Results 1,461-1,480 of 5,573 for speaker:Paul McAuliffe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Payments (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: That is just because the Minister was present.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizens Information Services (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: One CIB, eight CIS and 90 CICs have closed - all the acronyms would make one's head hurt. In essence one of the difficulties with the system is that the Minister cannot direct them because they are separate companies, but it was not any one of those companies that decided this, it was us. It was the Oireachtas that decided to have independent companies. The community and voluntary sector...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizens Information Services (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I join the Minister in encouraging people to come forward. From speaking to many volunteers I know it is a very rewarding service. As we in this House all know, to be able to impart information to people, which they otherwise would not be aware of, is a very rewarding experience. It certainly is for me any time I am in my clinic. There is, however, more that can be done. This issue...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizens Information Services (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Cahill. I think this is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate the Minister on the negotiations in regard to the budget. For the second year in a row, the combination of once-off payments and increases in core rates has led the ESRI to state that these changes have kept people ahead of inflation. Given international rates of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: 65. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how many reviews of State (non-contributory) pensions have been carried out in 2023; and how many pensions have been stopped as a result. [46228/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: 100. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the current backlog in processing applications for child benefit. [46180/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I thank members and witnesses for being here today to consider the report of the citizens' assembly on a directly elected mayor of Dublin. I note that an invitation was extended to the National Transport Authority, the HSE, the Department of Health and the Department of Education. I welcome from the National Transport Authority, Ms Anne Graham, CEO, and Mr. Hugh Creegan, deputy CEO. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Based on the experience of last week, and because we are not dealing with specific legislation or holding the NTA to account on a particular set of accounts, we will be asking for the witnesses' expertise and whatever answers they give will be considered in that way. That gives them some latitude.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: There must have been comparisons of different cities. There must be even anecdotal interactions with those around different systems. If there is any that strikes Ms Graham, the Senator would benefit from that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I might take my slot. I am a strong believer that our current system of local government is so broken, fragmented and weak in power that even the addition of a figurehead that only champions and has no power would be an improvement. Everybody is in agreement that that alone would not be sufficient. However, people who advocate for a directly-elected mayor say there would be a benefit in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Although in hindsight, the decision to cancel it may have meant a much more expensive project in the long run.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: We have spoken many times about how the NTA provides the fleet and private operators like Go Ahead are using that fleet. We have talked about a similar system for e-bikes, for example, in the city. One of the challenges we have discussed is for the NTA to be able to co-ordinate that response across the four Dublin local authorities with existing schemes in place. There would be a challenge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Ms Graham and Mr. Creegan have identified the issue of funding. It is interesting to come back to that. I remind them of the name Jarrett Walker and the BusConnects project. I have never seen someone who has published a report become so passionate in advocating publicly for their report, as Mr. Walker was, in fairness to him. I am thinking of something like BusConnects that would be a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Mr. Creegan sounds like Sir Humphrey telling the minister he has made a very brave decision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I want to flesh out that issue of funding. I ask our guests to clarify for the committee the process of drawing down or attracting funding for a project like a Luas or metro line. What mechanism is used currently?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Who is the decision-maker in those cases?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: The NTA makes a proposal to the Department of Transport and I presume that Department, in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, makes the decision. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Most of the decisions are already made. Given that funding is already allocated, why would any Minister say "No" or delay something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: That is useful in helping us to understand the decision-making process. Is there an element of borrowing or the ability to borrow involved or is it all set-aside public resources? In terms of a revenue-raising ability or an ability to borrow, a directly elected mayor may be able to increase the overall pot of money coming to Dublin. Would an ability to borrow be beneficial or would that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: If there was a dedicated NDP budget for Dublin, within which individual decisions could be moved around or swapped, would that give more flexibility to progress projects that might be ready more quickly than others or does the way it is set out at the moment provide a degree of certainty?