Results 8,541-8,560 of 26,783 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department may sanction the recruitment for new posts as requested by individual local authorities. I understand that the recruitment process for this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. Guidance on the noise aspect, which is highly technical in nature, is currently being finalised by my Department in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 784 together. The questions refer to Sliabh Dubh and Drumakelly in County Monaghan specifically but I understand it to relate more generally to housing estates that are not taken in charge and are dependent on developer provided water services infrastructure (DPI) for the provision of their water services. These estates do not have their water...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I visited Youghal with the Deputy slightly more than a month ago. We had a good visit. We met many people from the business community, community groups and residents of Youghal. I know Youghal has taken more than its fair share of newcomers and has been a very welcoming town to people, especially those who have fled the terrible war in Ukraine. It has had an impact, especially on...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Cannon for recognising the increased investment in public transport the Government has made over the past nearly three years. Regarding the specific matter he raises, there is no question that it is an issue that needs to be looked at when for people living in Loughrea, a half an hour away from the city, the bus services ceases at 6.30 p.m. I will speak directly to the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Cronin for raising this issue on behalf of two of her constituents. If she sends the details through to me, we will certainly look at it. We are committed to providing accommodation for people, be it assisted living or independent living. That has increased in recent years. I do not know the specifics of the case, as Deputy Cronin just raised it here with me.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I am offering to do that now for the Deputy. In fairness, the family has given Deputy Cronin permission to raise the case here. If she gets me the details, I will raise it with the Minister of State directly and ask him to respond to Deputy Cronin.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Cronin should send me the details.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Tully. This may be an issue arising specifically with her community healthcare organisation region within the HSE. I am not familiar with the details of it. I know that the HSE contract is being looked at. If Deputy Tully wants to send the details to me I will get them to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. The HSE is responsible for its own procurement in that regard....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Troy for his comments and his question, and indeed his support for the delivery of Government housing policy. First, in relation to An Bord Pleanála, we now have 15 board members in place. It was as low as five last year. That is the highest number of board members that we have ever had. That was permitted in the legislation that we brought forward late last year. ...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no question that we need to do more work with the board and our planning system.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Rather than fleecing families, we have done the exact opposite. Aontú opposed the budget of €12 billion in cost-of-living measures, equivalent to 4.5% of our national income. That is what this Government introduced to help working families right the way through. That fact is indisputable. We did reduce the excise on petrol and diesel by 21 cent and 16 cent per litre,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Thankfully, because we have an economy with near full employment-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and surpluses in the Exchequer, we will continue to help families. We will look at those families and individuals who need it in advance of the budget.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We will continue to roll out the payments.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Workers deserve to be treated well, to have the pay that is due to them paid, and to have conditions upheld by any employer. I am not sure whether that meeting has happened but I will speak directly to the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, in that regard. I will get the Minister of State to contact the Deputy directly to provide the Deputy with an update on the situation and how the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A commitment was given in 2022 to close the driver testing centre at Marian Park in Drogheda by the end of February, as the lease on that site expired. This test site was always a temporary solution. There is no question, however, that with a town and region as large as Drogheda and the surrounding areas, the provision of alternative driver testing facilities is very important. I do not...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no prejudged outcome to the consultative forum on international security policy. That has been convened with a view to initiating an open and evidence-based discussion on the State's foreign and security policy. The consultative forum will take place in three different locations across four days this month, that is, at University College Cork on 22 June; at University of Galway on...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The allocations for the housing adaptation grants for all local authorities, including Louth, have been issued to the local authorities, with a further increase in that regard. The issue of a backlog of applications in Louth County Council has been raised by other Deputies too, including Deputy O'Dowd who is here also. My Department officials are engaging directly with them. We overspent...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As Deputy McAuliffe has rightly said, the grant will be paid out for 125,000 carers. The overall cost of this grant is expected to be in the region of €260 million. Very importantly, the Government is committed to enhance the State pension provision for carers who have spent more than 20 years of their lives caring. This is part of our response to the Government's Commission on...