Results 2,621-2,640 of 25,975 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I acknowledge the phenomenal work being done by front-line workers. I acknowledge the difficulties being experienced by patients who are presenting in UHL. Staff are doing their utmost. We have a capacity issue and we all accept that. The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, is fully aware. These are two different metrics. If someone presents to UHL, I would prefer for them to be in a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. The Department of Health recognises the key role of pharmacy services in the community and the ongoing significant contribution made by the sector to patients and the public, particularly during the pandemic. The potential role pharmacy services can play in the development and implementation of future healthcare reform, especially in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator again for speaking on this topic. The Department of Health appreciates the expertise of pharmacists and the valuable contribution they make, both in working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals as part of a team and working independently. By leveraging their knowledge, they make a significant contribution that adds benefits to patient outcomes. I...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, each of which are 80% funded by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. The annual targets include the delivery of 88,400 new social homes and 53,800 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Donnelly might bring the specifics of the point he raised to me. I am not aware of it but we can look at it. We want people to be able to remain in their homes. That is certainly the intention. In response to Deputy Leddin, we are on track to have the legislation for a directly-elected mayor published in April. It is a priority for this Government, particularly for the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy for raising that point. He might give us the specifics of that case, but the point he makes is valid and is one we in the Department will look into under the tenant purchase scheme. He raises a point on which there appears to be an anomaly. He might bring forward the specific case so we can look at it in the context of the overall policy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: If the Deputy was in the Chamber for questions on housing about three weeks ago, he will have heard the Minister give a commitment that any local authority that wishes to appoint additional housing officers can make a business case to the Department, which will be very receptive to it. I ask the Deputy to go back to Tipperary County Council to make a case for additional vacant homes officers...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As the Deputy will be aware from the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the regulations are out. They are with the local authority. The Minister has met with various political groups. He hopes and intends to meet with residents very shortly on the mica issue in County Donegal. The Minister is very much engaged on this and wants this-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is certainly something I will take back to him. He has met various councillors. On this particular issue, however, he is very keen to meet the residents first and foremost. That will happen relatively shortly.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Chair for his kind remarks and words of welcome. I look forward to working with him and his committee. I also look forward to working with my ministerial colleagues, the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan. I welcome the opportunity to discuss with the committee the Estimates for 2023 in the areas of local government, planning, Traveller accommodation and support,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The fund is specifically about vacant housing units. Workshops are taking place between the Department and local authorities because we want the local authorities in five cities to proactively use the fund to activate vacant units for housing. The URDF funding is a targeted measure. The public realm was the previous round and it may return to the public realm. The URDF is specific funding...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is correct.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The URDF is specifically for cities. As the Chairman will be well aware, local authorities can access other schemes that cater for towns and villages, which we encourage them to do. The URDF is a specific fund where we want local authorities to come forward with proposals. The Department is directly engaging with the local authorities on an intensive basis. Officials from the URDF section...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the last question in respect of staff, 250 staff were to be recruited for the social housing project and 180 of those are currently in place. Recruitment is ongoing for the other 70. There are 69 staff in place for affordable housing. As I said, 250 new staff were approved to support the delivery of social housing and it is an important measure. Recruitment commenced in late 2021 and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Further Revised)
Vote 23 - Electoral Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (23 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As the Chair is probably aware, the CCMA, which was before the committee, has identified a need to have 541 planners across all the local authorities. A working group has been established in the Department to look at that. It is not just about recruitment; we must ensure we have a pipeline of planners. There is a worry that many of the planners who have been recruited by one authority have...

Eviction Ban Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will the Deputy bring us the details of that case and the previous case?

Eviction Ban Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I responded to that but the Deputy was not here when I responded.

Eviction Ban Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am sorry, we are opposing the Bill.