Results 901-920 of 16,212 for speaker:Peadar Tóibín

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: We may find that out as well. It has been reported that vehicles, trucks especially, are having difficulty getting in and out of that space due to the size of the building, especially its roof. Has Mr. Conlon heard reports of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: Would it be possible to get a list of the contracts that have been entered into by the OPW through the measured term maintenance contract so far? Is there a breakdown of all of the projects that were commenced, their value and what company received them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: Let us look at projects with a cost greater than €250,000. That is roughly the new bar being placed in terms of the decision-making process by the principal officer. Ken Foxe broke this story, and a number of journalists have sought information through freedom of information, FOI, and they have told us their FOIs are being blocked. They are not even getting an acknowledgement in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: I understand that the former Chairman of the OPW went to study in Paris just the year before he retired. The taxpayer footed a bill of €35,000 for that. I welcome State investment in the education of staff, but it seems strange that such an investment would be made just before a person retires. Was that good value for money for the taxpayer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: Did he sign off on it himself?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: As chairperson, he signed off on that. It is startling that there is no oversight in terms of expenditure such as that. I imagine that education is more useful when it is front-loaded in a person's career when working for a State organisation. Putting that investment at the bookend of a person's career is of very little, if any, benefit to the taxpayer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: Midleton was promised flood defences after 2017. Obviously, there were horrendous floods there last year or the year before, which put lives in danger. My understanding is that despite flood defences being promised for Midleton after 2017, the planning application has not been submitted yet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: Is there any timescale for when the planning application will be in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: Can the witnesses understand the frustration, not just of the people of Midleton, but the people across the country at the grindingly slow pace of delivery for infrastructure, especially when it comes to non-politicians or average, normal or ordinary citizens? A flood risk was deemed so bad in 2017, it was promised that a defence would be built. During the floods, politicians from Dublin...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: It is taking too long. I know that this is not an OPW-particular project, but the Navan to Dublin rail line has been promised since 2002 and its projected completion date is in, I think, 2036. It was built in three years during the 1860s with picks and shovels. What is happening in this country in terms of the delivery of public infrastructure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: I know that it is legislation, and I understand we are heavily regulated in these spaces and that there is a need for a change in the regulations, but we also need to make sure the organisations that are tasked with these jobs do their best to make sure they happen in a reasonable and sane timeframe.

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: Gabhaim buíochas leis an nGrúpa Reigiúnach agus le Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh mar gheall ar an obair atá déanta acu ar an rún seo. I thank the Regional Group and Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh for their work on the motion. Aontú supports the end of the means test for the carer's allowance. The reason we support it is that, no matter what background one is from or...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: 86. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to reduce the lengthy waiting times for children with autism to access urgently needed therapy services provided by the children's disability network team. [37959/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (25 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: 87. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a national database can be established once children are diagnosed with autism to determine and fully plan for educational and therapeutic services. [37960/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (24 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: The Minister will take up to Question No. 20.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: 11. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has undertaken any assessment on the merits of ending the means test on the carer’s allowance. [37630/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: There are five Deputies present, only three of whom are looking for re-election. The rest of the Deputies must be canvassing for the election at the moment.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: I want to speak to the issue of care and the fact that care is so vital in our society at the moment. One in eight Irish people currently provide unpaid care. It is a tremendously tough job. It is often 24-7. It can be extremely demanding. How can we start to help, in the context of income, people who are providing care? Many of them are means-tested and many of them are suffering...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: We accept that this is enormously valuable work.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Sep 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: That is really important to say. We also accept that the care that is actually provided saves the State a considerable amount of money. The Minister would have to recognise that the tens of thousands of men and women throughout the State who are caring are saving the State possibly billions of euro in terms of care that would otherwise have to be provided by the State. We know that...