Results 3,181-3,200 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the temporary pause of a school bus service (details supplied) due to staff shortages; if an urgent temporary measure can be put in place using local resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49316/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a permanent school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49651/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 244. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the qualifying criteria for well water grants administered through local authorities; if an instruction can be issued to allow for the inclusion of applications for premises that are soon to be lived in following renovation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding housing estates in urban areas that are not connected to the sewerage network; if any grant funding is being considered in this case; if existing rural programmes could be expanded to include any housing estate with a long-standing communal septic tank set up; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 377. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the potential presence of RHDv2 infections in wild hares and domestic rabbits; if any research is ongoing at a Department level in this regard; if any other actions are being taken or proposed to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49494/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 613. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised by adult education tutors in relation to contract proposals published by his Department in May 2023; if he is committed to engaging with this sector on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49377/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Septic Tanks (9 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I raise the glamorous subject of septic tanks or domestic private wastewater treatment plants, as they are properly known. My Green Party colleague, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh recently raised some important questions at the Committee of Public Accounts about rates of inspection of septic tanks. Will the Minister of State outline the number of septic tanks there are nationally, the number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Septic Tanks (9 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. I completely agree with him that we need to raise public awareness of this and of the substantial grant increase that has been introduced by the Minister. I did some research and worked out that there are probably approximately 500,000 private domestic wastewater treatment systems in operation. However, a report published by the EPA in June suggests that only...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Septic Tanks (9 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am aware that in rural areas there is no choice but to have a septic tank and it is important that we assist people as much as possible to fix those tanks. However, another situation has arisen that I have raised with the Department and the Minister previously. We have urban areas that were once rural. A town has grown and enveloped what was once a rural area. We have houses in my town,...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I welcome the Minister and his officials to the committee where we will continue with the Committee Stage of the Finance (No. 2) Bill. I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. This is important because it causes serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Yesterday we finished on section 39, amendment No. 21, in the name of Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Ó Murchú. Amendment No. 22 in the name of Deputy Nash has been spoken on. Amendment No. 23 in the name of Deputies Boyd Barrett, Kenny and Smith moved and spoken on. The Minister had responded. I call Deputy Ó Snodaigh.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Thank you, Deputy Ó Snodaigh. I call Deputies Boyd Barrett and Ó Murchú in that order.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have other Deputies to bring in. I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for that contribution.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I wish to speak to this amendment, so I ask Deputy Durkan to take the Chair momentarily.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I welcome section 39 and the amendment being proposed by the Minister. It is a positive move. The Irish film production industry is recognised globally. We have large multinational corporation-backed productions, but we also have a lot of indigenous industries and locally grown talent. It all benefits from a well-functioning industry in which everybody's interests are taken care of...