Results 2,321-2,340 of 26,006 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 29 together. I thank Deputies Canney and Christopher O'Sullivan for bringing up this important matter. Updated rural planning guidelines are being prepared to expand on the high-level spatial planning policy of the national planning framework, NPF, in particular national policy objective, NPO, 19. The objective makes a clear distinction between rural...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I absolutely concur. We see on the ground, even in my role as a Deputy in Limerick city, the impact and benefit it has. I want to acknowledge that there is a significant body of work under way by our officials in the Department. I acknowledge the work of the officials in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform as well. At this moment in time, it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am well aware this is a matter the Deputy has raised consistently. I wish to advise her that I have received a report from the chair of the Galway task force covering social housing and related issues over the period of 2021 to 2022. Once I and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, have completed a review in consultation with officials, we will arrange for a copy of the report to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I cannot answer that. I will certainly clarify that point. On the Galway issue, the Deputy brought this up recently in the House and asked for the report to be published. We have gotten a report, which we have just received, as the Deputy will appreciate. She will appreciate that we need to give it proper due consideration. We have just received it. We are going to go through it in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: When the Deputy brought this up previously, I undertook that we would get the report. We have a report now. We have a working document. It is not fair to say what the Deputy has said. Social housing delivery has taken place in Galway. We would obviously like to see a lot more but it is not as if there has not been any. In 2021, Galway city delivered 129 houses and Galway county...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Canney for raising this matter. My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability, which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. I agree with Deputy Canney that the scheme is hugely beneficial. The total...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: To give reassurance, we are looking at all grants, including housing adaptation for older people, the mobility aids grant and the disabled persons grants. The review looked in the round at both income thresholds and the level of grants. They are all included in the review and the submissions made to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Part V mechanism is intended to achieve integrated development and reduce housing segregation by facilitating a mix of a tenure types - social, affordable and cost rental housing. The Ministerial Guidelines on Part V issued to local authorities under section 28 of the 2000 Act, emphasise the need for consultation with developers regarding the delivery of appropriately located properties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Supporting home ownership is a key objective of Housing for All, under which the Local Authority Home Loan was established and which launched on 4 January 2022 with annual funding of €250 million. This is a Government backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The Loan can provide up to 90% of the value of a property...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Government policy in relation to housing for older people, as set out in Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland, is to support people to live with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, to allow them to ‘age in place’ close to their families, friends and in their community. Pathway 2 of Housing for All commits to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: In accordance with Section 10(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities are required to include objectives in their development plans for the provision of infrastructure including water supplies and waste water services. In practice such objectives are informed by consultation with Uisce Éireann as part of the development plan preparation process. Uisce...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (6 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together. The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I refer to the reply to Question No. 99 of Wednesday 21 June 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are instructing all the local authorities to carry out vacancy surveys. We have put dedicated teams into each local authority around vacancy. Those teams are conducting surveys street by street of all vacancies in core areas so we will come up with a detailed register for each local authority to complement the work of the CSO in that area. This body of work is underway. We hope to have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. It is clear from recent EPA reports that water quality trends need to change, particularly, but not solely, in respect of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, being lost from farmlands into our rivers, lakes and coastal areas. I concur with the Senator's view in respect of the farming community, the members of which are doing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator. We will continue to engage with the CCMA. I undertake to work with my officials to engage with the CCMA. The CCMA review identified a requirement for 57 additional posts. Funding has been provided for 21 of those. As part of the Estimates process, I will be looking to increase that. I take the Senator's point that there are 31 local authorities in total. We will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): School Facilities (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I join with my colleagues in welcoming the Kennedy family. I represent the city of Limerick. John F. Kennedy visited Limerick in 1963 at what was then the old racecourse. The racecourse has moved but the structures are still there. At the time, the mayor was female, which was very unusual. Both of my parents were there. My dad has passed away but my mother is still alive and remembers...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): School Facilities (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The notes say 589 but we will take it that 620 students were enrolled in the school for the 2022-23 school year. The Department’s planning and building unit recently received an application from St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School seeking funding for a new PE hall and social space for students. This is in addition to funding that was approved under the additional school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): School Facilities (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I again thank Senator Joe O'Reilly for allowing me to outline the Department of Education's position to the House. As the Senator will be aware, St. Aidan's Comprehensive School is currently advancing an additional school accommodation project which is delivering additional specialist classroom and ancillary accommodation. This project is currently at design stage, stage 2(b). As I stated,...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am delighted to be invited to speak about local government and planning in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for that area. I was delighted to accept the invite. As a former Member of the House, I am aware that Members have a huge interest in local government affairs and are fierce advocates for strong local government. As Minister of State, that advocacy and support are...