Results 181-200 of 498 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I understand there will always be some vacancies.

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I think we all know of examples houses that have been vacant for well over 12 months.

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: When we are in a housing crisis or emergency, and the Minister has said he is treating it as an emergency, it is not acceptable that properties are lying vacant for that period. Can I get those figures? If Mr. Kelly is still looking for them I have a final question on the 2023 accounts. Under "other services" there was an underspend of €15 million and that was explained as being...

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Can I get the figures on the cost of emergency accommodation?

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I asked that in the context of vacant housing. With a cost of €50,000-plus to keep a family in emergency accommodation, it does not make sense that we do not put that money towards getting vacant housing back in use.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (18 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: With regard to the overall changes proposed by the Minister recently, I compliment him on the balance he has struck. The Opposition will always try to pit landlords against tenants, and have the narrative around tenants versus landlords. We have to focus on both groups and that is the reality. This is about increasing housing supply and we have to deal with the needs of tenants and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 10. To ask the Taoiseach for an update on the Cork city task force. [25116/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I raise the Cork city task force. As we know, the programme for Government provides for the establishment of a task force for Cork city. Like all urban areas, Cork city needs renewed focus, funding, resources, collaboration between key stakeholders, and short-, medium- and long-term planning. I hope the task force will address issues around public realm, streetscape, urban design and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank all the witnesses for coming before us. I have read the opening statements so I am happy to go straight into some questions. I will go initially to the Land Development Agency. It is probably topical today with the decision this morning to expand the role of the agency, which is very welcome. In its short lifetime it has made significant progress on its role, and it is good to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Mr. Coleman. I am caught for time so I will move to the Housing Agency. What strikes me in the opening statement is the point on the Central Bank's latest financial stability review, which shows inward capital flows and equity financing having fallen 80% and averaging €450 million in 2023 and 2024 compared with an average of €2.5 billion in 2021 and 2022. Those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Does Mr. Coleman mind if I interrupt him briefly because we are caught for time? How long has that been delayed to date? Outside of the delay in delivery, what does he estimate to be the impact on costs? Construction costs are obviously increasing and so on. Will he comment on those two points?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I have a couple of questions so I will fire them out quickly. I respectfully ask for brief answers. On output, the LDA stated that it would be the largest developer by 2028 and suggested it would deliver 5,000 units by 2031. What is the suggested output this year and over the next couple of years, specifically from the LDA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Does Mr. Coleman have an opinion on the projected national output this year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Mr. Coleman does not have an opinion at this time. I will go back to judicial reviews. Are other LDA sites apart from Dundrum under judicial review? What is the total quantity of units involved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Mr. Coleman. I will turn to the Housing Agency. Its statement on the capital issue was quite stark. Capital will go from €2.5 billion to less than €500 million. The RPZ changes were aimed at moving that dial a little. Does the agency have other suggestions for how that can improve?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Does Mr. Whelan think that apartment building regulations, and apartment sizes and so on, need to be looked at?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Seized Property (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 268. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of storing and maintaining the MV Matthew ship since it was first seized by the State; the weekly amount it is costing to store and maintain the ship; the reason the sales process is taking so long; and if he will engage with the Revenue Commissioners as a matter of urgency. [31941/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 409. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the current policy that denies incremental credit to post-primary teachers with experience in private schools outside the EU, while primary teachers in similar positions are granted credit; if she will consider aligning the policy to ensure fairness across sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32082/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 555. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the eligibility for the living alone increase, particularly for those not reliant on a social protection payment, but may, for example, have a modest occupational pension (details supplied). [32074/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (17 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 576. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if, in the case of a person with a disability in receipt of a State payment such as disability allowance, the assets in different types of trust funds that may be set up for that person are taken into account in the means test for the disability allowance; the different treatment of the different types of such trust funds...