Results 4,121-4,140 of 7,187 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the witnesses for attending. Following on from what we have heard, I think it is reasonable to say that if there is a directly elected mayor for Dublin, the most basic interpretation of this would be the Limerick model that has been discussed, whereby the NTA would effectively stay as is in terms of what it is doing, but it would have a reporting-in function to a directly elected...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Let us take contracting and tendering processes and the kind of staff resources that would be allocated to that as an example. How many people are we talking about in that area? If some of those people were taken away and given to a directly elected mayor what would happen? Is half of the staff complement working on transport in Dublin or in the greater Dublin area or how does it work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: On that, if that competency was given to a directly elected mayor in Dublin, in order for that to work would staff and resources have to be shifted with that in full or could it be that the responsibility lies with a directly elected mayor and their office but all the work is done through the NTA, which is then simply reporting in? Would that be unworkable or unfeasible? It might work in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: The concerns around inefficiencies are on two levels. There are risks that an additional and unnecessary layer could be introduced that does not necessarily add a huge amount, though it could be argued that it is an addition in democratic accountability and strategic oversight. That alone would be valuable. There could also be a duplication or dilution of expertise, as opposed to having it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: That touches on another matter. I refer to democratic accountability for the NTA and the work it does in Dublin. On a statutory basis, what does that democratic accountability look like? Is it-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: There is no formal way for the local authorities to engage. They can talk to the NTA and invite it to meetings but there is no formal statutory role for the local authorities at all, is there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: That is a massive gap or deficit. I am not criticising anyone in that. There are three other Dublin local authorities and there are elected councillors. Public transport policy in the Dublin area is hugely strategically significant so to have accountability to the Oireachtas and not to the local authorities is a huge gap.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: It happens in my constituency all the time currently. It is not just the Senator's experience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: This will sound parochial but I will use an example I am aware of with respect to protected cycle lanes. In my constituency, the main roads of Howth, Sutton and Baldoyle in the Fingal County Council area have all had protected cycle lanes for the past couple of years. Where there are not cycle lanes, there is, by and large, dedicated off-road cycling infrastructure in place on the main...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: The answers touch on something important. If a directly elected mayor is going to make a difference, not only does he or she need powers and competencies but he or she will also need to have access to funding. If a mayor is going to add value on active travel, it has got to be because someone runs for election as mayor, says that active travel is going to be a priority and is then able to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I have a question on electric charging points. Does the NTA have a role in their provision?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Okay. It is related to this. I meet people who are frequently very annoyed about the lack of provision. It is not just the general public provision but there is that key issue in areas where there is newer housing. It is dense, people do not have driveways, and they cannot put in the charging points. There is also older housing that is densely built and designed, where they cannot put it...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Special Educational Needs (25 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 164. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review a case (details supplied); if this process is discriminatory to children with disabilities who are recommended to attend playschool for their development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46884/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Since the Government lifted the eviction ban, we have had record levels of homelessness month after month. Never in the history of the State has the number of children living and growing up without a home been so high. Homelessness for children can have devastating and long-term consequences in their education and development. One woman was in touch with me in the past week who has been...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: None of this is enough, is it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I concur with many of Deputy Duffy's comments about the experience of being a councillor, for example on how a councillor can challenge effectively, interrogate his or her functions properly and give strategic leadership when the executive has all of the resources. We all try our best when we are in those roles but it is a David versus Goliath situation. I want to make this first point...