Results 161-180 of 11,474 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (9 Apr 2024)

Niall Collins: 1733. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grant assistance is available for a club (details supplied) to provide worker accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15204/24]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy for raising this Topical Issue on planning enforcement proceedings in respect of the unauthorised development of log cabins. I would point out that, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Minister with responsibility for planning is specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in respect of any particular case with which a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: Of course, and I fully understand the points the Deputy is making. I come across this issue in my own constituency regularly. The Deputy pointed out an instance in my constituency of which he was aware. I will make the Minister aware of the points that the Deputy has raised. The Minister cannot halt an enforcement. Under the law of the land, he cannot step in and write a statutory...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I will pick up from where I concluded. The following stage of this proposal envisages that OPW staff and essential contractors access the site via Lime Avenue at predetermined times of the day. The OPW has made written commitments that the volume of traffic would be approximately 20 vehicles per day for OPW staff and essential contractors. People with a disability would also be facilitated...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: That is not a problem. I will convey the Deputy's request for the details on the smaller buses and the additional stops to the Minister. I will absolutely convey the Deputy's disappointment with regard to Ros Muc. I will also make the Minister for Transport aware of the Deputy's desire that he develop a policy on the distances between bus stops. Other than that, I do not have anything...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I can tell the Deputy that the topic of bus stops is emotive. My own father lobbied me for a bus stop near our house for many years - approximately 15 years - and one arrived there last year but I had nothing to do with it landing there. I will convey all of that.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I would like to thank the Deputy for his ongoing interest in Castletown House and estate. In recent months, the Deputy has made continuous representations through parliamentary questions, Topical Issues and Oireachtas committees with regard to Castletown House and estate. He and the other elected representatives of Kildare North are members of the Castletown House and estate...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for raising this important topic which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. At the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding regarding public transport but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day management, operation or planning of public...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: Have a look in the mirror.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Carrigy for raising this important issue. St. Christopher's Services is a disability services provider founded in 1964 by parents and friends of disabled people in Longford. It is an independent legal entity governed by a board of directors. The organisation is funded by the HSE's Midlands Louth Meath community healthcare organisation, CHO, under section 39 of the Health...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: Once again I thank the Senator for his contributions on this matter, the points he has made will be conveyed to both Ministers and the HSE. The Government has demonstrated its continuing commitment to people with disabilities with a record €2.9 billion being provided in 2024. This includes significant additional funding to help increase service capacity to deliver more for people...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator Sherlock for raising this important issue and for offering the opportunity to respond. Home visiting programmes provide support and guidance to expecting parents and parents of babies and young children. Home visiting is a prevention and early intervention strategy used to support parents to promote infant and child health, foster educational development and school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: Home visiting programmes are recognised as having positive outcomes for families who receive them. The intention of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman's Department with the additional funding from the children's fund is that an increased number of children and families will benefit from such a service. As mentioned earlier, Traveller and lone parent families will initially be targeted. Based on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of our colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who is in the midlands this morning. The Department would like to thank the Senator for raising this matter, which provides me with an opportunity to outline the position on Castlebar Educate Together National School. I would like to first state to the Senator that officials in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I once again thank the Senator for giving me an opportunity to outline the position to the House on Castlebar Educate Together National School. As I have outlined, the Department is engaging with Educate Together on the accommodation that is required in the short, medium and long term. I can assure the Senator that the Department is working to provide a long-term accommodation solution for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: The deposit return scheme, DRS, was introduced to incentivise more people to recycle plastic bottles and cans to help deliver on our ambitious EU targets for the recycling of these products. Under the single-use plastics directive, we are obliged to recycle 90% of our plastic bottles by 2029 with an interim target of 77% by the end of next year. The deposit return scheme will increase the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I have no problem speaking to Leigh Gath. As the Senator will know, she is a constituent of mine. I have spoken to her regularly previously. She did not contact me about this matter. I would be delighted to speak to her afterwards. Re-Turn continues to engage widely with all stakeholders and has committed to reviewing accessibility practices considering the needs of customers. There...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fuel Prices (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I thank the Senator for raising this issue for discussion. The Government is acutely aware that increased energy prices have posed significant challenges to households and firms. The drivers of inflation are global in nature and, accordingly, it is not possible for any one government to fully absorb the costs. Therefore, Government policy is focused on temporary and targeted measures aimed...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fuel Prices (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: The Government recognises that the decision by the UK Government not to restore its excise rates means that the differential for petrol, in particular, will increase between Northern Ireland and this jurisdiction. The Senator will be aware that Ireland and Northern Ireland operate significantly different tax regimes. For example, the VAT rate in the UK is 20% and the UK does not have a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Strategies (21 Mar 2024)

Niall Collins: I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising this very important issue. Encouraging mothers to breast-feed is a priority, both for the Department of Health and for the HSE. National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland framework, the Healthy Ireland strategic action plan, the national maternity strategy, the obesity policy and action plan, and the national cancer strategy, emphasises the...