Results 2,801-2,820 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Affordable Homes, Public Lands, Strategic Planning and Projects: Land Development Agency (23 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: That is grand. I am sure the witnesses will do their best to furnish us with all of that information. I will adjourn the meeting now. I thank the witnesses for their engagement.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (18 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State for that response. It is good to get it down on paper, especially since I had not realised that €145 million had been invested in infrastructure in County Wicklow schools. When I go around the county and see those new schools being built, such as St. Coen's in Rathnew, or St. David's, as the Minister of State referenced, I realise the advancements that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (18 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: This is also related to education and schools and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, for dealing with it. I was informed that the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, would not be available today. I accept that and trust that the Minister of State will relay my comments and requests back to her. Since I was elected I have been engaging with parents in north Wicklow,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: 467. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the unfilled SENO role in a school (details supplied); the actions her Department is taking to ensure this role is urgently filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56330/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: 624. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the number of schools in County Wicklow that have initiated applications for solar panel funding under the free national roll-out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1368/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (17 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: 663. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update regarding the temporary accommodation committed to for a school (details supplied) in Blessington; the estimated timeline for the completion of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1607/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: 664. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the permanent school building for a school (details supplied); the timeline for the start date for construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1608/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Service Executive (17 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: 1327. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the HSE community healthcare east’s decision to not fund a programme (details supplied) in 2024; if he is concerned about the impact this will have on the children and families that had hoped to avail of this support; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (17 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: 1569. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56957/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (17 Jan 2024)

Steven Matthews: 1685. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the recommended cap on hospital parking charges; and the basis for any delays to date. [1360/24]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: 244. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding ongoing negotiations related to the retention of the pay/pension parity for retired members of An Garda Síochána, following the expiration of the Building Momentum Agreement at the end of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56078/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: The committee will undertake detailed scrutiny of three Private Members' Bills: the Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, sponsored by Deputy Ó Broin; the Tenancy Protection Bill 2023, sponsored by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan; and the Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022, sponsored by me. We will consider the Homeless Prevention Bill. I invite Deputy Ó Broin to introduce the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: We will take them one at a time and have the discussion. The question was on 60 days to 90 days.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Ó Broin for bringing forward the Bill. I am surprised that there is no definition of what constitutes being at risk of homelessness It is one of the key criteria. In the case of tenantin situor cost rental, a person has to be deemed to be at risk of homelessness. The Deputy probably started crafting the Bill in 2019 or 2020. Has a definition been provided in other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I totally agree with the Deputy. If one is going to judge a situation, one needs a standard to judge it against to determine who qualifies. It is important that we have a definition of "at risk" of homelessness. I do not know if this is it because I have not had time to see is there something in it. I would like to ask about a couple of the definitions. Do we have a definition for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I would like to spend a little more time on defining it so it is not open to interpretation. What one person might consider "inadequate housing" might be considered by someone else in the same circumstances as very adequate to his or her needs. Subsection (2) of the Deputy's Bill amends section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. The new subsection (12) includes the phrase "each local housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is the case because something else might incur a cost. I am in a similar situation. I understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: We cannot introduce a Private Members' Bill that incurs a charge on the State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: That clears up the matter. The legislation would have to be modified if the Minister would take it on. In any of the residential tenancies Bills or any of the legislation we have brought in during the past three years, did the Deputy ever seek to introduce these measures by way of amendments that were rejected?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: There has been nothing to hook any of these measures onto, as such.