Results 7,121-7,140 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: I have one more question on access to services. At the moment, people can be almost off grid on the waterways. They can have solar panels and batteries and they do not need to be plugged into the mains power. If there is a requirement to plug into mains power, will those plugs need to be tested and certified for electrical installation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Senator. As no other members have indicated, I thank the witnesses for their engagement at the committee today. Mr. Finnegan and Mr. Whelan both wish to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: Mr. Whelan made the point about the infrastructure deficit. Deputy Buckley has got clarification on his point. Mr. Finnegan asked a question on the process going forward. The public consultation will complete on 26 February. I presume Waterways Ireland will then consider all the submissions and engagement it has had with local authorities and other members and then will produce a set of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: Deputy Lawless is just in time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Lawless. That concludes the session. I thank witnesses for their contributions; the committee has found them helpful. Obviously, any submissions must be made before 26 February and I am sure Waterways Ireland welcomes those submissions. I hope people who have joined the committee today, such as the residents and boat owners in the Public Gallery, as well as people...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: 115. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the review of the tax debt warehousing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5560/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: 246. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the number of vacant social homes brought back into active use under the voids programme in County Wicklow for 2021, 2022 and 2023, broken down in tabular form by local electoral area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4992/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: 249. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 347 of 23 January 2024, a timeline for the completion and publication of the departmental review of well water grants; if this is being prioritised by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4999/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: 465. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 486 of 30 January 2024, the position regarding any engagement that his Department has had with the owners of this childcare facility in relation to their financial position and proposed price increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5736/24]

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I note that we will suspend the meeting at 1.50 p.m. to allow Deputies to attend the Chamber and we will resume again at 3 p.m. Today, the Select Committee on Transport and Communications meets for consideration of the 2024 Revised Estimates for public services, Vote 31 – transport. I remind members that the committee has no role in approving the Estimates; rather it is an ongoing...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister. It has been agreed that the meeting will suspend at 1.50 p.m.. We are only four minutes off now so rather than bring in a member, I propose to suspend now and resume at 3 p.m if that is agreeable to everyone.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. I have the first speaking slot and I propose that each slot be ten minutes to make up for the suspension so that we can finish in a timely manner. In the Minister's opening statement and the briefing document we received earlier, there was mention of the road traffic measures Bill 2023 and, in particular, that an aspect of road safety be...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I agree with the Minster. We want the legislation brought in as soon as possible so we will support him on that. On the increased use of public transport, it is welcome to see the real leap back post Covid. I have no doubt that usage is a result of the continued investments in public transport. Connecting Ireland, in particular, has been quite successful. A total of 65 new or improved...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I am glad the Minister mentioned fare reductions because I fully support them. It is another reason we have seen quite a return to public transport. Admittedly, it was a cost-of-living issue that the Government addressed by bringing in the 50% reduction, as it is now, for people under 26, and 20% for everyone else. In relation to the NTA's work on the fare strategy recently, it is really...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I understand the complexity and difficulty in trying to set fares. Where it falls down is where one tries to set these concentric circles. Dublin and the greater Dublin area did not develop in a grid like New York city or something like that. We have population centres such as Skerries, which is just outside that concentric circle, Maynooth, which has just slipped into that concentric...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I was trying to cut the slots to ten to 12 minutes. They were down for 18 minutes. Are members agreeable to that? I can give the Deputy another three minutes if he wants 18 minutes. I will offer Deputies Kenny and O'Rourke-----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: We will revert back to the original 18 minutes.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: No other members are indicating so I will wind up by thanking the Minister, his officials and everyone who works in the public transport system. We provide the budgets but the Minister is correct to talk about drivers, maintenance teams and right across to the work the NTA does. The capital project team of Irish Rail was before the committee recently. The three bus providers and the NTA...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Message to Dáil (7 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: In accordance with Standing Order 101, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Transport and Communications has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2024: Vote 31 - Transport.