Results 1,281-1,300 of 4,778 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Topical Issue Debate: Pigmeat Sector (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. It is agreed that it is a key priority for the Minister and the Department and a vital sector for the Irish economy. Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient but the Minister is acutely aware of the unprecedented set of challenges, as outlined by the Deputy, they are facing at present....

Topical Issue Debate: Pigmeat Sector (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: To address the specific issue of the IFA's proposal for a pig stability fund, this is being considered by the Department in conjunction with key stakeholders. It is being requested that a €100 million fund be made available to pig farmers by the Department, with €50 million to be repaid over a 14-year term through a statutory levy on pigs slaughtered or exported live. This...

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Register (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It is a very important issue and probably reflective of the many skills that are coming into Ireland with the Ukrainian families who have arrived here in recent weeks. It is important that we support them in finding employment. It is critically important, particularly when there are deficits in our health services around recruitment. Officials from the Department of Health are working...

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Register (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Our thoughts are with all of those affected by the terrible conflict in Ukraine. The Department of Health, the Medical Council and NMBI will continue to support Ukrainian health professionals forced to flee their homeland as they arrive in Ireland and seek to re-establish their lives and integrate into our community. As Deputies will appreciate, our health regulatory bodies have a duty to...

Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for raising this. In the time I have, I will try to outline the response on behalf of my colleague Deputy Mary Butler, Minister of State at the Department of Health. Budget 2022 provided an unprecedented mental health budget of €1.149 billion, including €24 million for new developments. The new-development funding will allow further implementation of Sharing...

Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I assure the Deputy that the expansion of the programme will occur on a CHO basis and in an integrated manner across mental health services in the primary care division and include a close relationship with the acute hospital groups. The point the Deputy made about people who present at accident and emergency departments and acute hospitals is critical. In response to the Deputy's...

Housing (Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann, while acknowledging the spirit of the Housing (Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability) Bill 2021, resolves that the Bill be deemed to be read a second time this day 12 months to explore further the extent to which the underlying ambition of the Bill can be addressed in...

Housing (Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I wholeheartedly want to reassure the Deputies and the House about this Bill. As I know from my constituency, our common objective here is to help these people who are in extreme pain. This is a very good grant scheme. I will outline further in my closing comments that the streamlining of the application process will deal with many of the issues the Deputy referred to. As I said, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (6 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department awarded a sum of €350,000 in 2021 for project referred to in the Question. The project is being led by Mayo County Council who have just completed detailed designs for the works. Subject to minor amendments, the Council expect to progress the project through to the construction tender stage shortly. My Department remains committed to supporting this project.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Government is committed to a significant investment in, and a renewal of, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as set out in the Programme for Government. I am pleased to say that the review which will underpin this renewal has been concluded by the independent authors, and the resulting Strategic Action Plan for renewal of the NPWS has been completed. This has been a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The project referred to in the Question is a significant one and comprises three phases. Phase 1 was completed in late 2019 and the expenditure on this phase was €3,200,000 between 2015 and 2019. Delivery of Phase 2 involves total funding of c. €12,200,000 over a number of years. Expenditure for 2021 stood at €400,000. Funding allocated in 2022 is €6,000,000, with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (7 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: In November 2021 I announced €4m in funding for the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2022. The HSF is a competitive grant scheme for conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership. Grants of between €15,000 and €50,000 are available under Stream 1, and of between €50,000 and €200,000 under Stream 2. Applications are made in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (28 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: As the Deputy will be aware from previous replies on this matter, the function of the enhanced Wildlife Crime Unit (soon to be known as Wildlife Crime Operations) is to support the law enforcement work that has been, and continues to be done by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Regional staff.  Some 110 staff are working across all regions of the country to address wildlife...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 to 640, inclusive, together. Work on the upcoming Wild Bird Declarations is ongoing.  Minister O'Brien has extended the existing Wild Bird Declarations by a period of three months up to the end of July 2022. This will allow for the completion of the review of submissions received as part of the public consultation process, the receipt of...