Results 1,281-1,300 of 2,964 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: As I said, we have been in government for as long as we have been now and we must go back to the electorate to tell them we have delivered. At the moment, though, it is hard to see where the progress is. Congestion is getting worse. We are not delivering at the pace we need to rail and other public infrastructure. This was my two cent on the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: That is simply not true because there is a project in Mallow, the relief road, which is ready to go tomorrow and the Department will not allocate the funding. I ask the Minister to please refrain from making claims that he cannot stand over. As in Mallow, the same situation applies in Castlemartyr and the road I was promised there. I have been waiting for about four months for someone in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: With all due respect, it is piecemeal. When we, as backbenchers, go to the Minister or his Department to ask where our road project is, we are told there is no money. How in God's name can the Minister stand over that when we are running a €17 billion surplus?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: That is not enough.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: It is just not enough. The Dunkettle project alone will cost over €200 million. Can I say something else about road projects? People do not like to talk about successes in Irish public policy but road construction has been one of the real leaders when it comes to delivering projects on time and under budget. It happened on the Baile Bhairne to Macroom project and on the Dunkettle...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline the number from the Defence Forces who are currently on peacekeeping missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22893/23]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline his Department’s plans for the Defence Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22894/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can provide an update on new school builds for 2023 and new school builds in the Cork East constituency; if she can provide an update on a specific school build (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22891/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can provide the number of applications made for the school transport scheme within Cork county; if there is an increase in applications in the Cork East constituency, if her Department will increase the number of buses required to fulfil the number of applications; if her Department will consider raising the ceiling age of 70 years for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 391. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to amend Part V rules to allow a tenant in situ to purchase their local authority property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22414/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Targets (9 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 71. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide this Deputy an update on the expected budget surplus in 2023 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21547/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fuel Sales (9 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 201. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the potential impact of E10 fuel on vintage vehicles; if E5 petrol will still be available to purchase for the owners of these vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21712/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (4 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 73. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department’s plans to construct new train stations in the Cork metropolitan region; if a timeline for the proposed new stations outlined in CMATS is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20820/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 77. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the completion of national road projects in County Cork, including the N73 Clogher Cross-Waterdyke scheme, the Dunkettle Interchange, and the N22 Macroom-Ballyvourney Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20819/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 182. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authority home loans that have been issued by each respective local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20981/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

James O'Connor: I came from the Committee of Public Accounts this morning, where we got a very thorough briefing on issues within An Bord Pleanála by its senior management. The members of senior management told us An Bord Pleanála is only processing 90 decisions per month, when it wishes to process 300. It has just €17.1 million in funding. We have a €26 billion of a surplus in tax...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (27 Apr 2023)

James O'Connor: 8. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that passport applications that are unsuccessful are not looked at until the end of the "estimated issue date"; the reason the applicant could not be informed of the problem within the first week of the Passport Office receiving the application in order to speed up the process; and if he will make...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (27 Apr 2023)

James O'Connor: I want to ask about and bring to the attention of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the passport applications that are unsuccessful and the administrative issue that arises where an unsuccessful application is notified quite late in the process. The process does not necessarily allow applicants to amend the errors and there is a lack of an efficient and effective system in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (27 Apr 2023)

James O'Connor: The reason this is being raised is that we all know about the chaos that ensues when something goes wrong with a passport applications. As Deputies, we were all inundated with queries about that and the Minister's answer is perfectly justified in terms of the backlog that is there and that we are dealing with post Brexit, with people seeking Irish citizenship and passports, as well as the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (27 Apr 2023)

James O'Connor: Maybe there is not a backlog as such but the processing times for the applications, particularly for first-time applications, are what I am coming at. I accept there are systems in place and I acknowledge the fantastic and phenomenal work that is being done by officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs to try to cut down on waiting times, and some turnarounds have been as short as a...