Results 6,421-6,440 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 94. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18583/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I welcome Mr. Walsh and Mr. O'Neill back to the committee and thank them for the engagement they always show at the committee and for the responses from TII to questions we submit. I will address a number of local issues in Wicklow, if I may, and they are referenced in this report, the national development plan national roads capital programme and greenways delivery update. There are two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I suggest junction access and egress improvements should be a priority. We know about that. They need to be looked at. Mr. O'Neill is right; I think the last substantial work done on the road was in the 1990s. Much of it probably could be considered substandard in terms of some of the exits I use anyway. There is a very short run-off and run-in to them. I really think the junction...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Is it generally new projects where TII builds a road?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I might write to TII about these two particular locations where the noise level seems to have increased. I am saying it seems to have increased based on constituents contacting me. I stood out in one of their gardens recently and the noise was quite significant. It would really detract from the enjoyment of one's property. I suppose that is a consequence of car dependency and increased...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: That is another important piece of infrastructure. When the N11 was constructed, it really severed Kilmacanogue from Bray. There is actually no really safe way for a pedestrian or cyclist to get from Kilmacanogue to Bray. The construction of that greenway plus the overbridge will really provide that opportunity, even for people to cycle safely to school. It gets people into the Bray...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I forgot to raise one issue in my contribution, namely, the Wicklow-to-Greystones coastal greenway. It was welcome to receive the €350,000 towards carrying out the environmental assessments that are required for that. It is a fantastic scenic location and the project will be a fantastic link if it can proceed on that entire east coast trail greenway we are looking to create all the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: One of the negative responses to greenways is that we often get a tarmac strip. I know it is standard for them to be 3 m or 5 m. Are we open to using materials that are more sympathetic to the environment? It does not necessarily need to be tarmac. They are not taking heavy-weight traffic. There may be high volumes, but they are not heavy weights. Where we have pinch points in sensitive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I do not think that is a good enough reason to go with a tarmac product. The point that Mr. Walsh raised there about a greenway just being a tourist attraction limits the use of what a greenway could be. For example, we are considering closing exits from the N11, we need to concentrate on improving the inter-town connectivity where people from those towns would have been coming out onto the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Walsh. I would be happy to introduce him to those groups in the Wicklow and Greystones area who wish to engage on it with whoever the consultant might be.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 98. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps that she is taking to ensure Ukrainian citizens fleeing conflict who are accommodated in rural areas have access to vital services to support their integration into the community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17934/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (5 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the DEIS application of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if an appeals mechanism is in place for the school management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18284/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (5 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 503. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the DEIS application of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if an appeals mechanism is in place for the school management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18285/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (31 Mar 2022)

Steven Matthews: 46. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the departmental review of the dental medical card scheme; if a timeline will be provided for its completion; his plans to alleviate access issues to dentists for medical card holders in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16780/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (31 Mar 2022)

Steven Matthews: 75. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of existing mental health supports for children in the Wicklow catchment area; if his attention has been drawn to the significant waiting lists for these essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16781/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (31 Mar 2022)

Steven Matthews: 165. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the status of a review of pesticide use across the agricultural sector as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17027/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (29 Mar 2022)

Steven Matthews: 78. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the need to clean and carry out minor repairs to the old courthouse façade in Wicklow town (details supplied); her views on whether this work can be prioritised in the coming months to coincide with the large investment in the town square; and her views on the proposed return of court...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (29 Mar 2022)

Steven Matthews: I want to ask about Wicklow town courthouse, which is currently out of use. It really does need attention and to have remedial work done to it. It is detracting from the town centre, where there has been a lot of investment. Is the Minister of State aware of the work that is needed there and can he update us on what the long-term plans are for the currently unused Wicklow town courthouse?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (29 Mar 2022)

Steven Matthews: That is quite positive news and I am glad to hear it. I do not know if the Minister or the Minister of State are familiar with Wicklow town but there is a beautiful market square which has seen significant investment under the town and village renewal scheme and the rural regeneration scheme. The Ministers, Deputies Humphreys and Darragh O'Brien, were there during last summer. There is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (29 Mar 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. I will take that up with the OPW. This issue is incredibly important, in particular when we have dereliction and vacant buildings in our towns. To be fair, the Government has produced some really good policy documents in Our Rural Future and Town Centre First, and in many of the aspects of Housing for All. When it is the State that is the owner of the...