Results 761-780 of 3,444 for speaker:Shane Cassells

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: I have not done it yet, so first I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him the very best in his role. In his statement earlier today, the Minister said the Bill had just one purpose, which is to establish the Department and to confer a name. However, it is so much more in terms of its resonance in every single aspect of rural life, for which the Minister has a huge...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: 72. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda station in County Meath as of 30 June 2017; and the number of new recruits assigned to the division since recruitment resumed in 2014. [32871/17]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: 103. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the issue of commercial rates being applied to private child care centres will be reviewed by his Department with a view to excluding them on the same basis as community child care centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32680/17]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Stations (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: 397. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will designate Enfield train station in County Meath as a short hopper station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33425/17]

Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: Rather than seek the eradication of homework at primary level, we should be fostering a love of education. Education does not simply exist within the constraints of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. but continues after that. At a time when young children are exposed more than ever to iPads, iPhones and all of the social media, the one thing we should be doing is reading to children at night. I say that as...

Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: I echo Senator Kelleher's point on the gap that exists. We should also take account of the fact that educational facilities in the locations have changed over the last decade because of changing demographics and settlement patterns, which is only going to continue over the next ten to 20 years. That has impacts on special education provision and the demand for autism units. This definitely...

Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: The programme for Government also has a commitment to building capacity for emergency and acute services by reducing the number of people going into hospital. The decision to close the facility was announced at 4.10 p.m. on Tuesday by the HSE. It will put 124 elderly patients out onto the street. The service has existed for 34 years in Navan. Last month the Taoiseach said from now on the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: The HSE will not spend the money.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: 63. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will rescind the ministerial order for the SDZ in Clonmagadden, Navan, County Meath, in view of the fact that the scheme is no longer fit for purpose in its current guise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33107/17]

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: I welcome the Garda Commissioner and her team back to the committee. I will focus on the Commissioner's opening statement and the number of gardaí because in all these debates the issue of gardaí numbers on our streets is sometimes overlooked. Is the Garda on course to meet the target it has set of increasing Garda numbers to 21,000 by 2021.?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: The key issue that jumps out of the statement is that the focus is very much on the civilian side. Why is that the case?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: In what specific areas will these civilian members be deployed?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: What areas of specialist skills?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: It is quite a number at 2,000, which is a 100% increase.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: Again, is there a plan for the redeployment of 2,000 gardaí to front-line duty by 2021 in Garda stations throughout the country?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: There will be a plan every year, year on year, for the next number of years.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: Can that be provided to us in terms of the Garda stations where those numbers, including the 500 for this year, are being redeployed?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: I wish to focus on one aspect, because it is the most important. I will put it in context. The force has a spend of €1.5 billion and €1 billion of that is on wages, so the focus is on the human element or human capital of where those gardaí will be deployed. Deputy Catherine Murphy mentioned this earlier. Is the focus specifically on urban areas or is there a focus on...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: I will explain why I am focusing on this. There has been much discussion this morning on ICT and the divisional headquarters being built. I pass Kevin Street every morning and it is quite an impressive building. However, the issue is what people do in that building. People listening to this discussion are interested in the Garda's style of policing and what that means. I have attended...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Shane Cassells: Okay.