foundation is something he has always advocated for and fought for. I agree with him 100%. The merit and support provided by organisations and foundations like the LauraLynn children's hospice represent unbelievable value for money. The service they provide is incredible. I liken it to Cancer Connect or ARC house, which are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospice Services (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: We will get clarity on whether it will be a review or a brand-new policy. The Deputy mentioned some good examples. He has been an advocate for all of the organisations he mentioned. We know he has been championing the highlighting of rare diseases, especially among children, over this term and the previous term. I refer again to Cancer Connect. A number of years ago it received no...

Developer Profits Transparency Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Government will oppose this Bill, but I welcome the opportunity to speak about the role of Government measures to support access to affordable housing and assist those aspiring to buy their own home. We continue to deliver the first affordable homes in a generation and are supporting increasing supply in this area. Quarter 1 of 2025 has seen the continued strong performance of the...

Developer Profits Transparency Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I also welcome Deputy Hearne's family to the Public Gallery, although I am not sure if they are still up there. I had a sense that he was a lot more measured in his approach today. He was a lot more tempered. Usually, he does not hold back and gives it both barrels. He is clearly on his best behaviour, although I had better not speak too soon. I appreciate that this is his first time...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hedge Cutting (2 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Under the Wildlife Act 1976, there is a general prohibition against destruction of vegetation between March 1st and August 31st. However, there is provision in the legislation for certain exemptions in respect of cutting vegetation for health and safety reasons, and for cutting roadside hedges for road safety reasons. Section 40(2)(c) of the Wildlife Act provides that it shall not be an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Cork City Council has a target to deliver 592 new build social homes in 2025. The social housing construction status report, CSR, shows that there were 1,084 homes on site at various stages of design and procurement in Cork city at the end of Q1 of 2025. Cork county has a target of 683 new-build social homes this year. The CSR shows that there are 1,203 homes on site at various stages of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: If all local authorities were able to match the rate of delivery of Cork county then the rate of delivery of social housing and affordable housing right across the board would be much stronger. I commend the work of the councillors and the local authority there, of which the Deputy was recently a member. There are some specifics in relation to Cork North-West, if the Deputy is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Fair play to Deputy O'Shea for taking this opportunity to raise the issue. We cannot rest on our laurels. There is a lot more work to be done. There are still plenty of people in Cork county who need social homes. There is a huge demand for affordable homes so we absolutely need to accelerate that delivery. The Deputy is right in saying that when Cork County Council got the go ahead to...

Financial Resolutions 2025 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I get to speak today on investment in our nature and built heritage. The exciting news is that, for the first time ever, funding for nature and heritage exceeds a quarter of a billion. That is extraordinary and something we could not have thought possible a number of years ago. Now, for the first time, we exceed that figure. To put it into context, that represents a 15% increase for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (7 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I am pleased to confirm that Glenveagh National Park remains open to visitors seven days a week all year around and, as with all National Parks managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), entry is free. In addition to amenities such as walks, trails, viewing points and toilets, the Visitor/Exhibition Centre, Castle Gardens and shuttle bus remain available to the public almost...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (7 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Broadmeadow Estuary site is an integral part of the Malahide Estuary Special Protection Area SPA4025 and Special Area of Conservation SAC205. Details of the SPA/SAC can be viewed here: www.npws.ie/protected-sites Under the Wildlife Act 1976, shooting of birds is prohibited, except during the open season, when shooting of birds, except those breeds not on the open seasons order is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (7 Oct 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 660. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to extending the capacity at Kinsale Community Hospital by an additional 100 beds and improving both inpatient and outpatient services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53435/25]