Results 4,701-4,720 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: It is clear from the way this legislation has developed that it has proved difficult for Deputies in this Chamber and for the Government to do the job to which I refer. It is absolutely essential for us to take as long as possible to ensure no mistakes, or no other mistakes, are made.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: It is just as well that this measure has been the subject of such deep scrutiny. Some spokespersons have been criticised for not being in the Chamber, but I suggest that any spokesperson, or indeed the Minister, who is not in the Chamber is probably doing further scrutiny of this legislation in his or her office with his or her assistants. That is the position here. I absolutely uphold the...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: How long will it take the Department to go through the motions and get approvals, finance and actual tenders for actual projects?

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Perhaps the Minister of State will address this matter at some point. A scheme of approximately 40 houses in Kells that was minor in the overall scheme of things but very important for the town was taken completely off the drawing board at the start of the year as a result of incompetence somewhere. I am not saying it is the fault of the Government or the council that the scheme has not yet...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: It seems to me that the person who was responsible for the Kells scheme dropping off the list did not really understand the urgency of the housing crisis we are facing. I suggest that the need for a housing scheme in Kells and for other housing schemes throughout the country did not seem sufficiently urgent to him or her. Can the Minister tell us when exactly the local authority houses that...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: -----or say "of course it does not"-----

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Could the Dáil see them? Could they be included in the legislation? Having spoken to Deputy Cowen on this point, I am not certain that what the Minister has said is actually the case. The legislation needs to set out what is meant by a "substantial change". Painting is substantial from-----

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: We are legislating for rent control.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: We are legislating here for an exception to rent certainty. It is extremely important for the Dáil to know what it is voting on. Other speakers have made the point that we are not on Second Stage. We are not talking about the generalities here. We need to know the specifics.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: We need to know what exactly is a "substantial change". It is an important point. I appreciate that a higher level of rent would be expected in the case of an old cottage that was in an almost uninhabitable state being done up. I accept that rent certainty might not apply in such a case. Believe it or not, there are places like this within the rent pressure zones. Let us suppose a place...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Some of the questions were not answered but I am sure they will be. Is the Minister aware that the Irish Property Owners' Association, IPOA, has issued a statement which was on Kildare FM that it is now considering withdrawal from State-sponsored rental schemes and implementing payment for key hand-over and charges for registration, car parking, letting costs and documentation costs. Could...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The first would have made the situation far worse.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Will the Minister indicate what action will be taken in that regard?

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 38. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures that will be taken to tackle a burglary detection rate of less than one in eight in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40461/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount which will be specifically allocated in 2017 to teaching coding in primary and post-primary schools. [41007/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (16 Dec 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in 2017 which will be providing coding courses and at which levels. [41008/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (17 Jan 2017)

Thomas Byrne: 395. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Bus Éireann and contractor vehicles, including whether they are large, medium, mini or taxi, operating the school transport scheme, in tabular form. [41692/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (17 Jan 2017)

Thomas Byrne: 396. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary pupils availing of school transport in 2015 and 2016, in tabular form; and if they are eligible or concessionary. [41693/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Jan 2017)

Thomas Byrne: 422. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the services available for children with dyslexia, specifically in respect of audio textbooks, which have been proven to be of help but are not currently available from his Department. [1400/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Repair and Leasing Scheme (17 Jan 2017)

Thomas Byrne: 471. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the expected timeframe for the introduction of the repair and lease scheme in County Meath as outlined in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41371/16]