Results 41-60 of 2,053 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Visas (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: That is fine. I will arrange that. As a more substantive reply, I will be meeting the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on this issue as well. As Deputy Gannon knows, the stamps relate primarily to the Department of Justice, but my office will arrange that meeting.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank Deputy Farrell for her kind wishes. Last month, the Taoiseach and I announced the capital investment of €100 million from the national development plan windfall allocation for the delivery of student accommodation projects. This enables the activation of phase 1 of UCD's 493-bed project and the progression of the Maynooth 116-bed project to the construction stage and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy very much for that ringing endorsement. I am delighted. What I would say is that a substantial amount of progress has been made in this area in recent years, and that needs to be recognised. This is an interdepartmental process and we must include my colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, in the Department of Finance, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I remind the Deputy that in budget 2024, the rent tax credit was increased to €750.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (23 May 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: In budget 2023, it was also increased. The technological universities element the Deputy referred to is a new area for them. Being able to borrow is a new area for them. In addition, the creation of large-scale capital projects of this nature is also going to be a new area for them. Since I was appointed to this Department, having come from an infrastructure Department, I have been...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: You are a bit of a tourist so.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: What are you going to do there?

Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (6 Mar 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht. Is mian liom freagra a thabhairt ar pointe nó dhó. Ar an gcéad dul sios, beidh mo Roinn ag cur thart ar €500,000 breise ar fáil i mbliana ar mhaithe le scoláireachtaí breise a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí scoil a fhreastalaíonn ar na cúrsaí...

Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (6 Mar 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Mar Aire Stáit don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht, fáiltím roimh an deis labhairt sa Dáil le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge faoi chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Is pribhléid dúinn é sa tír seo go bhfuil ár dteanga dúchais againn. Mar a deir an tAire, an Teachta Martin, tá mórán scéimeanna á riar ag ár Roinn...

Housing Targets and Regulations: Motion [Private Members] (6 Mar 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am happy to step in for the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, to discuss the Labour Party motion on housing targets and regulation. The Government is not opposing the motion. Work is already under way under the Government’s Housing for All plan on a number of proposals set out in the motion. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the progress made to date and the...

Housing Targets and Regulations: Motion [Private Members] (6 Mar 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Yes. EUROCONSTRUCT, an independent construction market forecasting network, has forecasted that Ireland will grow construction output at the strongest rate among the 19 European countries – a very positive outlook for the future. With regard to the rental market, we know that challenges remain for both tenants and landlords. That is why we have commenced a comprehensive review...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will not read into the record the start of the response because I have done so three times already today. I will skip that and I ask that it be put on the record. The OPW will reach a series of important milestones in climate adaptation in 2024, such as: continuing the construction of three major schemes at Glashaboy in the Deputy’s constituency, Morell River and Whitechurch;...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: With regard to those that are currently active, there are 67 major flood schemes and 29 small schemes. These are being led by the local authorities in most cases. There are currently six at construction and these will provide protection for up to 870 properties. We have also initiated a pilot scheme between the Office of Public Works, Donegal County Council and Kilkenny County Council....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: The opportunity for people to raise these issues on the floor of the Dáil is very important to me and the Office of Public Works. In recent years, we have been at pains to point out that these are not just flood relief schemes, as they were typically called, and they are an adaptation to El Niño and the climate issues that are currently being faced by the world and not only by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: More and more.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank Deputy Nolan. I know she has a strong interest in this and she has raised it on a number of occasions with me. In 2016, the Government established the Shannon flood risk State agency co-ordination working group to improve co-ordination on flood risk management between all State agencies involved with the river. The group, which is chaired by the Office of Public Works, provides...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: I acknowledge the constructive way in which Deputy Nolan has approached this. We spend an awful lot of time on the matter of the Shannon in the Department. The United States Army Corps of Engineers could not find a solution to this. The de Valera Government in the 1940s was bedevilled with it. Everybody else has looked at it as well. This will not be fixed easily. A number of agencies...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: Waterways Ireland, as I said the last time, is the lead agency on this. That complicates it as well. Waterways Ireland is a cross-Border body. We are delighted that the Northern institutions are established. We analysed the powers that the agencies have. Some of them are derived from agreements that are enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement. It is not simply about creating a HSE for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: This question refers to the amount spent on flood defence schemes in each of the past ten years. That is the question I propose to answer. The Office of Public Works, OPW, as the lead agency for flood risk management, is co-ordinating the delivery of measures towards meeting the Government's national flood risk policy. In 2018, to establish those communities that are at risk from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Patrick O'Donovan: There is a substantive question on Midleton on the Order Paper that I will address presently. What the Deputy said about jobs not being started is not true and he should correct the record of the Dáil. Up to five major schemes are expected to commence construction in 2024. Yesterday, I was in my native city of Limerick giving consent to Limerick City and County Council to proceed to...