Results 6,601-6,620 of 10,878 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (29 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: 788. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current number of hectares of afforestation in the State; the percentage of land cover this comprises; if these figures are inclusive of forestry impacted by ash dieback; the total number of hectares impacted by ash dieback within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59187/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: 112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) will be allocated a school bus ticket as per previous years, in line with Government commitments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59742/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: 113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) will be allocated a school bus ticket as per previous years, in line with Government commitments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59744/22]

Address by H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (1 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Comhshuí de Dháil Éireann agus de Sheanad Éireann - Joint Sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas - Address by H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (1 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: 41. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he will announce new income limits for social housing applications; if he will provide for discretion on compassionate grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59758/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: 202. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the intended timeframe in which he intends to bring forward proposals to extend the eligibility applicable to local authorities regarding housing supports. [56643/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: 71. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of houses that will be completed by the local authority and by approved housing bodies; the number of affordable housing units that will be completed in County Monaghan in 2023; the corresponding figures for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59757/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (1 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: 114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his proposed timeline to implement proposals relating to a new model whereby the State would assist in relation to the provision of student accommodation. [59759/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: 156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has a target with regard to increasing the number of students enrolled in veterinary medicine. [59760/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (1 Dec 2022)

Matt Carthy: 371. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to ensure the availability of horticultural peat for use in the domestic horticultural sector. [56644/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: I thank the witness. I am very familiar with the witness's work with Irish Rural Link, particularly during my time as a county councillor. The witness's research was often cited favourably at meetings of Monaghan County Council. I have a few questions. Just for background, will Mr. Boland tell us how he came to be commissioned to carry out this report? Did he apply or was he approached by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: The working paper indicated a report would be produced in the short-term. Was Mr. Boland given a specific timeframe?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: No, I am just trying to get a sense of that. I see the report scope, as mentioned in the presentation, was: To independently undertake an assessment on the levels and sustainability of current peat stocks across all peat suppliers in Ireland. This assessment is to include available peat stocks, their level of suitability for different horticultural uses, to determine whether or not hobby...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: I ask because there are restrictive proposals within each of the recommendations. We will come to those in terms of their feasibility or otherwise. I wonder where in the terms of reference or the scope they came from.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: Like Mr. Boland, I am far from being an expert in this area. I meet people who tell me we should not extract a single ounce of peat, and everything in between. One of the questions that comes up constantly is how come, right across Europe, horticulture can be cultivated without the types of delays that exist in Ireland. That is a question often asked of me and I have no answer. I have to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: On the back of the report, it must be noted that we are told that the reason our planning laws are the way they are is to comply with EU legislation. I assume the witness is not suggesting that any of those countries are in breach of those EU regulations or directives.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: The report seems to boil down to three recommendations. The first is essentially a pilot scheme for either a single authority or a number of local authorities to draw in all of the expertise and see how fast this can be done under the current framework for plots of above 30 ha. Is that essentially it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: The question the committee has asked of a number of different stakeholders is how quickly this could be done, if it were done perfectly. We are told that within the current dual licensing system and a potential judicial review, the best-case scenario would be four to six years. Does Mr. Boland agree? The suggestion is a pilot scheme that would potentially run for six years before being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: On the Rochfortbridge concept, as mining of another product is taking place , the proposal is that the peat that is being dug through would be made available to the horticulture sector. The witness has mentioned that it would only be used for domestic purposes. I have put questions to the Minister of State because she has cited the export of peat. I have put on the record that I would have...