Results 4,141-4,160 of 18,315 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (13 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 500. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to waive the cost of a driver test in cases in which an applicant needs to repeat this test and needs the licence for work or study purposes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46820/18]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (13 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 535. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding applications for grant aid for projects (details supplied); when projects under these schemes will be finalised and approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46791/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Review (13 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 639. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if amendments to the tenant purchase scheme will be introduced to enable tenants who were awarded council houses through Part V regulations to avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47091/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Review (13 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 640. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the conditions of the tenant purchase scheme will be amended to enable tenants whose principal source of income is a payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and who are in a position to purchase their home through their own resources or with family support; and if he will make a statement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: North-South Implementation Bodies: Waterways Ireland and Loughs Agency (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the witnesses from the two implementation bodies. Regarding Waterways Ireland, Ms Livingstone initially painted a picture of declining resources, competing demands and infrastructure that is getting older and needs investment. Thankfully, there has been a significant increase in usage of and traffic on the waterways. Waterways Ireland does not have a good revenue stream and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: North-South Implementation Bodies: Waterways Ireland and Loughs Agency (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: Am I correct in thinking that we cannot have a Waterways Ireland blueway along a river that is not within its navigations system?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: North-South Implementation Bodies: Waterways Ireland and Loughs Agency (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: That leadership would be needed for blueways where Waterways Ireland does not have its own remit.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 12. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to streamline the administration of the LEADER programme nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46122/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: We have been discussing the need to minimise bureaucracy. I understand that in the past, the relevant LEADER company and the Department were the only two agencies involved in the processing and approval of LEADER projects, whereas local action groups, local community development committees, Pobal and the Department are involved at the moment. Rather than involving more agencies, we should...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his response. I remember listening to public commentary from some of the people involved in administering the programmes. They spoke about the lack of consistency nationally. There are variations in the administration of schemes throughout the country. I recently heard that Article 48 checks are being taken from Pobal and given to the local authorities. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: All of us share the Minister's view that public money has to be put to proper use to maximise the benefit for the people on behalf of whom we work. I know that some communities which were thinking of submitting applications under this programme, and had done some preparatory work to that end, were discouraged by the required level of what they regarded as bureaucracy. The Minister and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the Minister's commitment that he is willing to introduce further improvements if they are necessary.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of expenditure committed to date under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme for each individual programme; the drawdown of such grant aid to date by individual programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46123/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: I represent two counties, Cavan and Monaghan, that have had the benefit of a LEADER programme since 1991. We were one of the pilot projects that were selected by the then Fianna Fáil Government following the introduction of the LEADER programme at European level by the former Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ray MacSharry. I have seen the benefits of that investment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. It is most disappointing to learn that only €31 million out of €250 million has been drawn down. We are at the end of the fourth year of the 2014-20 programme, which I accept was late getting off the ground. I have another question in respect of how we deal with it. Speaking to groups on the ground and people who have been involved in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. Is he satisfied that funding in various parts of the country has been proportionate to activity levels to date? Does he envisage that there will have to be a reallocation of funding between the different companies as time goes on? I am very glad we have two good companies in my constituency actively promoting the LEADER programme. As the Minister is well aware, areas...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 176. To ask the Minister for Health if orthopaedic procedures will be funded under the National Treatment Purchase Fund in 2019 in view of the delays for patients in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46335/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 180. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children, young persons and adults in counties Cavan and Monaghan waiting for appointments in primary care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46361/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Issues (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 244. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions held to date with the British authorities and at EU level in relation to the adverse impact Brexit may have on cross-Border bus services; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46362/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Issues (8 Nov 2018)

Brendan Smith: 245. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that there will be no disruption to cross-Border bus services following Brexit; if he and Bus Éireann have had discussions with their counterparts in Northern Ireland and Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46363/18]