Results 1,841-1,860 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I want to make a point about refugees and asylum seekers. In building the modular homes, we have to be right in what we are doing and make them available to all people. We must stand up to xenophobia and racism in our country.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I was sickened to see, near North Wall, the term "Irish lives matter". Of course they do. Everybody's life matters, but people have been raped, murdered and slaughtered in Ukraine. People are saying there should be a cap on the number of them coming here. We had a cap on the number of Jewish refugees coming to Ireland during the Second World War. We stopped them from coming into the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Something that must be addressed, and is being addressed, is the question of a skills shortages. We are short approximately 20,000 workers with the appropriate skills to build the more than 33,000 houses we want. In this respect the new centre in Drogheda for training apprentices with a €4.5 million investment will see 400 apprentices going through it over the next 12 months. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I accept that. The Acting Chair has been very nice to me.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: For clarity, will there be a report from the vacant homes officers nationally so that we can read and see what they are doing? They have to be seen to be accountable. The outcome of their work must be visible and clear. I repeat that that was clearly not the case in the past. The Minister of State welcomes CPO and I respect him for saying so. Is there a plan to manage it? Will the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Year after year.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 6. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant; if the current grant amounts will be reviewed to entice more persons into the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59669/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: One thing that is clear is that urban dereliction and decay is rampant in our country and this Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant is a game changer in terms of incentivising occupation of these dwellings and commercial spaces, because some can be commercial, provided they have been vacant for two years and were built before 1993. Will the Minister of State review...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree these are comprehensive, continually changing and improving ways of getting people into homes they so badly need. The Minister of State mentioned vacant homes officers. I think we initially paid about €30,000 or €40,000 for local authorities to keep these people in employment. In fact, it turned out that most of them were doing nothing in respect of vacant homes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Site Acquisitions (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 47. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide details in relation to the announcement that €100 million is being allocated to fund land legacy debt and €125 million is being allocated to establish a land acquisition fund under the Housing Agency; the way that this will assist in the case of Louth County Council and its applicable sites;...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his plans to further develop further and higher education and training for the hospitality sector to entice more persons to consider the sector as a long-term career opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59671/22]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Treasury Management Agency (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 184. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on Louth County Councils plans to develop phase 1 of the Northern Cross Route in Drogheda using NTMA funding; if he will provide an update on recent discussions with Louth County Council on the proposed plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59954/22]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 190. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the long-awaited transfer of ownership of the historic Westgate House, Drogheda County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59955/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 206. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the long-awaited and much-delayed Westgate vision plan for Drogheda; the expected key project timeline; the expected cost of the initial proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59941/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 209. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the long-awaited new fire station for Dunleer, County Louth; the location and details of the development; the key project expected timelines; the total number of staff expected to be employed once complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59971/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 313. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update in respect of allowing persons studying in Ireland under a student visa to work more than 20 hours per week during term time in order to assist the hospitality and other sectors to fill job vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59937/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Dormant Accounts Fund (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 314. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total funding awarded over the years 2020 to date through the Dormant Account Funds by funding amount, organisation, and location in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59956/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 337. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update with respect to the progression of the 50-bed St. Joseph’s Hospital development in Ardee, County Louth; when the project is expected to be completed; if he will supply any other relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59940/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 350. To ask the Minister for Health if progress has been made with respect to recruitment of occupational therapists in County Louth; if neighbouring areas with suitable levels of occupational therapists could transfer or redirect services; if persons will be offered appointments in neighbouring areas, in order to deal with the absolutely unacceptable void in services in the Louth area; and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (1 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 352. To ask the Minister for Health the number of facilities that have closed and ceased operations by name and location since the payments were awarded, of the recent TAPS payments of nearly €150 million distributed to nursing homes throughout the country to help manage the response to Covid-19; if any nursing homes voluntarily returned monies to his Department for any reason in...