Results 10,381-10,400 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Funding (27 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: 43. To ask the Minister for Health if funding can be made available to a charity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8561/16]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test Centres (27 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: 109. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will designate Drogheda, County Louth as a driving test centre; the location of driving test centres nationally and the cost per annum of running each such centre; if such centres are owned or leased or rented by the Road Safety Authority and from whom; if so, the length of such lease or rental agreement and when they come up for...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: We lack knowledge as to which local authority has the best performance and where is the most innovative and proactive council. I would like to find out which one it is, so maybe we should ask the county managers if they can help. I know what my own council does, but I do not know what every other council does. It is important to look for leadership within the local government structure,...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not agree that there is nobody. I do not know that that is the case, but we should ask them how we can bring about real change.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, but we should ask the local authorities to add to that list.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: This relates not so much to a policy issue in terms of housing but rather to a practical matter that is hugely important, namely, the way applicants are dealt with by local authorities. It is about the protocols that should be in place. One of the key issues I find, which other committee members may have come across, is that if a person is on the list for a significant period - say, five to...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have a query regarding the Department of Social Protection. I presume the reference was to community welfare officers.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is crucially important because they know better than anyone what is the level of supply and demand in their areas. They deal with the matter every day. There are differences, based on geographic or city location, as to the amounts that may be given. They relate to, say, rents in a city versus rents in a rural area. However, one of the key things I feel could make a significant...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Hold on a second now, Chairman. I might very well be getting into the substance of it but that is why I think it is important that when we are getting someone in from the Department of Social Protection, we get someone who actually knows the position and can talk about it. I appreciate that it may be detailed but, if we do not get that information, we will be missing a potential plus.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think, Chairman-----

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: -----this needs to be looked at before they come. They need to have the answers.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is fine.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Of course, yes.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Sure. If, however, the Chairman ensures that witnesses know exactly what we - as best as we can tell them beforehand - are going to ask, it would make much more sense.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would hope there would be so many questions for NAMA it would go on for two days.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: It goes back to the point made earlier about the way social housing applicants, and homeless people, are treated. I agree strongly with the Deputy that we must articulate a process by which people are treated with respect across the board. It is unfortunate that sometimes people who were homeless are not treated with the respect to which they are entitled. A way of doing that is if they...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Interim Report of Committee (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will not split hairs with anybody here. I would like to be in a forum where I could meet people who are homeless who could relax and talk to us about those issues. I do not know whether that would be a public forum but I would like to hear what they have to say. Deputy Wallace made an important point when he said that if we were to meet them in committee it would allow them express their...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: County and City Management Association (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the representatives of the County and City Management Association. It is clear from what they have said that they have put a lot of thought into the area of housing. I have a few questions, one of which the witnesses can come back to. In terms of best practice elsewhere, what has happened in other jurisdictions and in local authorities in the United Kingdom? Obviously we should...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: County and City Management Association (26 Apr 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I accept that.