Results 221-240 of 629 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Housing Delivery, Service and Supply: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: This may be more a question for EirGrid but I will put it to ESB Networks. Uisce Éireann indicated it has headroom in the Dublin region of two to three years. What would ESB Networks estimate is its capacity for additional housing supply? How much headroom has it, based on current generation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Housing Delivery, Service and Supply: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I will ask Uisce Éireann about housing units that are completed but not connected because of capacity issues. I am aware of a couple in my own county. How big does Uisce Éireann estimate the scale of that problem is nationwide? These are units that have been constructed but cannot be occupied because of capacity issues in water infrastructure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Housing Delivery, Service and Supply: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Yes. Yet it is possible for it to be said that €2 billion extra is required for the extra housing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Housing Delivery, Service and Supply: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It is purely delivery.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Housing Delivery, Service and Supply: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I know the Chair is going to give me 30 seconds, so I will just make a point about water outages. We have a number of old water mains in my electoral area. Not to end on a negative note, but there has been criticism in terms of there being, for example, a break in a pipe on a Saturday afternoon and then it being Monday before a crew starts working on the replacement or repair of that mains....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Housing Delivery, Service and Supply: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I am over my time. I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Housing Delivery, Service and Supply: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: That would be great, if Mr. Gleeson does not mind. I was given a few examples in my county in recent days on foot of the witnesses coming here. It would be great if that information could be given to me. Obviously, these properties should be a priority within the organisation if they are constructed but not occupied simply because the water infrastructure does not allow for that to happen....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 65. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of affordable purchase properties completed nationally in 2023 and 2024; his plans for 2025 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35782/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 384. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review and streamline the process for engagement with the payroll section in her Department in cases in which a teacher reduces their work hours and substitutes for part of their working week to care for their child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35908/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 486. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to increase the maximum house value limits for the first home scheme for Cork; if the city values to the metropolitan area of County Cork will be extended and particularly the city Dáil constituencies in order that the one set of qualifying criteria applies. [35939/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 539. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration is being given to including long-Covid for social welfare benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36005/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (1 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 697. To ask the Minister for Health is she will review the qualifying income limits for a medical card to ensure that they align with social protection payments (details supplied). [35358/25]

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2023
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the witness for attending. We very much value the work done by An Garda Síochána. The witnesses will appreciate that our work this morning is to ask questions about, and probe into, the use of public money. I ask them not to take our questions as a criticism. We must ensure we get the best possible value for the public money that is spent on the service. The overall...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2023
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I am not being rude, but can we be brief with the answers because the clock is ticking?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2023
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Ms Toale. I turn to the Garda Reserve. According to the 2023 accounts, €123,000 was spent versus a budget of €1.395 million, which is a significant underutilisation of the budget on the Garda Reserve. Where do we stand with that? Is the service of the Garda Reserve a core part of the service now, or has it diminished in recent times?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2023
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It is still very much part of the Garda service.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2023
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: That is perfect. I turn to civilian staff. The public wants to see gardaí visible on the streets and part of the argument is that civilian staff would assist in the work carried out in Garda stations. Where does the Garda stand on recruitment of civilian staff versus the budget that has been provided for that?