Results 221-240 of 485 for speaker:Louis O'Hara

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: 222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the treatment of abuse survivors and the need for a redress scheme for survivors of abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35122/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (26 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: 280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to examine the case of a person (details supplied) requiring assistance with a citizenship application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35003/25]

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: The Minister mentioned the western rail corridor. When we look at what I regard as the neglect of the west of Ireland, the western rail corridor stands out because it is a critical infrastructural project that has been put on the long finger by successive Governments. The rail review recommended its reopening in the short term. It needs to happen. Taking cars off the road and reducing...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: I will come to that.

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: Are we talking about a decision later this year on the projects included in the rail review?

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: What are the Minister's views on the Claremorris to Collooney section and whether that project is viable in the medium term? His officials were before the committee last week and were not very keen on it. What are his views on it?

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: Rail carriages were spoken about. There are plans for new electric carriages to be delivered within the DART network. I raised with the Minister previously the capacity issues we had on regional services. I think he mentioned it would be quarter 4 of 2026 when the first electric carriages would be operational on the DART network. My understanding is that the existing diesel carriages will...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: It is in the context of that specific example I am asking the question. Will we be waiting three or four years before there is any potential for additional carriages to be delivered?

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: Is the Minister concerned with how long this process is taking?

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: I will move on to the issue of disability. The Minister mentioned that the new carriages that would be part of the DART+ programme would be fully accessible to people. Are such plans in place for the existing fleet?

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: I will raise the matter of driver licences for people coming here from the United States. It is a huge frustration for many people returning home that we do not have the exchange programme in place. Is engagement happening between the Department and administrations in the United States on this? Is the Minister hopeful that progress might be made on this?

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: I am from the northern and western region. We are in the bottom 20 of the EU's 234 regions in infrastructure, and deficits in transport infrastructure are a key part of that. Alarm bells should be ringing when we have deficits to this extent. Is there a concrete specific plan for the west and north west to address this deficit? The Minister mentioned various forms of funding. How will he...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: The Minister mentioned the ring road. It is now ten years since the preferred route was published. We heard in the past couple of weeks that further public consultation and possibly a new oral hearing would be required for the project. I cannot overstate the enormous frustration with the chronic traffic congestion felt by commuters in Galway. People are losing hours of their lives every...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: IBEC Report on Infrastructure Ambition for a Competitive, Productive and Resilient Economy: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: IBEC is proposing a direction should be given to An Coimisiún Pleanála to prioritise some critical infrastructure projects such as utilities and the regulatory consents. Why do the witnesses think that has not happened? It seems like a common-sense solution. Have they received any justification for the current situation? I may have missed some of this but how does IBEC propose...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: IBEC Report on Infrastructure Ambition for a Competitive, Productive and Resilient Economy: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: In the context of multi-annual funding and ensuring projects progress to the next stage, projects in the NDP that have stalled as a result were mentioned. Is it possible to give some examples? Mr. Brady made a point about companies not doing a lot on housing that could do lot more. He mentioned modern methods of construction in respect of public housing. Will he expand on that as well?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (25 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: 203. To ask the Minister for Health if akynzeo will be made available under the medical card scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34755/25]

Presidential Voting Rights: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: The office of President is one of great symbolism and standing and our President is the representative of all the Irish people on the international stage. The Good Friday Agreement recognises the birthright of the people of the North of Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish, British or both, while the Irish diaspora around the world were and continue to be a driving force...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (24 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: 127. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the reopening of the western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34005/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Louis O'Hara: 164. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has engaged with public transport operators in relation to these operators charging booking fees for some free travel pass holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34004/25]