Results 1-20 of 109 for speaker:Charles Ward

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (18 Dec 2024)

Charles Ward: The people of County Donegal sent me here with a mandate to fight for 100% redress. We demand action. We need to hold those responsible to account. I will not rest until this is achieved. The time for half-measures is over. The Government must deliver a true redress scheme - not a grant but a scheme that is led by science. There are 10,000 families in County Donegal that are currently...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (23 Jan 2025)

Charles Ward: I congratulate the Taoiseach and his family on his appointment. For far too long, Donegal has been left behind. The waiting times in Letterkenny General Hospital this week are, on average, 24 hours. When going into Letterkenny by the Polestar roundabout, the emergency services cannot even enter because they get stuck. What used to be a five-minute journey now takes 45 minutes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (22 Jan 2025)

Charles Ward: 833. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether the increases to the cap and square foot rates of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme have been fully implemented; and whether retrospective payments for homeowners currently in the scheme have been processed. [2102/25]

Government’s Response to Storm Éowyn: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: Donegal continues to be devastated by Storm Éowyn. Thousands have been left without electricity and water over the last week, many of whom are elderly, vulnerable and living in defective concrete homes. Over the next few weeks, I want the Government and this Chamber to realise the devastation that has happened in Donegal. Affected homeowners face huge safety risks living in homes that...

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: I fully support the motion and its call to progress the occupied territories Bill and ban all trade with Israelis' illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Bill has been blocked for nearly seven years. In that time, tens of thousands of Palestinian lives have been lost. More than 2 million people have been forcibly displaced. Many Palestinians face life-changing...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Defective Building Materials (5 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: 582. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether his Department is considering special considerations to the enhanced defective concrete block scheme such as 'side-by-side' building, to facilitate the most vulnerable homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2378/25]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Defective Building Materials (5 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: 583. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration is being given to extending the enhanced defective concrete block scheme to Northern Ireland or exploring a cross-Border approach; if discussions are being held with counterparts in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2383/25]

Housing Policy: Motion [Private Members] (12 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion on housing, which I will support. I am disappointed, however, that there is no mention of homes affected by defective concrete. Once again, County Donegal is forgotten. The defective concrete crisis affects thousands of people throughout this island. It is a crisis that will continue to get worse, and we do not yet even know the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: After 27 years of the Donegal Education Centre being located in Donegal town, all staff members are being forced to relocate to Letterkenny, which is more than an hour and a half away. This is a completely unnecessary decision, which has never been discussed or brought to a general meeting nor has anybody consulted with the voting members of Donegal Education Centre. The manner in which six...

Programme for Government: Statements (Resumed) (12 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: I welcome the programme for Government commitment to establishing a building standard regulatory authority to undertake a planned review of the defective concrete blocks scheme and to expand the scheme to other counties. However, the programme for Government does not go far enough in committing to a full 100% redress scheme for the families affected by the defective concrete crisis. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (11 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: 139. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the proposed extension to the Letterkenny town bus service; the anticipated timeline for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4148/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: 357. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether his Department is considering changes to the ‘enhanced defective concrete block scheme’ regarding extensions to the accommodation allowance due to delays that are outside the control of the homeowner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4147/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: 358. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when legislation will be changed in order to facilitate the retrospective payment of the rate and cap increases to participants in the ‘enhanced defective concrete block scheme’; if the increases will be applied to the small number of houses that have completed works; and if he will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: 65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way the OPW ensures that buildings they are responsible for are using blocks that are free from deleterious materials in construction projects in County Donegal; if they have checked existing buildings for the presence of same. [6116/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: Will the OPW ensure that buildings it is responsible for in construction projects in County Donegal are using blocks that are free from the deleterious materials, and has it checked existing buildings for the presence of these same materials?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: There are buildings with this in Donegal. I am asking exactly what testing procedures are being carried out. There are buildings affected throughout Donegal. There are leisure centres, creches and public buildings affected with this defective concrete. I ask the Minister of State to look into this and come to the realisation that 40% of creches in Donegal are affected. There are public...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: Does the OPW have a plan in place if a building is identified? What will it do to protect people using these buildings? In Letterkenny, for example, there is a leisure centre that serves thousands of people. If that building is identified, what action will it take to address this?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: I will come back to the Minister of State.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: 67. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the he will engage with the Department of Housing, the OPW and Donegal County Council to explore a viable alternative solution for affected homeowners in Elm Park, Buncrana, including the option of providing grant funding for the purchase of alternative homes rather than rebuilding on an unsuitable site; and if he will make a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

Charles Ward: 107. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if urgent consideration will be given by the OPW to addressing the flooding situation in Elm Park, Buncrana, where nine properties were built on a floodplain and have been severely impacted by both defective concrete and previous flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5218/25]