Results 921-940 of 1,061 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: The risk that is there is unthinkable. We are not talking thousands, but probably tens of thousands of people who are at risk. You would have to say that this work needs to be done and we could sort out the issues afterwards, it is that urgent. As a committee, we will do what we can to highlight that issue further and push it because people should not be at that kind of risk. It is as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank everyone for being here. I apologise for missing a share of the meeting. I was speaking on the Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill. On the slurry exemption, could the Minister speak about separation distances from the likes of water supply and watercourses? The separation distance from a public road is 10 m, and I believe it is 100 m from a nearby residential property, other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: In a slatted unit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I understand the position with regard to the animal housing. This is about a stand-alone facility.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: To the 300 sq. m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It is considered to be an adequate separation distance. Was an issue ever raised in terms of exempted development regulations that apply to animal housing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: At first sight, the distance would not appear to be huge, but I take the point the Minister of State is making. I missed the part on commercial-to-residential conversions. Am I allowed to raise it now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I note from the briefing document that just over 1,400 applications were made in the six-year period from 2018 to 2024. What is the Minister of State’s assessment of that? It would strike me as a relatively low level of activity.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I appreciate that. Do we know whether the figure provided for the pubs translated into actual activity? Were there applications from people who sought the exemption but did not follow through and carry out the work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Is any publicity planned on trying to increase the overall level of activity on foot of these exempted developments progressing and so on to try to get the message out that these exemptions exist so that we can do more in converting old former commercial properties into residential units? Is that something we could consider doing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It is one thing for the Department to do something, but it is important to include the local authorities in this because they have their own communication systems in place and we should try to utilise those to get the message out. I may have missed this. I am sure other members asked about further exempted development and the timeline for garden structures. Do we have an indication on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: When the Minister of State says they will be brought forward, does he mean they will be in place before the end of the year? Will it be possible to use them before the end of the year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I am sorry for putting this on the Minister of State, but is the change for exempted developments in gardens and so on also unlikely to be retrospective or is it still being worked through?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 850. To ask the Minister for Health the specific paediatric prosthetic devices which are currently funded by the HSE; if these include activity-capable and sport-appropriate components; and if not, the reason. [54906/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 851. To ask the Minister for Health the average and longest current waiting times for children to receive prosthetic limbs and subsequent upgrades or replacements; and the steps being taken to reduce these delays. [54907/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 852. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated average out-of-pocket cost to families for child prosthetic provision in Ireland; and the measures being considered to reduce or eliminate reliance on fundraising by parents to meet basic mobility needs. [54908/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 853. To ask the Minister for Health if she will review the quality and usability of prosthetics provided to children in Ireland; if this review will include direct consultation with families and service users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54909/25]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Attention was drawn to non-compliance by the LDA on the procurement side of things. I note that in the explanatory note it is to carry out a review this year. Could we seek an update after that review? Would that be appropriate?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Yes.