Results 1,481-1,500 of 11,777 for speaker:Niall Collins

Energy Regulations: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputies for raising these important matters and allowing us time to discuss them today. As noted previously, the Government is keenly aware of the growing pressures this places on families and businesses. Just like other European member states, Ireland is acutely feeling the effects of the current energy crisis. It is a matter of serious concern to Government that rising...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rural Schemes (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I acknowledge the excellent work on the rural social scheme and the contribution this scheme and its participants make to rural communities throughout the country. Currently, there are 2,873 participants and 133 supervisors employed on the scheme. The Department of Social Protection runs the scheme which has a total budget of €51.9 million in 2022. The scheme is delivered through a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rural Schemes (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Boyhan again for raising the matter. I reassure the Senator that the Ministers place huge emphasis on the importance of employment schemes, especially, for rural areas, the rural social scheme. As I stated earlier, they have visited rural social schemes in recent months and are fully aware of the important work they do in the community. They have seen first-hand the great...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline the current position in respect of the accommodation needs of Golden National School, County Tipperary, and the Government's firm commitment to enabling students with special education needs to receive an education appropriate to those needs. Golden National School is a co-educational national school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education is committed to ensuring that children can access an education suitable to their needs. Planning is actively under way to ensure that children without a placement for next year are provided with a suitable placement. The NCSE is leading the work in this regard....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Policy (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important matter. This agenda item is timely following discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council and European Council in October on the EU's strategic engagement with China. Those discussions, attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Simon Coveney, and the Taoiseach, took place against the backdrop of the re-election of President Xi to a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Policy (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: Any relationship with a country as large as China has many strands and our relationship covers political, economic, cultural and people-to-people links. We have never held back from criticising human rights abuses where they have occurred. It is also the case that we seek to ensure Ireland's values and interests are promoted and protected within the bilateral and EU relationships with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: With regard to the A5, the funding arrangements have been governed by the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and implementation plan, A Fresh Start. Under this agreement, the Government is committed to providing funding of £75 million towards the cost of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland has been concluded. The Government is committed to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Courts Service (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I again thank the Deputy for raising these issues in a genuine manner. It is obviously a concern to the Deputy and to any community if there is a fear of a loss of services. I am confident, given the initial reply supplied to me by the Department of Justice, that there is a clear intention to restore the existing level of service to Mallow once the refurbishment works have been carried out....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Courts Service (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I convey the apologies of my colleague, the Minster for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who regrets she cannot attend for this matter due to a prior commitment. On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important matter and for giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on the issues he raised. As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, operational...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Student Accommodation (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy for his remarks and reassure him that this is a high priority issue for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, so much so, as I alluded to in my opening remarks, that we now have a section within the Department that is dedicated to working with our HEIs to advance the provision of the much-needed student accommodation. That will...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Student Accommodation (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank Deputy Richmond for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to UCD's decision. We are very aware of the difficulties faced by students trying to secure accommodation. It is an issue that we are actively pursuing and resolution is a high priority for the Department as a whole. In September 2021, the Government launched...

Science Week: Statements (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I welcome the Ceann Comhairle back. I thank everybody in the House for this debate. In his opening statement, the Minister, Deputy Harris, mentioned that one of the areas in which real progress has been made is the sourcing of science advice. This is one of many areas where progress has been made in the research and innovation field. Deputy Naughten showed a particular interest in this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: 282. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if approval will issue for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56541/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: 310. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the timeframe for the establishment of a new election observation roster; the body that will be responsible for conducting the competition; the locations in which it will be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56636/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: 316. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 25 October 2022, when a revised salary certificate will issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56140/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: 355. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if advice will be provided in relation to a matter (details supplied); the options that are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56638/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: My officials have sought some additional information from the Deputy's office to enable us direct the query to the relevant organisation.  Once this information is received, enquiries will made and a reply issued to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: 616. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can assist a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56544/22]