Results 2,961-2,980 of 6,809 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (14 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 695. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses working in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [6984/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (14 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 696. To ask the Minister for Health the number of full-time cardiothoracic radiographers working in the Mater Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [6985/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the N2 Kilmoon Cross to Rath roundabout project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5598/23]

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Deputy Carey. I also thank the Minister for being here and presenting this information. Regarding Connecting Ireland, I was looking at the figures and I also sought figures from the Department and the National Transport Authority. Last year, my understanding was that this was a five-year, €56-million project. It is one that has broad support. I know communities that have...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the business plan going to the Cabinet for it to sign off on the money the Minister is bringing here? Is multi-annual funding the issue? Is it going to deal with that?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Connecting Ireland.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Is it not all too slow? I could give the example of the No. 188, which is a new route for which I hand-delivered the timetables. When I was a councillor, I campaigned for this service because everybody knew it was missing. Children and others who live in a town but go to school, shop and do their work in a neighbouring town cannot get a bus service to it. I have spoken to a bus driver who...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: With due respect, it does not feel like it is based on the roll-out and delivery. The Minister has heard me compliment the services that are being delivered but they are below the targets the NTA set last year. For example, the Kentstown route was to be delivered last year. It was not. It was delivered this year and is welcome. It is the same for other services and in respect of the...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: It does.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I can vouch for that. I know very many people who use the Navan bus service. I accept that point but I will also make the point that Connecting Ireland is also doing other things that speak to the issue of car dependency in rural areas that town services will not. With regard to transformational change in transport, this dependency is a particular challenge. Connecting Ireland has a...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the Minister ambitious to see the scheme of fares reductions extended beyond the end of 2023? It is of interest to me that the NTA and so many were surprised by the response and uptake in public transport because my party and I had for some time advocated for a reduction in fares yet were consistently met with the argument that a reduction in fares would not necessarily see the type of...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Where I see a funding fall-off is in subhead C3 of the national roads investment. Last year, between current and capital funding, it was €783.3 million and this year it is €678.2 million.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: On that point, it does not only apply to the Minister's Department. It applies to others as well, in terms of housing and the Minister's other brief in terms of energy infrastructure. Does the Minister see the proposals that are coming in terms of planning reform being about resources for the planning system or the approach of the planning system? Obviously, there is an important balance...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Chair.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (1 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the response from the Minister of State, but it raises the question of why there is a delay. We would have hoped that we would have seen progress for this academic year, and more significant progress. This did not happen. There is now the question of whether this facility will be in place during this academic year or even in time for the start of the next academic year. I note...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (1 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Gabhaim buíochas a Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I am grateful that this Topical Issue matter has been selected which specifically looks at the project to reconfigure three mainstream classes to a two classroom special educational needs, SEN, base. The National Council for Special Education in November 2021 sanctioned a special class by letter. That process got underway. In April 2022, an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I am going to fire a number of questions at our guests, if that is okay. Mr. Synnott said that 375,000 vehicles are overdue for their NCT. He has accounted for 246,000 of those. What is the situation in respect of the other 130,000? Of the 375,000, has Mr. Synnott a breakdown of how overdue they are? Are they three or six months overdue? Are they more than a year overdue? Does Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Synnott. The information I have requested would be helpful-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: -----to give us an idea of the scale of the issue. I am trying to make sense of the figures Mr. Synnott has given the committee. I think he said that 1.53 million vehicles were due a test last year.