Results 181-200 of 502 for speaker:Joe O'Brien in 'Dáil debates'

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to address this issue and to provide the House with an update on the future development of the western rail corridor. As the Deputies may be aware, services have been operating between Limerick and Athenry via Ennis on a section of the western rail corridor since 2010. In 2021, two reports were published in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: As highlighted previously, and noting the conclusion in the JASPERS review that there was a lack of strategic context for planning investment in the heavy rail network in 2021 the Minister for Transport, in partnership with the Minister for Infrastructure, announced his intention to undertake an all-island strategic rail review. This review is considering how the rail network on the island...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. I still encourage people to apply. We all make the assumption that the numbers this year will be the same as last year. This could well be the case but people will not be in the mix if they do not make an application. I suggest that they make an application anyway. Other Deputies will identify with the situation that Deputy O'Sullivan has described. It is the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: A recent report produced for Dublin City Council by the Institute of Public Administration found it would be contrary to competition law to exclude private companies from the waste collection market in favour of returning the function to local authorities. Altering the structure of the market for tendering by local authorities would take several years and require consideration of legal...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Before I address the issues raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. The scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter regarding the services at Naas General Hospital. I fully accept the importance of growing healthcare services for the people of Kildare and west Wicklow. The commitment of the Government to the future of this hospital is clear. Funding for Naas hospital as part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has continued to increase year on year. As...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising the issue. Local authorities are responsible for municipal waste collection and waste management planning within their functional areas. The obligations on local authorities in relation to collecting household waste are set out in section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended. In summary, it provides that each local authority shall collect, or...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising the issue of services at Naas General Hospital and to also acknowledge the Deputy’s work in advocating for the people of Kildare and west Wicklow. Naas General Hospital is an acute public hospital with 189 inpatient beds and 18 day-care beds, serving a catchment area with a population of over 250,000 people. The services in the hospital are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Voluntary Sector (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, the future board leaders pilot 2023 is a joint initiative by the Leadership Academy, a project of The Wheel, and Boardmatch Ireland. It is primarily funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through the National Training Fund. While my Department does not deal directly with the future board leaders pilot, it does...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Voluntary Sector (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department continues to engage with community and voluntary organisations to support all communities across Ireland to develop in a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable manner. With particular regard to communities in Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland, I am very pleased that my Department shares responsibility for the PEACE IV programme, which supports peace and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Voluntary Sector (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I do have an interest in this area. In November I visited Derry and Belfast, and a couple of organisations I met there are worth a mention. Holywell Trust is a community relations and community development organisation committed to positively transforming the lives of local people through addressing interpersonal and societal challenges. We had a very good meeting there about the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: A vibrant circular economy is an essential part of a sustainable, carbon-neutral and resource-efficient economy. The first whole-of-government circular economy strategy was published in December 2021 by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a national policy framework for Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. Alongside this, the Department is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Several of the schemes and programmes I outlined impact clearly and directly on rural economies. I draw attention to the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. There are a few points worth drawing out. The Act provides for the power to introduce new environmental levies on single-use disposable items such as coffee cups and food containers, together with a levy on waste...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: There are a number of projects specifically under the CSP programme that specifically upcycle and recycle technology. About five or six weeks ago, I was in Clondalkin and visited the recycling project there and specifically launching the Traveller strand in relation to the circular economy. It does amazing work and engages people on Tús schemes and community employment schemes and,...

Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I again welcome the debate. I again thank Deputy Ó Cuív for bringing the Bill forward and for tonight's discussion. It is the start of a much more detailed and interesting discussion where we will get to pull it apart a little more on Committee Stage. As I said, this is a very complicated area cutting across at least three Departments, including the Departments of Finance and...

Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for bringing forward this Private Member's Bill entitled the Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022. I am pleased to inform the House that the Government is not opposing the Bill. It is a detailed Bill which covers a wide-ranging and complex area. In the first instance, it is important to understand what it sets out to achieve. Part 2 seeks to...

Rent Reduction Bill 2023: First Stage (20 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: No.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (28 Mar 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I should also reference the €600 energy credit, which benefited bill and prepay meter users alike. Persistent difficulty with indebtedness can be helped through budgetary advice from the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS. While this engagement is not a precondition for any assistance, the service provides impartial advice and expertise to help people manage money and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (28 Mar 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I will answer the last question first. I recall there were significant efforts made by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to prepay meters. You should not be without the payment if you are on a prepay meter. We can talk about specific circumstances later but there was a separate fund set up in that Department for that. I acknowledge the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (28 Mar 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Social Protection has an important role in supporting the most vulnerable in society. It is important to note that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is currently running a public campaign informing people of their rights if they are struggling with utility payments. It also notifies people that providers are obliged to work with them on a payment plan. From...