Results 7,961-7,980 of 8,073 for speaker:Peter Burke

Topical Issue Debate: Accident and Emergency Departments Closures (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the clarification that this is not about closing accident and emergency departments or reducing services, which is critical. The health service is famous for reports. However, every report that comes out of the health service should not be taken as read or exaggerated in the manner in which this one was, because it causes significant and...

Topical Issue Debate: Accident and Emergency Departments Closures (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this critical issue for debate. Local and national media reports over the weekend reported that a number of emergency departments were earmarked for closure. In fact, the first paragraph in the report explicitly stated that the emergency department in the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar was one of nine departments earmarked for closure,...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: In regard to the interdepartmental co-ordination group and the national CFRAMS steering group, Ms McGrath said that potentially they should have been suspended over the period that they did not meet. Why was a clear terms of reference not set out for each group when established rather than at a later stage in the case of both, for example, in regard to the last two meetings in the case of...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: I am concerned that when the weather changes, when it comes to flooding and national catastrophic events the focus within Government and the OPW in terms of planning and seeking solutions appears to die down. In regard to the CFRAM steering group, which is a huge project that the State is undertaking, who is responsible for convening meetings of that group? Who is the person who decides...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: In regard to the reduction in budget for the CFRAM process, given the huge debate that we have just had in relation to the pilot projects, why was it decided to reduce the costing?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: We had a detailed discussion earlier on mapping procedures. Is Ms McGrath confident that we are making the best use of modern technology, such as drones, in mapping and assessing areas? The methodology in terms of these processes appears to be very slow. In regard to the pilot projects, were new technologies trialled that might lead to more efficient processes? Perhaps Ms McGrath would...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: Are we comparing with other European countries in terms of their mapping process and how they survey sites and rivers?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: With regard to the River Shannon and in the context of the CFRAM programme, clearly there is a huge impetus to protect the large population areas. There are many areas outside of that region that are rural. What work have we done on that? Will Ms McGrath confirm an aspect of this work? There have been relative reports doing the rounds of an exemption from the CFRAM programme for the rural...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: Minor works can be planned and carried out independently of the CFRAM process. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: What is the policy within the Department on service level agreements for work carried out throughout the local authority sector? Why is more of an emphasis not placed on having service level agreements? That would allow us to measure standards, see what timelines are being met and evaluate the performance of the contracts and the works carried out. There seems to be a major concern in...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 92 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: Will Ms McGrath outline what work has been done with insurance industry? There is major concern among people trying to get insurance on foot of being in designated areas prone to flooding. One amazing thing about the interdepartmental groups is that they have not met for a long time, in some cases four years and six years. There are major issues that could be worked on and which should be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Charges (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the recourse a person (details supplied) has in order to have third level course fees waived. [21688/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 5 July 2016, the reason a school (details supplied) was not in a position to go to tender despite a gestation period of almost 17 years together with commitments advanced by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21772/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 164. To ask the Minister for Health to expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [21692/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 183. To ask the Minister for Health the annual amount the Health Service Executive spends on fluoridation of water in counties Westmeath and Longford, in tabular form. [21789/16]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Exports (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 239. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his Department’s efforts in gaining market access for Irish beef in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21916/16]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: UK Referendum on EU Membership (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 240. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he has taken to address the concerns of the agrifood sector arising from the decision of the United Kingdom European Union referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21917/16]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (14 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 241. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in terms of achieving market access to Turkey for Irish live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21918/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 140. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [21453/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (13 Jul 2016)

Peter Burke: 189. To ask the Minister for Health to expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21456/16]