Results 1,601-1,620 of 36,764 for speaker:Enda Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: Some 1,829 homes are already on-site with a further 91 projects throughout the country. These figures are available to Deputies.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: Some 61 projects are at practical completion stage. They were begun in 2016. The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government as well as the Minister and a Minister of State are dealing with this. They are working hard. There is a housing delivery unit in the Department. They have changed all the processes and expedited the opportunity for local authorities not only to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: The housing assistance payment scheme dealt with 18,000 solutions last year.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: A total of 2,800 people left homelessness completely. Deputy Martin raised a question about the credit unions and the money they have. The Minister of State met representatives from the credit unions yesterday and today. We are waiting for a decision from the Central Bank, which is the regulator of the credit unions, as Deputies are aware. The Government is happy to take and use the money...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: As the document points out, one is dealing here with the issue of the five pillars enabling the creative potential of every child, enabling creativity in every community, investing in our creative and cultural infrastructure, Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production, and unifying our global reputation. When one goes through all of those, the different headings point out that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: It has not been discussed by the Cabinet and it is not been discussed by the Cabinet committee.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: I heard reports of the Minister of State with responsibility for regional economic development, Deputy Ring, saying he would be quite prepared to negotiate or discuss with the owners of Luggala. I point out to Deputy Burton that Westport House, a magnificent building there for so many years, was bought by a local family and will be kept open to the public. It is wonderful to see a situation...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Cabinet Committee on Housing last met on 6 February 2017. It is scheduled to meet again on 27 February 2017. It will continue to meet regularly and consider progress in implementing Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, which is a priority issue for the Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: We brought in the artistic community to the Cabinet sub-committee and they were very appreciative of the consideration of a programme for Creative Ireland. The fact it will be monitored from the Department of the Taoiseach means it has particular clout in terms of co-ordination, such as applied during the centenary celebratory events for 1916. It was obvious during those commemorative...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: The money is not a once-off and it is going to continue and the base of €18 million is there for the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for the future. There will also be what is called Cruinniú na Cásca, whereby Easter Monday every year will be allocated for artistic and imaginative endeavour. I notice there is now public art on the major...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: We all know about the STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - but, as has been pointed out on many occasions, the aim is to put artistic, imaginative and creative endeavour at the centre of public policy. If we inserted that into STEM, we would get STEAM, which would show the two sides of the use of people's imaginative qualities, whether it be music or physics,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: It is an interesting concept. In 2016 a once-off €49 million was made available for the centenary programme under the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which included €18 million in current funding and €31 million in capital funding. As the Deputy is aware, some of the once-off projects that were finished included the visitor centre at...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: We do not have the details worked out but obviously, it is a matter for communities all over the country to put forward suggestions as to how this might be commemorated. As Deputy Howlin is aware, many of those events are much more sensitive and raw than those of 1916. I would think that, given how we have reflected a maturity about the centenary commemorative year, we can do the same for...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: It appears to be more than borrowing from patients' personal bank accounts if what Deputy Munster is saying is true. Obviously, the Minister for Health will deal with this matter. If he has not had the report by now, he will deal with it when he has had time to reflect on it. Clearly we cannot have a situation where patients' private bank accounts are raided to pay for public property in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: I am not aware of the letter received by Deputies Howlin and Browne, but obviously Deputy Browne is in discussion with the Minister for Health directly and the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health. I will have the matter raised with the Minister and I will respond to Deputies Browne and Howlin.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Cabinet Committee on Arts, Irish, the Gaeltacht and the Islands last met on 13 October 2016. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 27 February.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: The publication of the education policy in respect of Gaeltacht schools was the first since the foundation of the State. The policy was brought about by the realisation that there is a serious drop in the numbers of children especially who speak Irish on a full-time basis in the Gaeltacht. This was due to population trends, demographics and shifts in population and so on. For this reason...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: The Ceann Comhairle and his office are working on it. It is part of the programme for Government and, therefore, should be attended to. There is no point in setting up an ineffective office. In discussions, the appropriate level of status, remuneration and facilities should be made available. From my Department, we will see what we can do to expedite it in accordance with the work and...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: I do not know the details of the case the Deputy mentioned. It is obviously a stressful time for the person involved. I am not aware whether any other specialist cardiac unit could do the same operation and has a bed available. These decisions are made by consultants and clinical people as to the priorities. I hope the matter can be dealt with, that a bed can be found for the young woman...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2017)

Enda Kenny: The process has begun. The Deputy mentioned the national children's hospital. Permission was granted in April 2016 and €650 million of Exchequer funding was approved for it in 2014. This was for the core construction of the new national children's hospital with the two paediatric outpatient units and the urgent care satellite centres on the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly...