Results 41-60 of 26,081 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien. I wish to clarify that the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding relating to public transport but neither he nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Government recognises that transport connectivity is important for people who live and work in Ireland, including Kildare, and is key to bringing life back into our villages, towns and urban centres. To deal with the specific point the Senator raised, the proposed route 888 linking Allenwood to Athy is expected to launch next month. Discussions between the NTA and Local Link Kildare...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Transfers (22 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy referred to the HIQA report. Obviously, it operates independently. It was felt the current location on the campus was impacting the residents of the nursing home, that is, the community nursing unit itself, so an agreement was reached that it would look for an alternative permanent location. In the interim it has temporarily located on another area in the campus where there is...

Fair and Sustainable Funding for Carers, Home Support and Nursing Homes Support Schemes: Motion [Private Members] (21 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the opportunity to discuss fair and sustainable funding for carers, home support and the nursing homes support scheme. The Minister for Health is not opposing the motion. I echo the motion in acknowledging the indispensable contributions of carers and front-line healthcare workers. We all know that they do phenomenal work. Their valuable work supports older people, people...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (21 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (20 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Department of Health has been focused on the development and implementation of a regulatory framework for providers of home support services. This will ensure that all service users are provided with high-quality, regulated home support services. The new system of regulation for home support will instil confidence in the public that the services provided are of a high standard and bring...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (20 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Meals-on-Wheels Services (20 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important matter. The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland’s Future includes several commitments to deliver practical housing for positive ageing. These commitments build upon the policy objectives in Housing for All that commit to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Cahill. He has covered many of the matters I wish to cover in the context of housing choice for older persons. On inclusion, we have older persons councils - through Age-Friendly Ireland - which very much engage with the local authorities. I am involving all older person representative organisations in the work I am doing in the context of the policy group on stakeholder...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Taking the last point first, we have increased the grant amounts and income exemptions considerably. For instance, if someone has an income of below €40,000, they get 100% of the grant, the disabled persons grant and the housing adaptation grant, which was previously 95%. Furthermore, we have increased the level of the grants. We are always seeking to ensure that what is on offer...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (14 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank both Deputies. I understand the frustration for people in these areas. As I already stated, the Minister and the Department sought legal advice that confirmed extending the increases the Deputies are talking about to a wider group of relevant owners requires amending the Act. I think everyone is agreeable on that. In the interest of equity and fairness, the Minister intends to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (14 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I can only deal with what is the position now. It is down for priority drafting. The Minister is taking this matter very seriously. As indicated, a number of other matters have come to light during the first 18 months of the operation of the scheme and the Minister will consider a number of technical amendments also as part of this legislative change. These changes will assist in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (14 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to thank the Deputies. There were three Deputies down. Is Deputy Pearse Doherty absent?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (14 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is fine. I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Mac Lochlainn for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. As the Deputies will be aware, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, which commenced on 22 June 2023, contains the current grant scheme and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (13 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish Deputy Rice well in his new role as Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Health. No doubt, we will be working with him. The programme for Government commits to designing a statutory home care scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible. As Minister of State with responsibility for older people and housing, I am fully committed to delivering the design of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (13 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: As Minister of State, I have a responsibility to navigate the introduction of a statutory home care scheme. I am utterly committed to it but it must be built on solid foundations and process. The home care sector is unregulated so we have to regulate it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (13 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: This is a statement of fact. That is the first step. We are looking at the funding model. The ESRI is doing a body of work, which I hope to receive very shortly, looking at capacity in the context of acute, older people and private health services, so it is part of it overall. The first step is to get the legislation passed to regulate the sector. We will look at a funding model to look...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (13 May 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is worth setting out the practical side of it. Since 2020, Government has increased the spending on home care packages by €338 million. That is a considerable amount of money that has clearly allowed people to stay in their homes. It is about choice. We must stick with the process. I am new in the role. A lot of work was done by my predecessor. It is now about bringing the...