Results 4,241-4,260 of 14,528 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: This morning's newspapers are covering the tragic story of the late Mrs. Margaret Callaghan, who died in January 2018. Our thoughts this morning are with her family and friends. Mrs. Callaghan lived only 2 km from Letterkenny University Hospital, yet it took 71 minutes for an ambulance to reach her. She had been previously discharged after a test and rang for an ambulance the following...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: The Minister's answer indicates a complete disconnect between the Government and what is happening in hospitals. The difficulties in emergency departments have nothing to do with people getting sick and presenting there. They are to do with the fact that there were 300 fewer staff nurses employed in the health system in October compared with last December, 350 consultant vacancies where...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: Here we go.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: Fine Gael has been in government for nine years.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: 9. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeline for the completion of the new Action Plan for Rural Development ; and if he has made a request seeking the transfer of further responsibilities for rural development to his Department. [50621/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: The Minister and I spoke briefly earlier about the new version of the Action Plan for Rural Development , which is in preparation. I ask him to outline the timeline for that and state when he sees it being published. To go back to other Departments, the Minister also said, "We cannot allow other Departments to throw everything over to my Department. There is a bit of that happening at the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: The Minister speaks of resilience. Rural communities are resilient; that is their nature. I am not being political in saying that permanent Government policies get in the way of that resilience and undermine it. We need a plan that encourages and fosters resilience and growth that is sustainable without being choked by various initiatives. I have been reflecting on the response of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: I wish the Minister well in the remaining weeks of his Ministry to deliver all those things. He has a super team of officials. Would those very excellent individuals not be absolutely delighted to have their Minister living in the town in which the Department is based? In bringing organisations together, one of the difficulties with LEADER at the moment is that we have brought it under the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: If it takes on all these things without the necessary budget, the projects and the delivery of services will be utterly diminished. In the context of preparing the action plan, what engagement has the Minister had with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, or his Department about the transfer of responsibilities and, most importantly, the transfer and ring-fencing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: 3. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the operational details of broadband connection points that will be provided within the first 12 months of the national broadband roll-out; and the role of his Department in the task. [50957/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: My question is on the national broadband plan, specifically whether the roll-out of the broadband connection points, BCPs, is still on schedule. Will they be available to people? What services will be available to those within those points?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Minister of State. Has he clarified precisely when those 300 points will be delivered? Will it be during 2020 or 2021? This plan has all the signs of making it up as we are going along. That has been the constant threat in terms of it. What will the speed of the connections be in each of these BCPs? What will be the cost? If I am the owner of a company, will I be able to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: The Minister of State wants 300 of these BCPs rolled out by this time next year. We do not have an operator. The Minister has not answered my question on the speed of connection that will be available at these sites. He has not answered my question on the cost to people. He gave me the general information that we have already. In his final reply, will he indicate what the cost will be,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: 1. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress in meeting commitments to improve the provision of public services in rural areas as the Department responsible for the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development, and the discussions he has had with his colleagues regarding meeting targets in the plan. [50956/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: I am seeking an update from the Minister for Rural and Community Development regarding the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development. Given that I listen to him most weekends in our constituency, I can nearly anticipate his response but I want him to focus on a comment he made last summer that other Ministers were dumping stuff on his Department. He may not have used the word...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: The Minister spoke about improving access to services, enhancing quality of life and healthcare. Last week, the Central Statistics Office, CSO, published statistics showing that there is a considerable difference between rural and urban areas when it comes to average distance from services. The statistics showed that while the average distance in Ireland to the nearest HSE adult emergency...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: I agree with the Minister about quality of life, etc., but quality of life does not put butter on potatoes. Unless there are services, we will not be able to keep people in rural areas. It is a vicious circle. Without people, there are no services and without services, there are no people so there needs to be a minimum level of service. I do not want hospitals on every corner but I want...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: 16. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects approved under the town and village renewal scheme in 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of projects that were not approved in each year; the reason for refusal; and if there is an appeal mechanism in place to appeal refusal decisions. [50619/19]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Expenditure (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: 22. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent to date under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme by project and administration costs; the amount expended to date on project costs by each LAG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50620/19]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme Data (5 Dec 2019)

Dara Calleary: 29. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of rural roads that were approved for funding under the local improvement scheme in 2018 and to date in 2019, by local authority in tabular form; the number of road projects completed in 2018 and to date in 2019; the projected number of road projects to be completed by the end of 2019; and if he will allocate additional...