Results 10,161-10,180 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: His party's record on housing is ghost estates, Priory Hall-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----mica, pyrite, hundreds of thousands of people in negative equity, hundreds of thousands of people in mortgage arrears, and hundreds of thousands of construction workers forced to emigrate. That is his record.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. It is worth acknowledging that we live in a country that has a relatively low crime rate compared with other developed countries and we are fortunate to do so. In large part, that is down to the excellent work of An Garda Síochána every day of the week. Were it not for An Garda Síochána, we would not live in a country that has a low crime rate. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the question. This policy and proposal was developed by Deputy Coveney when he was Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in consultation with his officials. It is entirely reasonable that he would consult industry too when making a policy decision. The intention and idea behind it was to fast-track the planning system to make sure that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: This proposal was put forward by Deputy Coveney when he was Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government but it would not have been possible without Fianna Fáil's support for the housing policy, which I recognise.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure if the figures I was given yesterday were authenticated or not but they indicated that approximately 16,000 homes have received planning permission under this fast-track planning process. Some 6,000 of those are either built or being built. Approximately 10,000 have yet to commence but they may yet commence in the next few months or the next year. There is always a time lag...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: What about it?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have any new information on that. I have no doubt the developer-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I can.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Boyd Barrett asked about the strategic housing development scheme. I sometimes get the housing schemes mixed up because there are so many of them, but I think that is the scheme which allows a developer building 100 units or more to go straight to An Bord Pleanála rather than the two-step process involving going to a local authority first and then, if necessary, An Bord...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The scheme was introduced in order to fast-track planning.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Instead of a two-step process, there is a one-step process. The logic behind the scheme is that it allows houses to be built more quickly. It makes sense to look back three or four years after any policy change is made or new scheme brought in and consider whether it worked. Deputy Boyd Barrett is assuming that there would be a different result in respect 10,000 units that have not been...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Approximately 10,000 social houses are now being added to the social housing stock every year. Between two thirds and three quarters of those are new builds by local authorities rather than purchases or leases from developers. On the national broadband plan, the contract has not been signed but we have appointed a preferred bidder. Imagine has challenged the maps and that has caused a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The challenge was initially made to the Department. The Department was then required to consult the European Commission for reasons relating to state aid rules. We anticipate that the contract will be signed by the end of year, which will allow the first homes across rural Ireland to be connected to high-speed broadband next year.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is absolutely committed to the A5 project. It is one I strongly support linking, not just Derry to Dublin and the rest of the country, but it is also really important for Donegal. The money will be there when the project starts but currently it is stuck in a Northern Ireland process. Once the money is there, the project will start.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I again thank Deputies for their questions. I am aware that there are structural flaws in quite a number of our schools and public buildings. These flaws are all of a different scale. In any case, where there are structural flaws in a school or public building, the number one priority, in particular in respect of schools, has to be the safety of children and staff. Any defects will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. The Cabinet committee on infrastructure met on 10 September 2019 and its next meeting is scheduled for 10 October 2019. The Cabinet committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach in the areas of infrastructure investment and delivery, Project Ireland 2040 and Rebuilding Ireland. There is significant work under way across each of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----for which there is not a majority at present. The second option is that we join the United Kingdom.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think anyone in this House would entertain that option. The third option is for the UK to remain in the EU, which it does not want to do at present. The fourth option is for the UK to stay in the Single Market and the customs union. This is known as the Norway-plus option and has been rejected by the current UK Government. The fifth option is the backstop or something like it....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No, because we do not have an agreement on regulatory alignment either.