Results 3,281-3,300 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Dr. Mellett. He has outlined a very comprehensive and extensive range of qualifications and his experience to lead the organisation. I thank him for setting these out for us. Each member will have seven minutes in total in which questions may be asked and answered. We will take Deputy Ó Broin first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Dr. Mellett is right. We are in the formative days of this process. Previously, we were not able to do anything outside the 12-mile limit, so this is new. During the debate on the Maritime Area Planning Act, we spoke about a register of occupancy and activities in the sea. I cannot remember the exact name of the register. Is that something that MARA will manage because it will be the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: The committee is always interested. We get regular updates from agencies that we deal with from time to time. If there was a quarterly or six-monthly update from MARA, the committee would be interested in receiving that information.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: For the record, I was asked if I wished to wait for someone from the Department of Transport to deal with this matter. It is so urgent, however, I decided to proceed. I thank the Minister of State for coming in to take it. I am concerned with regard to how we are going to protect the east coast rail line from coastal flooding events into the future. We saw what happened in the south...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is reassuring to hear the commitment and the understanding in the Department of Transport of how serious the issue is and the required intervention that the Minister of State has set out. On the ongoing maintenance she mentioned, I worked on the railway for many years and I know the line very well. I know all the points where it is level and where it is operating at sea level right the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: 98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the new school building for a school (details supplied); if a timeline for completion can be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46939/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for the work he has been doing on road safety and championing that cause because it is something that concerns all of us. He has been doing some pretty good work on that. I will ask some straight questions and if he does not have the figures, that is fine. He can come back to me on them. If all the roads that were planned or promised in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I would appreciate if the Minister of State could come back to me when he has had time to have a look at the number of roads that are promised or planned, the reality versus the actual transport budget that is available and how we would prioritise those roads within that budget envelope.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: My question does lead into road safety. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, which is the agency responsible for national roads and motorways, produced two reports over the past two years. One related to reducing speeds on national roads and the impact that would have on climate emissions. Part of that report suggested that if we reduced the speeds on those national roads, the cars may divert...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I accept that. Our agencies would suggest they are policy takers, not policymakers. We make the policies on this. However, it is quite difficult when we do not have those reports. I would take it up with TII at any time and say the report on the emissions aspect was flawed and the safety aspect it put into that was flawed. I do not have the details on the other report. On road safety,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I would agree with the Minister of State's comments. There are certainly stretches of road in this country that need improvement, including safety improvements and upgrades. There is probably a need for more town bypasses to be built as well. We do not need to build a big massive road. Building a bypass around those towns would make much more sensible use of money and create those nice...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will suggest including it in our work schedule.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for letting me in again. I wish to raise another few issues relating to road safety. I concur with Deputy Leddin concerning the prevalence of red-light running we see. I have this rule for my children when we are crossing the road that when we see the green man, we look twice as hard and should not assume that seeing the green man means that cars are going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is there a good guidance document available for roads engineers? I know there is the DMURS, but is a good guidance document available for these types of simple interventions that could be undertaken? I ask because we want consistency across the board. We do not want people to be driving from County Wicklow into County Dublin and then find that the district engineer there has decided he is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I appreciate that. I thank the Minister of State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am grateful for the opportunity to engage with the witnesses. In response to Dr. O'Hagan-Luff's reference to the valuation of trees versus the car park analogy, we need to go back to Brehon law nearly 400 years ago when a value was put on oak, ash and other trees in this country. I do not suggest we go back there but we did do that once. There could be a Private Members' Bill to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (24 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: 178. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the expansion of young adult leap cards to include 24- and 25-year-olds; a timeline for the introduction of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46604/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (24 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: 270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the IT grant for primary schools; the timeline for when schools can draw down this funding for this school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46248/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (24 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: 271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding to support primary schools with the cost of cleaning following the cessation of the Covid supports to assist with this expense; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46251/23]