Results 8,081-8,100 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021: Motion (14 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: Thank you Deputy McAuliffe for the reminder. Senator Barry Ward is substituting for Senator Cummins, Senator Lisa Chambers is substituting for Senator Fitzpatrick and Deputy Ó Murchú is substituting for Deputy Gould. I welcome them to the committee this afternoon. I invite the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021: Motion (14 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: We are well over time on this slot. As the Deputy says, it is something we deal with quite a lot in the transport and communications committee, on which he and I sit. I will allow the Minister of State to come in briefly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Education (13 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 73. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the €100 per week special payment agreed for student nurses; if all arrears accrued since September 2020 have been paid; and the further steps he will take to recognise the contribution of both student nurses and all other front-line staff to the Covid-19 pandemic. [37734/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (13 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 93. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the mixing of non-mRNA and mRNA vaccines for first and second doses being permitted in other EU jurisdictions; his views on whether such a practice would be appropriate under any circumstances in Ireland; the advice he has received from NIAC and NPHET in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37735/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 519. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to cases in which students who were previously in receipt of the special rate threshold SUSI grant are now ineligible for the same grant funding in 2021 due to their receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment pushing them marginally over the income threshold; his views on whether this may lead to an increase...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 532. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to cases of students who have not moved address or college who have been informed in 2021 that they do not qualify for the SUSI non-adjacent rate due to a new method of calculating the distance to their home; his views on whether this will act as a barrier in returning to third-level education this academic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 531. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by an organisation (details supplied) amongst others in relation to the impact that the pandemic unemployment payment is having on SUSI grant applications given many students who would normally be in receipt of grant funding are no longer qualifying; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Chairman and all of the witnesses for their attendance here this morning. I am aware that this is a hectic and busy time for them and we very much appreciate them giving up their time to come in and explain this to us because it is critical that we get this right. Mr. McCallion covered many of the points I wanted to make about the Civil Service in general and the public service...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: To reiterate, people’s digital Covid-19 certificates will be arriving over the next while and it is only people who have an urgent situation should use that helpline for the moment. Is the certificate that is sent out something that can be photocopied to have a spare copy when people travel? People often have photocopies of important documents in case things get lost. Is such a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the witnesses very much and I wish them the very best of luck with this initiative.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: First, I thank the Minister for introducing amendments Nos. 9 and 14, which go a good way to meeting the objectives of the amendments Deputy Duffy and I previously submitted. This shows that if parties and Members are willing to work with the Minister to improve this legislation, and they are committed to delivering badly needed housing at scale that is affordable and well-designed, then the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices recruited in 2021 under the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme; the targets for the scheme for the remainder of 2021 and for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36689/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is considering additional measures or initiatives to help recruit mature apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36687/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Anti-Racism Measures (8 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 273. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the work of a group (details supplied); if he will consider meeting with the group in order to show solidarity with its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36688/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (7 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding funding applications by Wicklow County Council in 2021 with respect to electric vehicle charging points; and if the number of applications and level of funding applied for in both successful and unsuccessful applications will be provided in tabular form. [36650/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (7 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: 186. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to case of home carers who have received one dose of a vaccine (details supplied) and have to wait 12-weeks for the second dose given that in many cases those they care for are now fully vaccinated; if their wait time will be expedited in view of variant concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30597/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Acting Chairman. I suggest that we could complete our pre-legislative scrutiny of the local property tax before we move on to the second agenda item. I was not aware there was a second agenda item and I want to cover the pre-legislative scrutiny. That is why I am here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: I wonder if that can be agreed by members. It is just a suggestion to keep the meeting moving along and on agenda. I thank the Minister for being here to take questions. The committee on housing met yesterday with officials from his Department and from Revenue as well because we wanted to look at the LPT. I understand the collection of the LPT rests with his Department but the spend and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister. That is a question which comes up now and again from people on limited incomes whose houses are of high value. There was much discussion of this issue - just after this was introduced - at local authority level where a lot of the decisions are made to raise or reduce the local adjustment factor. Senator Casey will remember the discussions we had many times at meetings...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister. It is really important because much of the time when we talk about the LPT and having to make the decision at local level to raise it, many people are in agreement with it. They know it is used to provide services and they want to know where the money is being spent and where it is being generated. The more clarity we can give to that situation the better. I see...