Results 361-380 of 498 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the witnesses from the three groups for coming before the committee today. I thank them for their opening statements too. As the Chair said, we have read them in advance and do not need them to be read. I will start with the Ombudsman for Children's Office. I thank Dr. Muldoon for outlining the position as he sees it at present. We all understand the impact of homelessness on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Dr. Muldoon for his frank response. Time is against me so I will move on to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, DRHE, and Westmeath County Council. I will go to the Dublin representatives first, both of whom are working on the coalface. We know the homelessness figures are at their highest point. The trajectory has not been good vis-à-vis the past. What is their sense of it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I ask Mr. Mulhern to be brief. I will probably have to come back to Westmeath. Will he comment on tenant in situ?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Is it fair to say there will not be a lot left?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Am I not next in the rotation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: If we are all getting a go, it is fine. Deputy Hearne can fire away.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Dr. Muldoon mentioned that we are the third richest country in Europe but we are also spending the second highest amount on housing so we are spending a lot. I know we are caught for time but internationally the numbers are high elsewhere. In the UK, 160,000 children are in homeless accommodation and there are 5,000 in Northern Ireland. Has Dr. Muldoon looked at the situation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I am interested in hearing what solutions we can put in place now to address child homelessness, drawing from international experience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I have a question for both Dublin City Council and Westmeath County Council, and in particular Ms Hayes, who mentioned acquiring properties that would be used for short-term emergency accommodation. Is that a relatively new departure that is being considered? What kinds of properties is she talking about? Are they actual houses or will they be larger properties with multiple family units?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Are they properties with five, six, eight or ten units within them? Is that what we are talking about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Are we talking about apartment blocks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Does Westmeath County Council have similar plans?

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 108. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to consider initialising a further phase of the Cork Luas project (details supplied). [34025/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 306. To ask the Minister for Finance the average time taken to process claims and issue refunds to applicants under the employment and incentive investment scheme; and when refunds were made on average relating to applications in 2023 and 2024. [34057/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the proposed building works at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35120/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 333. To ask the Minister for Health the number of active fair deal cases where a family home is involved in the financial assessment; the number of those cases where the person availing of the scheme was the only occupant of the property; and the number of these properties are now vacant or rented out. [35064/25]

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2023
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the witness for attending. We very much value the work done by An Garda Síochána. The witnesses will appreciate that our work this morning is to ask questions about, and probe into, the use of public money. I ask them not to take our questions as a criticism. We must ensure we get the best possible value for the public money that is spent on the service. The overall...