Results 481-500 of 629 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: County and City Management Association (20 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Mr. Taaffe and Ms Leech for taking the time to come into us. I am someone who spent many years on council in Cork. I have the utmost respect for councils and the work they do. They are on the front line in the housing crisis that we have. I have great respect for the work being done. I want to focus on operational issues and touch on what was focused on in the opening address on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: County and City Management Association (20 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: That was a rookie error.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: County and City Management Association (20 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Mr. Taaffe for that. I appreciate it is a sensitive issue and that a CPO is not issued lightly. I foresee compulsory purchases only in the case of land that is zoned and has possibly progressed along but that has just not been activated. That is the land that needs to be examined. I have a couple of questions on modern methods of construction. What needs to happen for these to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: County and City Management Association (20 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Deputy Stanley mentioned the standard designs. Whether these fit into the MMC model might need to be looked at. In the context of cost rental, I hear what Mr. Taaffe had to say on the borrowing risks and the caution in the local authorities. These need to be addressed. Mr. Taaffe has explained this fairly well to us. With regard to the ambition in the programme for Government for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: County and City Management Association (20 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It was more of a statement. It was on private capacity being usurped to meet local authority targets.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: County and City Management Association (20 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I have a few quick questions rather than a long introduction, as I had earlier. Reference was made to the Housing Agency fund for land acquisition. That is an important fund. Reference was also made to the CPO process. The supply of land in the pipeline is an issue in many local authorities. I feel from my experience that they were not as proactive as they needed to be on this issue. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Testing (20 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 261. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to examine how ‘type approval‘ certification can be achieved for an industrial vehicle converted from a diesel or petrol engine to a battery electric solution (details supplied). [25944/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (20 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 321. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to clarify the position in relation to supply chain issues concerning bus shelters through the National Transport Authority tendering process (details supplied). [25945/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new class intakes that will enter Templemore this year; the expected overall number of students to enter Templemore in 2025; and the number of recruits in 2023 and 2024. [24765/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I appreciate the Minister's commitment to this issue. The programme for Government sets out an ambitious target in relation to the recruitment of gardaí. I know the Minister is committed to increasing the visibility of gardaí on our streets. One can see in Dublin that there has been an improvement in that respect but we need to see it across the country. The Minister visited...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It is to be welcomed that there were more than 6,000 expressions of interest in joining An Garda Síochána, as are the moves by the Minister to speed up the recruitment process in the interview process and so on. It needs to be curtailed as much as possible to fast-track the delivery of extra gardaí on our streets. I also welcome that three more classes will enter Templemore...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for facilitating my taking of this question. I would appreciate it if the Minister would outline his plans to introduce a new voids programme.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the Minister and welcome his commitment to vacant housing and the voids. The figure of more than €300 million since 2014 is very significant. I very much welcome the Minister's statements on a commitment to a prompt turnaround of properties, ensuring only essential work is carried out so those houses can be re-let quickly and that any other work that is non-essential can be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: As the Minister said, there is a significant difference between some of the local authorities. He referred to counties Laois and Kerry, for example, between which there is a significant disparity. That is something we certainly have to delve into because how some local authorities can do it much faster than others needs to be examined to see how best practice can be applied across the local...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the Minister and I know he very much values affordable housing. I thank him for the figures he provided indicating that 6,400 units will be provided this year, which is very welcome. Prior to the election I strongly committed to individuals and couples that I would be a strong voice in relation to affordable housing. We all know the cohort of people who are above the social housing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I acknowledge the progress that has been made in Cork, both by Cork City Council and Cork County Council in the delivery of affordable purchase houses in particular. That is very welcome and I note the strong ambition in the programme for Government under the starter homes theme, which is important. Again, I reiterate that when one looks at the delivery of housing, the quantum of social...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 5. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for his expectations for the delivery of affordable housing this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24902/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Will the Minister outline his expectations for the delivery of affordable housing, particularly affordable purchase housing, for the coming year?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: That is generous.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: When the Comptroller and Auditor General highlights an issue in his report, such as a data breach or a procurement concern, is it only highlighted in the report or does he refer it to other bodies such as the Data Protection Commission or is it up to them to pick up on the highlighted issue? Does his office flag it?