Results 15,481-15,500 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It might have been like that in Deputy Kenny's day, but when it comes to doing the serious business that must be done here, it is not like that.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. A Cabinet committee on economic renewal was established in September 2008. Its role is to bring a new focus to the key policies and programmes necessary to ensure an appropriate and cohesive response to the scale of the challenges facing our economy. This includes overseeing the development and implementation of the Government's...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said, we never discuss what goes on at Cabinet committee meetings other than by indicating the fact that they have taken place and what they broadly cover. To be helpful to the Deputy, I will mention that €6.4 billion is being spent under the capital investment programme this year - a significant amount, which represents an estimated 80,000 jobs in a range of areas including...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The target we have set of achieving 15% of our overall energy mix from sustainable sources will be reached this year. As the Deputy knows, we have a longer term plan to reach a target of 40% sustainable energy to meet our overall energy requirements. There is a lot of work ongoing in regard to that. The Minister, I think everyone will agree, is very committed to that area and is pursuing...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I thank the Deputy for referring to the Minister at my side. According to the correspondence I received from Deputy Ó Caoláin this morning, the Minister would not be at my side for too long.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: We will make sure that is defeated and that the Deputy's concerns-----

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: To deal with the matters that he raised, the question of the surplus housing stock we have and the need for long term leasing is an initiative that the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, has brought forward and that will require the full co-operation of all of the housing departments of local authorities to ensure that, rather than the traditional way of constructing housing, we have the...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: With regard to housing, the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, is not the only initiative. There always has been a rental sector to help deal with local authority housing lists. In many cases that arrangement, more than others, suited people. That arrangement will continue and it is not the only means available. As I mentioned, there is the question of acquisition and long-term leasing...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----more treatment in primary care settings and more use of medical assessment units for people with chronic conditions rather than trauma. While the report rightly points to an acceptable waiting time for patients waiting to be admitted, it is also true that 94% of patients who did not require admission were treated and discharged within the HSE's maximum target of six hours. The...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: On the Deputy's second matter, I will raise it with the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, and ask him to correspond directly with the Deputy.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Gilmore will not get as many scalps as he thinks. Long-term leasing is part of the housing issue. There is a far greater variety of approaches being taken by local authorities now in respect of housing need than was the case when I was on the council many years ago. It is all for the better because different people have varying needs and requirements. Acquisition is ongoing, with...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The acquisition of private housing is good, and we have seen it in community-based models of care for people formerly in mental institutions now being well cared for in the community. There are various means and methods, although the process requires housing officers and departments in all our local authorities to be up to speed and open to some of these changes. The changes could be tried...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is a about trying to ensure we use the resources available to us to benefit the greatest possible number of users. If the authorities only acquire houses and do not get involved in leasing arrangements, there would be no opportunity to pay over a period. There would be up-front costs.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: Given the level of housing need and the variety of approaches adopted, none of which is exclusive from the other, if we were to talk exclusively about purchasing as suggested by the Deputy rather than long-term leasing, it would only be possible to procure with the allocation far fewer houses to meet a growing need on the housing lists.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is not the same.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: No. As I have indicated, the housing stock would be acquired over a much longer period. It is a basic fact that the capital up-front cost of purchase, if used as an exclusive approach, would by definition provide far fewer houses than would be the case through the other.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: We have to provide housing need.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: This is a very important and ambitious project for the north inner city and there is no question or doubt about that. I have been to the location and spoken to the people involved and I commend them for the work done so far. The benefits for the DIT are significant in terms of reducing rental costs and being able to acquire a more integrated campus arrangement than is currently the case,...

Programme for Government. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 9, inclusive, together. The review of the programme for Government was completed last October. As Deputies are aware our initial programme for Government made clear that its delivery was based on an annual growth rate of 4.5%. It was negotiated prior to the worst global downturn since the 1930s. The renewed programme for Government takes account of the...

Programme for Government. (17 Feb 2010)

Brian Cowen: The issue of donations is being proceeded with in the context of overall electoral reform. The smart economy document is far from being a white elephant. About 34 recommendations have been completed and 68 are being implemented at the moment. Work is ongoing with other recommendations. It is not correct to say that no action is being taken on the smart economy document. The issue of...