Results 1,141-1,160 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank all our witnesses, and Ms Breathnach for sharing the experience of Waterford. It is great to hear that bed and breakfasts no longer need to be used. We know Waterford is leading the way in terms of delivering those one- and two-bed units, under its repair and lease scheme which has provided long-term solutions for people who were homeless. I very much welcome the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: On the circular that has been spoken about, I was in the Dáil last week when the Taoiseach answered a question on it. He was very clear that the circular issued to local authorities was a way of reiterating to county councils that acquisitions cannot be an alternative to building. What we do not want is local authorities buying up en massethree and four bedroom homes that would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank Ms Tobin for her response. Just to be clear, does the circular prevent a local authority from intervening, for example, in the case of a person who is in a HAP tenancy and whose accommodation is being sold? Does it prevent the local authority from purchasing that property to add it to its stock?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: Super. In summary, the circular is not issuing a ban on second-hand purchases. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank Senator Cummins. My questions are to Mr. Dennigan and to Ms Santoro. In Mr. Dennigan's opening statement, he spoke about his vision for milestones on the path to the 2030 goal of ending homelessness. I would love to learn more about what he feels those milestones should be. While Senator Fitzpatrick touched on this earlier, I know that Mr. Dennigan has some specific proposals on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 102. To ask the Minister for Health the work underway to increase the number of frontline nursing and midwifery staff in hospitals to help increase capacity and improve experiences for both staff and patients. [7974/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (15 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 126. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the issues in accessing general practitioner care in Lucan, County Dublin; the actions that are being taken to improve access to general practitioner care nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7973/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (15 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions that are being taken to alleviate traffic tailbacks for commuters in Rathcoole, County Dublin as they enter Rathcoole via the entrance off the N7 at Citywest. [7441/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (15 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 460. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her approach to school planning in the South Dublin County Council area specifically to address the inconsistency in approach to same; the reason the public site in the Grange, Kilcarberry, Clondalkin is not being retained by her Department for future school needs; and the reason a private site within the Ballycullen local area plan remains...

Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Statements (16 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the commission for such a comprehensive report. Casement aerodrome in Baldonnel is in my constituency and from there women and men protect and defend our island nation and carry out life-saving missions. They provide assistance to An Garda Síochána and Civil Defence Ireland in search and rescue missions. They provide support to the HSE in providing urgent medical care....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase school places for children with literacy difficulties in the Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8461/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the grant under the treatment benefit scheme towards the cost of wigs and hairpieces for persons who suffer from hair loss due to disease can be used towards the cost of treatment for eyebrow or eyelash hair loss as a result of disease; and if not, if she will consider including this measure in the scheme. [8528/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Philanthropy Initiatives (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 9. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the work carried out by her Department to encourage and further develop philanthropy in Ireland. [8607/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Philanthropy Initiatives (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Acting Chair for her discretion. My apologies, but I was attending a committee meeting. This question is about the work being carried out by the Department to encourage and further develop philanthropy in Ireland.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Philanthropy Initiatives (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response. As he rightly outlined, the existence of a vibrant and thriving philanthropic community is a very important element of civic society. In recent years especially, we have seen outstanding philanthropic work from individuals and organisations. Even at times of such difficulty and constraint Irish people have always managed to find the time and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Philanthropy Initiatives (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response. We know the regulatory and fiscal frameworks vary between countries. There is no single example of best practice in this regard. One aspect is, of course, Government support for philanthropic endeavour through providing tax or other incentives. The OECD has indicated there is no single accepted rationale for the preferential tax treatment of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: The Minister knows that the waiting list for surgery for children with scoliosis and spina bifida is under extreme pressure. The list has grown by almost one third since the pandemic began. That means that many young people and many children are living in pain, waiting for life-changing surgery. We need a solution. We urgently need enough funding, staff and theatre space to make those...

National Retrofitting Scheme: Statements (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this scheme. Contrary to its name, retrofitting is a modern and progressive move for us, as a Government, to be making. In light of constraints relating to energy and electricity, along with a growing need to address the climate emergency, this scheme is so welcome. Nationally, we are seeing a culture change with regard to energy efficiency and our...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister and Ministers of State for their comprehensive outline of what is a plan to revolutionise and transform the housing market. I am a big supporter of home ownership. We need to deliver homes by all mechanisms possible. I am not hung up on ideology. I do not care who builds the homes, be that councils, approved housing bodies, the LDA, public-private partnership or...