Results 21-40 of 498 for speaker:Joe Cooney

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: 318. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans her Department has to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child during the lifetime of the Government; the proposed timeline for the roll-out of this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56098/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments (16 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: 331. To ask the Minister for Health the rates of referral from emergency department to acute assessment units for all model 4 hospitals, for 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56097/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Anaerobic Digestion: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I apologise; I was tied up with other meetings. What I have heard here has been very interesting. I thank the witnesses for taking time out to come in. I know a lot of questions have been asked. Unfortunately, if you are not here when questions are asked, you do not know what has already been asked. Are there many of these plants in the country at the moment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Anaerobic Digestion: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I presume this is going to be the way forward. Are we are going to see more of these plants around the country going forward?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Anaerobic Digestion: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: It has been mentioned that slurry from farmers can be taken into these plants.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Anaerobic Digestion: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I presume there would be issues, such as those raised in the Chair's earlier question, about going close to urban areas or where a number of houses have been built. Would there be issues as regards putting a plant close to people?

Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I express my full support for the Government's plans to raise the Housing Finance Agency's borrowing limit from €12 billion to €13.5 billion. This is an important and vital investment in Ireland's future. It gives the agency the funding needed to help to deliver more social and affordable houses throughout the country. We are facing a serious housing crisis. To solve, it we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I thank the witnesses for coming in. I compliment them on the great work they are doing. I thank them for the submission. I see it makes the point that nearly a quarter of the OMCs do not own the common areas of the apartments. What can be done to rectify that? It is putting a serious setback on the OMCs, in fairness.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: Going forward, what needs to be done and what can be done to solve the problem? It is not good enough. People are limited in what funds they can draw down. As far as I can see, there is no one taking responsibility as regards carrying out maintenance work and whatever.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: That is also important for the owners.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: The other thing is that the OMC is on the verge of insolvency.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: That is crazy in this day and age. Will Mr. Montague explain why that is happening?.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: The figure relating to sinking funds, as Mr. Montague calls them, is €2.5 billion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: In that case, would it be better to demolish the building and build a new one?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: No, I am fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I thank the Minister of State and his team for coming in this evening to update us on exactly where we are. Again, I compliment him on in fantastic work he is doing. Residential accommodation is vitally important and hopefully, some of the guidelines the Minister of State has set out in front of us will help to put more residential units in place going forward. I have a couple of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: That is very good. We are all well aware of the number of people who are looking for housing. There is growth in our population, and the demand is there for housing. It is a fantastic to see that achievement over that short period. A lot of commercial buildings are probably laying idle in villages and towns as well. It is great to see them come back into use. Why put an end to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: That is fine. Will the Minister of State consider increasing the number of units? Nine is the limit at the moment. Could that be increased to a higher number?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: That would be very good. It is important as well. As I said, we are well aware of the demand for residential accommodation. I thank the Minister of State.