Results 3,881-3,900 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: People might say I am putting on my developer's hat but I would argue that I speak from experience, given that I am not a developer at present but God knows what day I might start again. However, I do agree with Deputy Daly on several points. I am concerned because I am a little confused about what exactly will happen. From my understanding, the March 2007 recommendations which the city...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: It is not my phone. If we want to build two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom apartments in which families will be willing to live, we must change how we go about it. In the past, we did not build apartments that were fit for families. My company generally built apartments that were 15 sq. m to 20 sq. m larger than the norm but I still would not say they were fit for families. In...

International Protection Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: The Government says that this is a short-term solution which will solve people's accommodation needs as they seek an application for protection in this country. I understood, from listening to the Minister for State, that direct provision would be abolished, given how poorly it had functioned over the years. Fast-tracking the process will not necessarily solve all of the problems. It will...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: NAMA has nominated Cerberus as the preferred bidder for Project Arrow. The deal has not yet gone through so I do not understand why the Government does not take some of the built units which are ready for use. I can live with the idea of the developer providing 10% of the units instead of 20% because it would be particularly difficult for small builders to finance it if they provide 20% and...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: 7. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce specific measures targeted at increasing the capacity of local authorities to build social housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44125/15]

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: At this stage, most people would agree that the core of our housing problem is the lack of local authority social housing units. Until we decide to target the delivery of more local authority social housing new builds, we will continue to have a housing problem. Is the Government prepared to take more direct action to address the problem?

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: When the Government talks about figures, it is difficult to see the clarity. It always talks about local authorities and approved housing bodies. I honestly think we must be specific and say we need local authority social housing. How many local authority social housing new builds were delivered in the past four years and how many will be delivered up to 2020? I know of a Roma family with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: 36. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the plan for the provision of social housing is the most effective option available in tackling the worsening housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44126/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: 209. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide long-term funding to the atmospheric research station at Mace Head in County Galway, given its importance in continuing to measure climate and air pollution data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44535/15]

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: The Minister is misinterpreting me.

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: It appears the figures on the ground are different. I am surprised the Minister, Deputy Howlin, did not bring back a starker picture because of what we hear from parents in the area.

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: It is good that work on Loreto is starting. It is interesting that one cannot open a regional newspaper now without seeing somebody from the Government parties turning a sod. What was the Government at for five years?

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: All of a sudden there is a surge to do something.

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: I do not understand how for five years-----

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: -----the Government did so little in this area.

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: It is a bit like the idea that people should vote for the Labour Party and it will repeal the 8th amendment to the Constitution. What has the party done in the past five years and why did it not repeal the amendment then?

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: It is beyond me how the party operates.

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: 7. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the construction of an additional secondary school in south Wexford, given the long waiting lists for schools in the region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43784/15]

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: This question is related to the previous question. Rather than repeating what I have said, I will discuss another dimension of the issue, although I realise it is not raised directly in the question. Many of these projects are operated under the public private partnership, PPP, system. I have put questions to the different Departments, including the Department of Education and Skills,...

Other Questions: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2015)

Mick Wallace: Will the Minister indicate if any of the four projects currently planned for Wexford are PPPs? I wrote to at least six Departments seeking information on PPPs, including the Minister's Department. The stock answer is: "In making the decision, I have considered the public interest and, on balance, I am satisfied that the public interest would not be better served in this instance by the...