Results 1,001-1,020 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commissioner of Valuation (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The issue referred to is a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation. I have no function in this respect. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries of this kind. The contact email address...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The issue referred to with regard to Kingscourt, Co. Cavan is a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation. I have no function in this respect. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for the Valuation Office (VO) is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mayoral Election (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: On 24 May 2019, the electors of the administrative areas of Cork City, Limerick City and County and Waterford City and County Councils will have an opportunity to vote in a plebiscite on the Government’s proposal for a Mayor, or Lord Mayor in the case of Cork City, with executive functions to be directly elected by the people. The Local Government Act 2019 provides the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Disability Support Services (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1517 to 1519, inclusive, together. Recognising that people with disabilities have particular needs, my Department endeavours to ensure that the voting process is as accessible and inclusive as possible across all constituencies. In the run up to polling day at elections and referendums, my Department publishes information in national newspapers at key...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Section 9(10) of the Valuation Act 2001 (as amended) provides that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions, and decisions with regard to the selection of rating authority areas for revaluation is his sole prerogative and the statute does not accord me, as Minister, any role in this regard. The Commissioner has responsibility under the Valuation Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 provide for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property for rating purposes. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Acts and the making of valuations for rating is his sole responsibility. I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. There is a distinct separation of function...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1563 to 1566, inclusive, together. I am aware of the National Disability Authority Report Voting Trials for Voters with Sight Loss, published in January 2015. The Authority noted that the results of the trials did not produce a clear recommendation for a secure voting method that is likely to meet the needs of most voters with sight loss. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Register (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: A report in relation to the responses received on the consultation process to modernise the electoral registration process is currently being drafted. It is intended that this report will be published shortly. A total of 187 submissions were made in respect of the public consultation phase up to the deadline of 15 March 2019. They included submissions specific to particular proposals and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Commission Establishment (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Twenty-three submissions were received by my Department in relation to the public consultation on the Regulatory Impact Analysis on the Establishment of an Electoral Commission. It is not intended to publish a report on these submissions. However, the submissions can be viewed online at: www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/electoral-commiss...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Register of Electors (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Under Part II of the Electoral Act 1992, every person is entitled to be entered on the register of electors if that person: - has reached the age of 18 years, and - is ordinarily resident in a constituency in the State. Subject to the age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship then determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Irish citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Material (8 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Electoral Acts provide that every notice, bill, poster or similar document, having reference to an election or distributed for the purpose of furthering a particular candidate at an election, is required to bear upon its face the name and address of the printer and of the publisher thereof. The Electoral Acts do not regulate the content of electoral material, including election posters,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (18 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 saw the dissolution of 80 town councils and the Government has no plans for their reintroduction. Instead, the focus of current policy is to strengthen the operation of the 95 municipal districts established in 2014 and which cover the entirety of the State’s population as opposed to the 14% of the population previously represented by town councils....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (18 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: On 24 May 2019, the electors of the administrative areas of Cork City, Limerick City and County and Waterford City and County Councils will be asked to vote in a plebiscite on the Government’s proposal for a Mayor with executive functions to be directly elected by the people.   An independent Committee, chaired by Henry Abbott, a retired judge of the High...

Public Transport: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, is not allowed to respond.

Public Transport: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: He cannot speak twice during a debate and I am responding on his behalf. I thank the Deputies who have contributed. Notwithstanding some contributions, there has been a great deal of agreement on certain issues among the Members who have spoken and that broad agreement should be mirrored in support for the Government's counter-motion. We have heard differing views on the detail of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (17 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Deputy's points are well noted. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to revert directly to him strictly on the staffing positions to which he referred in his concluding remarks. The other matters-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (17 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Sin é.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (17 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: No.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (17 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of Minister of State, Deputy Daly, who is unavailable this evening. I will relay the points made by the Deputy directly to him because mental health services and funding thereof are serious issues that need to be dealt with. Significant additional Government funding since 2012 has provided for approximately 1,700 new...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Commercial Rates (17 Apr 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Indeed. I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Deputy O'Connell raises a very topical issue, if you will pardon the pun. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent and the setting of valuations is the responsibility of that officeholder. It is the same categorisation as the Revenue Commissioners with regard to independence from Government. The Valuation Office is currently engaged in a...