Results 1,661-1,680 of 8,016 for speaker:Peter Burke

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I will have to refer it back to the Minister, Deputy Foley, because it is not an area of my responsibility. It is her responsibility obviously to ensure that school transport is running effectively as it has done in previous years. I will refer the matter back to the Minister and have her respond to the points that Senator Garvey has genuinely raised in that regard and I fully accept that.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne for raising this important matter and for giving the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, the opportunity to respond with more detail on the status of the €100 million package. I would like to say that the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, was delighted to secure the €100 million additional funding this year. It will provide a one-off non-pay...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I again thank the Senator for raising this very important matter. There are so many valuable community organisations that rely on departmental funding. Obviously, it would be foolish of me to give a commitment regarding an area for which I have no responsibility, but I will raise the issue with the Minister for Health. As the departmental reply indicates, the Minister expects this to be...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue, which, I appreciate, is very distressing for the families concerned. The Minister for Health is aware that the recruitment and retention of staff across CHO 4 has been very challenging in recent months as considerable organisational and operational changes have been implemented. Indeed, as part of the enhanced community care...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: Again, I thank Senator Lombard for raising what is obviously a very serious issue. The Minister for Health is responsible for this area so I will make contact with his office this morning and ask that an update on those 15 vacancies be provided to Senator Lombard. I appreciate that this is a significant issue for the community in west Cork.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Members for their contributions. I thank Senators Malcolm Byrne, Casey and Cassells for bringing forward this Bill and all the Senators who contributed to the debate. While the programme for Government, Our Shared Future, does not make an explicit commitment on the issue of Seanad reform, it is recognised that the issue of the university franchise, which has been outstanding since...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) (Certificate of Life) Bill 2022: Second Stage (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I acknowledge the life of Stephen, and welcome Caroline and Martin to the Visitors Gallery. I want to also acknowledge Senator Doherty and in particular Senator Seery Kearney for that very moving and emotive contribution in which the Senator outlined a life-changing experience that so many in our society go through in their daily lives. It is poignant to note that October is the month set...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: The Housing Supply Clearing House measure was established to facilitate consideration of matters which might warrant action being taken by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, local authorities or other State agencies, in order to expedite the delivery of housing which has the benefit of planning permission. The objective of the Housing Supply Clearing House process...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 236, inclusive, together. Local Authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department providing information on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) in their functional areas. The derelict sites returns are collected in Q2 of the following year. The information requested in respect of 2019, 2020 and 2021 is provided in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (19 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: 74. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will extend the reduced VAT rate of 9% on all electricity bills issued after 31 October 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52307/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (19 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: The Review and Consolidation of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) is being overseen by the Attorney General and he has appointed a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work. A dedicated Planning Legislation Review Unit has been established within my Department to work closely with the Attorney General and his working group on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: 94. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there is a review of the contract for Army sergeants who turn 50 years of age and their retention in the armed forces; the plans, if any, to retain these staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52304/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: 120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be provided for a pupil (details supplied). [52373/22]

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for his question regarding the application by Limerick City and County Council for a dedicated affordable homes team. In September 2021, the Government published its Housing for All strategy, which sets out plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per annum over the next decade. Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a central element...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I must correct the Senator; the Government is on target to meet its social housing numbers this year. We are almost approaching the figure of 9,000 new social units having been added, which will be the key to resolving so many housing issues for our citizens, and we are on course to build in excess of 25,000 homes this year, which will meet our target.That will be critical in implementing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: There are 31 local authorities in the country. The Affordable Housing Act was put through this year and the fund was established. It is key to ensuring we will not be behind in making sure all local authorities have the resources. In many areas it is not about the resources; it is about councils getting good applications in and having their land serviced and ready to go for affordable housing.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: Many can go through private developers and we have seen a number of acquisitions from the affordable housing fund in that regard.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for tabling this matter. I also thank her council colleagues for putting forward such a timely motion, which is very important to ensure that people have access to secure housing. A standard system for assessing applicants for social housing support was introduced in 2011. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Chambers for raising this matter. I will raise it with the Minister. When speaking last night in the debate on RTÉ1, the Minister committed to having the review before the end of the year. I will communicate this to him and to the Housing Agency, which is under the aegis of the Department, to speed up that review. I really do appreciate that so many citizens are...