Results 2,481-2,500 of 3,479 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: That is super. I fully agree with it. On a point the Minister of State alluded to in response to other members, and it is a recurring theme that we have dealt with at this committee, people are very frustrated by the lack of investment and resources in local authorities to make sure that everything in regard to planning, from enforcement to decision-making, is done in a timely manner and to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: That is a key point of the legislation we are discussing in the Houses at the moment. That extra funding will now be given back to local authorities. There will be increased democracy when it comes to these decisions. That is a real win for local democracy, for residents and for local authorities, which need these resources. I thank the Minister of State. Those regulations make an awful...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I will talk fast. I welcome the historic investment in the housing budget, which, of course, is the number one priority for all of us on the committee. I know that that funding will be used to help people to own their own home or to get into long-term affordable leases. That is very welcome. I also welcome the €2 billion URDF funding. We see the benefits of that funding in Lucan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (1 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 98. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the system for reimbursement of public representation allowances and expenses for councillors; if it is to be paid and claimed in the same way as the parliamentary standard allowance for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if not, if it is to be made available by local authorities to be drawn down on an annual,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (1 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 202. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the cancellation and no-show rates for PCR tests. [59392/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (30 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding provided by his Department to support the wellbeing of students which is particularly important given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. [58540/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (30 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of housing commencements in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58305/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (30 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 224. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of housing completions in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58306/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (30 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 225. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the projected housing output new build in the Housing for All Strategy; his views on whether the 2022 figure is likely to be met or exceeded based on the most recent data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58307/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (30 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 226. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the Town Centre First Initiative; and when he envisages making an announcement in this regard. [58308/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (30 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 541. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans to provide a primary health centre for Adamstown; if a site has been agreed for the proposed health centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58432/21]

Mother and Baby Institutions: Statements (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: Thousands of women passed through the doors of mother and baby homes in this country. From the testimonials we have heard from the many survivors, we know that their trauma was unspeakable. Women were abused and forced to give birth in horrific circumstances and were treated like they were dirty, like they were sinners and as if they had committed the worst crimes imaginable, when, in fact,...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for outlining the Bill, which is a really important one. It provides for the replacement of the fast-track planning system, the current SHD process for certain large housing projects. The new large-scale residential development process proposed by the Bill consists of three stages: pre-application, application and appeal. It proposes procedural appeal changes intended...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Aids and Appliances (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 10. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce supports for persons who experience hair loss due to alopecia, cancer treatment or other similar illnesses. [57539/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Aids and Appliances (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: I would like to ask the Minister about her Department's plans to introduce support for people who experience hair loss due to alopecia, illness or cancer treatment. Hair loss can be an extremely traumatic side-effect of illness or treatment and I would welcome any move to support those suffering from hair loss as a result of illness.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Aids and Appliances (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister. That is welcome news. I welcome the extension of the treatment benefit scheme to cover grants towards things like wigs and hairpieces. It is good news for people who suffer from alopecia or who have experienced hair loss due to cancer treatment. Some people might think it is a trivial issue, but many men and women take pride in and confidence from their hair. As is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Aids and Appliances (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister. I fully agree with everything she said. It is a huge mark of her respect for people to put this on the Government's agenda. I would like to raise the scope of eligibility for the grant. I would welcome the grant being extended to those who suffer hair loss due not just to physical but also mental illness. I am thinking, in particular, of anorexia which,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 54. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the extension of rent supplement for victims of domestic violence. [57540/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she will take to support the victims of crime. [57739/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: 155. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the introduction of new criminal legislation to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. [57738/21]