Results 17,161-17,180 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (17 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 43. To ask the Minister for Finance if funding from the banking levy could be used to assist in ensuring a network of bank branches throughout the country, in view of the major loss of such facilities in many towns particularly affecting rural communities; if he will give detailed consideration to proposals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23597/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (17 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being implemented to deal with the shortage of qualified drivers for vehicles such as school buses; if she is aware of the difficulties that have arisen for Bus Éireann and private bus and coach operators with such shortages impacting on different areas, such as the operation of the school transport system; and if she will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: Despite increases in Government funding over the past few years for the non-national road network, county councillors will be unable to carry out as comprehensive annual programmes as they had planned. This is due to the enormous increase in the costs of road maintenance and road construction products over the past 18 months. In any mid-year review of the capital programme, the Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (24 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 13. To ask the Taoiseach when his Department will publish a new Strategy Statement. [23215/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 26. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the policing reform implementation programme office in his Department. [23216/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 323. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the review of the SNA contract in line with commitments under the Building Momentum national pay agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22677/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 324. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the implementation of the new pay deal for school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22678/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 462. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will review the PRSI contributions system in order that adult dependents who have worked in the home may be entitled to full future social welfare benefits such as the recent €200 cost-of-living support payment; if she will provide a full explanation for the rationale for why adult dependents and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in providing a refuge centre in counties Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25049/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister of State is aware, the Government's third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, commits to doubling the number of refuge spaces. That ambitious strategy is very welcome. My counties of Cavan and Monaghan are two of the counties that do not have a domestic violence refuge centre, so I am very anxious that such provision be advanced as quickly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply. I am glad he mentioned that priority is being attached to the provision of a refuge centre in Cavan-Monaghan. I also welcome the fact he referred to the very important work of Safe Ireland and the Tearmann domestic abuse service in Cavan-Monaghan. They do excellent work dealing with people in a very vulnerable position. Unfortunately,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I very much welcome the fact that the Minister of State spoke about the importance of the work of Safe Ireland and Tearmann at a local level in Cavan-Monaghan. I welcome the partnership that will be established with those groups. I commend officials in all the statutory agencies referred to by the Minister of State in his initial reply who are involved in advance of this project. I know...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 10. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that the present Garda Síochána structures are adequate and sufficiently responsive to meet the security needs of communities, particularly in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25050/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is aware, a new Garda operating model was introduced in early 2019 on a pilot basis. The model proposes to reduce the number of Garda divisions from 28 to 19. It will not be a suitable configuration for the Border region. It is proposed that Cavan, Monaghan and Louth would be amalgamated into one Garda division with the chief superintendent based in Drogheda. It is a long...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: As a public representative during very bad years in this country, during the era known as the Troubles, I was very conscious of the great work of the emergency services in the Border region, including An Garda Síochána, during the most difficult of times. The Minister referred earlier to the threat from some dissidents and that is still around. There are unique policing demands in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: The Minister mentioned additional civilian staff, which we appreciate. My understanding is that some of the operating chief superintendents and the superintendents who were actually out there in uniform meeting the people, will be going to back-office jobs, when I think we need more engagement. Over the years, in the two counties that I have had the privilege of representing, I always saw...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Promotion (18 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 44. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, there are to intensify marketing of the tourism potential of the Hidden Heartlands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23676/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Policy (18 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 69. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the consultations to date between her Department and its agencies with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in relation to the development of cross-Border tourism projects under the Peace Plus Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23675/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress to date since 2020 in bringing back to habitable use local authority housing stock that was vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23543/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 139. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline the voids programme for 2023; the national allocation and the funding made available to counties Cavan and Monaghan local authorities for this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23542/23]