Results 781-800 of 9,810 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Swimming Pools (29 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Capital support for new swimming pools is currently being provided through the Department’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Eight of 33 projects awarded funding under the most recent round of the LSSIF are swimming pool projects. Separately, applications for improvements or renovations to existing, publicly accessible swimming pools were accepted under the Sports...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Swimming Pools (29 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Capital funding for new swimming pools is currently being provided through the Department’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). No application was received under the first call for LSSIF proposals for a new swimming pool in the location referenced. The National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a LSSIF. The first call for...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (29 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The first Large Scale Sport Infrastrure Fund (LSSIF) allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic gave rise to financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (29 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme...

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I express my sympathy and solidarity with those victims of the attack, which was the first thing that happened on Thursday. Some children and carers were viciously attacked. I certainly support An Garda Síochána in its investigation of this and in the prosecution of the individual responsible. I also thank those bystanders who took the initiative to prevent further attacks. They...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a chur ag tús an tseisiúin inniu. The Minister for Transport, who is unable to be present, has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I will certainly say that to the Minister for Transport. He does tell me though that the belief is that the need for lay-bys has reduced due to the increase in the provision of service areas. Road safety inspections, carried out in accordance with the road infrastructure safety management directive, have highlighted lay-bys as an area of concern on safety grounds. I understand the TII...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir as an ábhar seo a chur faoi bhráid an tSeanaid. We know that vacancies arise on a daily basis in the approximately 146,000 social homes owned by local authorities. It is critical to the Government and Members of this House that such homes are refurbished and re-let to a family or individual on the waiting list...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Since taking office, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Government have embarked on the largest voids programme ever undertaken. Funding was granted for 3,607 voids in 2020, 2,425 voids in 2021 and 2,307 voids in 2022. The target for this year is 2,300 voids. The funding provided has tackled a large number of long-term vacant stock and brought them thankfully back into use. It...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. As the Senator will be aware, the Department provides funding for water services in rural Ireland where no Uisce Éireann services are available. The Department's multi-annual rural water programme uses Exchequer funding to deliver improvements to water services in rural Ireland. As part of the funding provided, the Department currently...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: In making these improvements to the scheme, it is hoped to encourage more householders to avail of the funding available. This will help to reduce the risk of negative environmental impacts from defective septic tanks. The changes come into effect on 1 January 2024 and it is expected that the improvements made will result in more applications for septic tank grants in 2024 and beyond.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it lets me have the opportunity to provide an update to the Seanad on the current position relating to the provision of a new school building for Clonturk Community College. Clonturk Community College is a multidenominational school under the patronage of City of Dublin Education and Training Board, ETB. It was established in September 2016 as a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I will raise those points with the Department. Indeed, the Department will continue to keep the patron and the school updated as the project progresses and with regard to interim accommodation pending delivery of the permanent school building.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for raising the question. Indeed, we have our own water supply issues in my constituency where there are areas left for significant periods without water but, thanks to the investment the Government is putting into my constituency and, indeed, to the Deputy's constituency at Clare Island, I believe these problems are being ironed out and solved. A number of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I want to assure the Deputy that the Minister recognises that connectivity is hugely important. The Deputy has agreed with me that there has been a lot of Government investment in public transport. That is the case, and I know that the Deputy and I were strong backers and supporters of that. It is true that some areas are losing a direct connection but if the service is running as...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien sends apologies and has asked me to attend this evening in his place to address this important issue in County Mayo. I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for raising this issue and for allowing me the opportunity to outline the position regarding public water in Clare Island, and group water schemes in Mayo. As the Deputy will understand, the supply of public...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Lahart. Is ábhar an-tábhachtach é seo. I think you need more buses. There is no doubt about it. The Deputy has raised a lot of issues there and I will be happy to pass them to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and make it clear what Deputy’s constituents are saying. The Minister for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disease Management (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an t-ábhar seo a ardú anocht. I think all of us fully appreciate how devastating a diagnosis of a rare disease can be for patients, families, and carers. I believe that there is cross-party support for doing everything we can to help patients who live with these conditions on a daily basis. In February, on Rare Diseases Day, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disease Management (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for providing the opportunity to discuss this matter and I acknowledge his work in the area. Many rare conditions are complex and the impact for patients living with them can be severe. At times, it can be difficult to access appropriate medications and technology. The development of a successor to the previous national rare diseases plan is a key priority for the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta as an t-ábhar seo a ardú. It gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position on post-primary school places in Greystones in September of next year. I assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary levels, including...