Results 241-260 of 629 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

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

Séamus McGrath: The Commissioner is on record saying that he would like to see the Garda force at approximately 18,000. Is that still his view in the context of providing the service required?

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

Séamus McGrath: I turn to the provision of the service, how it is on a national basis and whether there is equality in the provision of service. What I am getting at is the allocation of gardaí to various districts and divisions. I will be a bit local and ask about the Cork city division, which is an area that feels under resourced in allocations. Following recent attestations, the allocations to...

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

Séamus McGrath: I will stay on the theme of service and value for money with our Garda stations. I represent a constituency where Garda stations in large urban areas are simply not open. They are not accessible, manned or staffed. I live in Carrigaline, which is a town of 20,000 people, with a hinterland of more than 30,000. There are a number of Garda stations in Passage West, Crosshaven and Carrigaline...

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

Séamus McGrath: I appreciate that. The Commissioner knows the importance of people being able to walk into a Garda station locally and speak to whom they consider to be a local garda. It is important and that familiarity is the bedrock of An Garda Síochána in the area of community policing. I appreciate him saying that. I turn to the non-public duty events and what the C and AG has...

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

Séamus McGrath: In his opening statement, Mr. Harris referred to air support and the acquisition of two new helicopters and a fixed-wing plane. These seem very welcome. We are moving towards more modern methods of policing and so on, and in this regard the deployment of the technology is very welcome. Have we one helicopter currently?

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

Séamus McGrath: Typically, how often are the aircraft deployed each week?

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

Séamus McGrath: That is good. The staffing of the aircraft, with pilots and so on, is all in train. May I turn to the issue of GoSafe, which the Comptroller and Auditor General has highlighted? Between 2022 and 2023, there seems to have been less paid in respect of the GoSafe service. Does that mean there was less GoSafe activity in terms of speed enforcement? It appears that we bring in more from the...

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

Séamus McGrath: I thank the witnesses.

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

Séamus McGrath: I have a couple of quick questions and I ask that the answers to them be brief. Regarding recruitment and trying to build up the numbers, I was contacted by someone who had to resign from the force for family reasons but is now seeking reinstatement. The individual's application has been before Garda management for several months. The person believes the application is bundled together...

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

Séamus McGrath: It is important to try to speed up the process as much as possible. There may be issues to resolve but these people are trained and qualified. In the case I mentioned, the individual's application seems to be stuck in a bundle with three or four other applications.

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

Séamus McGrath: I appreciate it. On the CCTV issue the Cathaoirleach raised, the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 cleaned up some of the issues with data protection and so on. The local authorities have repeatedly said they do not have the budgets to install CCTV, so it appears the money has to come from either An Garda Síochána or the Department of justice. Is any...

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

Séamus McGrath: That is welcome. I have time for a final question. We have seen high-profile cases where members of the force have been suspended while an investigation is ongoing. I do not want to go into individual cases other than to mention the instance involving the bicycle. In that case, the suspension was apparently for up to four years. Has the system been reformed such that investigations can...

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

Séamus McGrath: Ninety-seven is a high number of gardaí who are no longer on duty. I presume they are on pay while they are suspended, which amounts to a significant amount of public money. It is important that these processes are sped up as much as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the proposed building works at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35120/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 333. To ask the Minister for Health the number of active fair deal cases where a family home is involved in the financial assessment; the number of those cases where the person availing of the scheme was the only occupant of the property; and the number of these properties are now vacant or rented out. [35064/25]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I raise again the issue of school secretaries and caretakers. As the Minister knows, they have made a request for full public sector recognition and status. The Minister will agree school secretaries and caretakers play an integral role in the life of the school community and when many of us politicians visit these schools we always recognise secretaries and caretakers and the role they...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Mortgage Interest Rates (25 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the Minister of State. His reply very much focused on the climate of reducing interest rates we are now in. As I said in my initial remarks, this is very welcome and exactly why it is important to raise this point now. The Minister of State referred to the ECB reducing interest rates on eight occasions since last summer, and again this is all very welcome. The ECB covers the...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Mortgage Interest Rates (25 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this question. It is critically important that we continue the downward pressure on interest rates in Ireland. I acknowledge significant progress has been made in recent times in reducing mortgage interest rates across this country and bringing them somewhat more in line with EU averages but, unfortunately, we are still above EU averages....

Nursing Homes and Care for Older Persons: Statements (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I join with other Members in expressing my disgust and revulsion at what was exposed on “RTÉ Investigates”. When we see scenes like that on television, we think of our own relatives and friends who spend time in nursing homes. It makes every family wonder about the care they are receiving. Of course, it has to be said that what we saw results in a stain on all nursing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Key Challenges to Tackling Homelessness: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the witnesses from the three groups for coming before the committee today. I thank them for their opening statements too. As the Chair said, we have read them in advance and do not need them to be read. I will start with the Ombudsman for Children's Office. I thank Dr. Muldoon for outlining the position as he sees it at present. We all understand the impact of homelessness on...