Results 1,821-1,840 of 2,990 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The purpose of the Office of Public Work's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme was introduced by my office in 2009 and applies where a solution can be readily...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I will take those two schemes in Cavan to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan and raise them with him directly. Any local authority should apply for funding where needed. There is a very low refusal rate. I think only about 10% of schemes are refused. Also, as we discussed, there is a low rate of drawdown on the projects. Sometimes projects are approved but the funding is not drawn...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I commit that I will bring those two projects in Cavan to the Minister of State and ask him to look into them and contact the Deputy's office directly to liaise with him to make sure the schemes are met. I understand that flooding is devastating for anyone who has a home that is affected by it. It causes great distress to families and also great financial distress. Sometimes you cannot...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: In the first instance, local flooding is a matter for each local authority to investigate and address. Where necessary, local authorities may put forward proposals to relevant central government Departments, including the Office of Public Works, for funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat. As there is no application on hand in the OPW for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: As this is not a case where property is at risk, but where a road is concerned, it is therefore a matter for the Minister for Transport. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has committed to speak to the Minister for Transport about the issue. The area is located in a special area of conservation, SAC, and that makes it harder to get the consents. As to the question of whether it would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I will take the Deputy's thoughts to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. The estimated cost of the project is in the region of €150,000, to give an idea of the size of it. I appreciate the impact this has on people in Dunmanway and in the west Cork and central Cork areas.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Glashaboy River flood relief scheme in the Glanmire-Sallybrook area of Cork is being progressed by Cork City Council. The Office of Public Works, in partnership with Cork City Council, is engaging proactively to progress the flood relief scheme for Glanmire. The Glashaboy flood relief scheme was confirmed in January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am assured by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that funding for this project has been secured. That is definitive. Second, I understand that these 103 families are now facing the risk of flooding but also the fear that they cannot ensure their properties. I understand this is a matter of urgency. The first tender process collapsed due to inflation problems, which I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputies. Behind every one of these flood relief schemes are tales of people who are of going through the anxiety, financial damage and mental trauma of having to deal with risk to their family home and their finances. I can confirm that the money has been secured. I stand beside the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform to say that very clearly. Unfortunately, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I am informed that a flood alleviation options assessment for flooding at Ballycar Lough was initiated by Iarnród Éireann and was completed by consultant engineers RPS in December 2020. This assessment study built on previous reports of 2011 and 2015 commissioned by Iarnród Éireann. Having considered all various options, the assessment study recommends a new preferred...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: There were five options recommended by the assessment study. The first was removing underground restriction between the swallow hole and spring and ancillary works. The second was attenuation of some flows at Rossroe and Fin loughs. The third was diverting the Rossroe Lough sub-catchment flow towards the Ratty river catchment along with removing the underground restriction between the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputies have done the right thing in meeting both Departments. It is a key role of all politicians to broker agreement between different parties. The view of the OPW is that it is acting in an advisory role. Deputy Leddin is telling me the Department of Transport is saying it is an OPW job. We have all been in this situation before. I will bring the Deputies' comments back to the...

Energy Regulations: Motion [Private Members] (16 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputies for raising these important matters and allowing us time to discuss them today. I can appreciate the Deputies' concern, which is shared by all of us, that significant increases in the price of wholesale gas have led to an unprecedented rise in energy prices that has put financial strain on households and businesses in Ireland and across Europe. Clearly, the significant...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this issue in the House. The Deputy will appreciate of course that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation and distribution of resources. However, I can inform the Deputy it is anticipated that the Garda Reserve recruitment process will launch in the coming year. As the Deputy may...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. I have listened carefully to his initial comments and it is clear he has been following up on this issue, which is close to his heart. He can see the benefits of the Garda Reserve and he has been persistently trying to follow up on when the recruitment campaign will start. The information I have been given is the information I have passed on to him, but I can pass on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising this issue. While recruitment to An Garda Síochána has faced challenges in recent times, this has been due in the main to public health restrictions in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. The effect of the restrictions has been a slower than anticipated flow of new entrants into the Garda College. ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. He mentioned that we in the Oireachtas are good at creating laws, but we have to take into account that those laws have to be implemented and that every law we pass creates new requirements and burdens on the Garda. Where possible, we should remove some of the laws that are on the Statute Book. He made the point that any recruitment campaign we run should be vibrant....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rural Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. LEADER is a key programme within Our Rural Future and, as announced recently, the expression of interest stage to select the groups to deliver the next LEADER programme is now open. The allocation for each LEADER area was also announced as part of the process. The programme has made an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rural Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I believe the Deputy has asked about this issue previously, and I will follow up on those questions. I have been told there are now requirements that these subregional groups specifically include actions relating to the islands, that they have a specific budget for the islands, and that they have representation from the islands. I presume that is on foot of the Deputy's requests or demands....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Cathaoirleach and welcome our distinguished guests. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this matter, to which I will reply on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. I will explain what the OPW does on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in this area. Section 28 of the State Property Act 1954 provides that property held by a dissolved company...