Results 481-500 of 6,797 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 323. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of deep concerns in Gaeltacht schools and Gaelcholáistí regarding the grading of Gaeilge in T1 schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42439/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (22 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 698. To ask the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards issued to multiple myeloma cancer patients in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of refusals for patients with that diagnosis in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42599/24]

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Sorry about that. I am sure the problem was at the committee's end. I thank the Minister. We have political differences and argue on detail and policy, but a huge amount of work has happened during the Minister's tenure. I acknowledge that and wish him well for the future. There may be opportunities again in the Dáil or in committee, but just in case there are not I want to express...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Usage (17 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide a breakdown, by fuel source, of the cost of importing energy in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42182/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 295. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the payments made in relation to international protection accommodation and/or associated costs at a location (details supplied) in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42247/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 296. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the payments made to a person (details supplied) in County Meath in relation to temporary protection accommodation and international protection and/or associated costs in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42248/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2025 (17 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 346. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason certain courses have been omitted from the €1,000 fee reduction, as detailed in Budget 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42161/24]

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for his opening statement and I thank the Department for the briefing note. I welcome the progress that has been made. The Minister of State has been before the committee previously. For a time, Deputy Ó Murchú covered this end of things for Sinn Féin. We have gone through the granular details of this project. It is most welcome to see many...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge the work he has done in this area, in which he has a particular expertise, to keep this project on the go. My party had criticisms regarding the contract and some elements thereof, particularly the fact that we will not own the infrastructure at the end of it, but ultimately we all share the objective of seeing high-speed broadband across all of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Collection (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for the reply. I am sure he has seen the Comptroller and Auditor General's report which indicated that 39% of the carbon tax increases are not accounted for. The Minister outlined a 73% spend by his Department between 2020 and 2023 and that, in 2023 alone, there was an underspend in the region of €37 million. On the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, let...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Collection (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It sounds like the Minister has not read the Comptroller and Auditor General's report because it specifically said it was not properly accounted for. It states that the payments were not recorded in specific carbon tax funding subheads and it was not possible to confirm independently if they were spent correctly. This is really important because, regardless of your position on carbon tax,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I am taking these questions on behalf of Deputy Matt Carthy. I ask the Minister to outline the meetings he has had and the briefings he has received in respect of the North-South interconnector and whether he has had any meetings in this regard with local communities or landowners that are directly affected by the project.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It is important that the Minister is across this as a project. With a united voice, those of us locally have said the project will not be delivered in the timeframe suggested or in the way EirGrid seems to have outlined. We have almost 20 years of evidence to that effect. From my end, and that of my colleagues, the frustration is that EirGrid does not seem to be listening. My concern is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: While I thank the Minister, it seems that we are almost speaking different languages. The Minister made the case in terms of the merits and all-island strategic importance of the interconnector. I do not disagree with that, nor do Conor Murphy and my party. We disagree with the detail of the delivery of the project. To be fair, we have been proven correct for 20 years regarding this....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Does the Minister know that to be the case?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Collection (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 59. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of the findings in the 2023 report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (details supplied) that 39% of carbon taxes collected are not accounted for; if he can account for how his Department spent all of its carbon tax; the amount unspent or unaccounted for in 2023; and if he will make a statement on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Collection (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask the Minister if he is aware of the findings of the 2023 report from the Comptroller and Auditor General which states that 39% of carbon taxes collected are not accounted for. Can the Minister account for how his Department spent its carbon tax, the amount underspent or unaccounted for in 2023 and make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for the reply. There are elements that I very much welcome, particularly the area-based approach. I know CEG was the pilot - I think it was in Cork. It may not be funded under that scheme in Fingal. I want to raise the change that was made in June relating to the guidelines from the CEG for real estate investment funds and commercial landlords to avail of the SEAI's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I do not disagree with the Minister. I and my party have been wrestling with how to deal with the private rented sector. The Minister has heard my concern over the risk that these well-organised, well-resourced real estate investment funds will take great advantage of this while small landlords do not. At the same time, there is potential for rent increases because we know renovation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (15 Oct 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I am sorry Deputy, but the time for priority questions has elapsed.