Results 481-500 of 50,683 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: There are two things. First, many local authorities do a lot of good work in terms of voids. The Deputy has sat on a council. I think all of us have complained over the years where a house, which has been vacated due to tenants leaving for whatever reason, has remained unoccupied for an inordinate length of time. That system has to change. That house should be very quickly reallocated to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: There is a lack of application.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: There is a lack of resource application and a lack of desire, in that it is said it is too cumbersome and too difficult. It is there for a reason. The law is complex but you need to be tenacious and you need to persevere. Third, the Deputy will be glad to know that St. Kevin's Hospital in Cork has been taken over by the LDA-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----and a very good housing scheme is now being developed there.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Finally, the Deputy is right in one respect and that is why we asked the LDA to acquire some more of these properties from the HSE and others, that is, to get them used for housing.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Government was formed on 22 January. The general election was at the end of November. A number of Opposition people habitually equate the general election date with the formation of Government date. It is a clever ploy but it is not the truth. The Government has only been in office since 22 January. It is a very short while. It might seem like longer to the Deputy but that is how...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----but everyone understands their role, function and purpose. It has been a very effective one. Deputy Thomas Byrne has performed excellently in the role as have his predecessors. The Taoiseach: -----but everyone understands the role, function and purpose of the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Likewise, with regard to the Third World, the Minister of State with responsibility for Irish Aid has very clearly delineated functions, policies and initiatives-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----without requiring a dedicated Department.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the manner he has done so. I understand fully, as he eloquently articulated in the House some weeks ago, his personal experience of this entire situation in respect of his own child. That is a valuable input into the debate on this issue. I anticipate and expect a report to be published at the end of the week. It is important it is published...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: We keep bandying words about the place, but the expansion of health services in recent years has been exponential. We need to get a sense of perspective in how we describe things. I am not saying there is not challenges but the bottom line is €25 billion is being spent on our health services. The HSE has significant resources. I was involved in setting up the PHECC and so on 20-odd...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: What I am saying is that an additional €8 million was provided in 2025 for new service development in terms of an additional 180 posts. The total staff numbers have risen to 2,407 up to the end of 2024. That is an increase of 25% or 476 extra-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----since the start of 2020. Therefore, we have had close to 500 extra staff over the last number of years. That does not mean we do not need more; we probably do.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Let us not pretend-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. Although regulations were introduced in 2024 to allow for the legal use of e-scooters on Irish roads, I believe they need to be kept under constant review because there are clear dangers and vulnerabilities in regard to their use. Those regulations extended the rules of the road already in place for pedal cycles to include...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy Browne, is committed to establishing a new towns and cities infrastructure and investment fund to replace the urban regeneration and development fund. Hopefully, we can make it a bit more flexible for some towns that may not have qualified for the URDF. The detailed arrangements for the implementation of these funding streams will be clarified...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I will pursue the matter. I do not know whether an application has gone in under the summer works scheme. Is it too big for that?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Yes. I will alert the Minister for education to the specifics and ask if she could respond to the school authorities and to the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil. Obviously, the quality of Maynooth University Crèche must have been of a very high standard given the manner in which the Deputy has come through ever since, right into Dáil Éireann.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I have just been informed that building blocks have now been suggested. In any event, I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Foley, and to the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, about Kildare and its needs. It is probably one of the fastest growing counties in the country and clearly it is no surprise to me that the demand is quite high there.