Results 1,861-1,880 of 4,093 for speaker:Cormac Devlin

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: I thank the Minister of State and open the floor to any members who may have questions on the Supplementary Estimate.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: I call Deputy Bríd Smith.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: I thank Deputy Bríd Smith. As I was giving Deputy Leddin’s apologies earlier, he walked through the door. He is welcome.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: While some of my questions have already been asked, I will seek clarity on certain aspects. On the €90 million savings, in response to a few questions, the Minister of State outlined the forecast of €23 million in savings from the one-stop shop and the community energy schemes. I also heard his comments about the target perhaps not being met this year due to supply chain...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: From our perspective, it is frustrating that we are trying to discuss the Supplementary Estimate and yet we do not have the information we require. It is not the Minister of State's fault-----

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: I know. I refer to the better energy warmer homes scheme specifically for the elderly. I and every other member of this committee have constituents who have applied for these initiatives, which are very welcome, but there is a backlog in that specific scheme. I am sure if that is the Minister of State's experience too. Does the saving that we are talking about, the supply chain issues,...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: It has. Unfortunately, even after the briefings we still do not get a result. After the announcement of the improved grants, which was very welcome, the public responded with gusto because they wanted to avail of them, only to find that there was no capacity in either the one-stop shop or the subsequent suppliers. There are other issues curtailing the roll-out of those schemes so we hope...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: It that because there was an overestimation in respect of the grant? People could not avoid availing of it. It was there in their accounts. I know that some could gift it back. Where did that €20 million come from?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: To go back to the point about the sub-meters, there was a fair point made about halting sites and other multi-unit developments. Some people did not actually get the credit for one reason or another. Perhaps they had moved house or they live in these multi-unit developments or dwellings. What is the process for them? Do the officials have any advice for how they avail of that credit?...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: There is a lot of information to come back to the committee following its examination of the Supplementary Estimate. Obviously, more detail on the 450 MW of additional generation capacity would be very helpful. There are no further questions from Deputies for the Minister of State. I thank him and the officials for their engagement.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Message to Dáil. (12 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: In accordance with Standing Order 101 the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Environment and Climate Action has completed its consideration of the Supplementary Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2022: Vote 29 - Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: I thank the Tánaiste for introducing this legislation, which provides legal protection for workers in respect of tips and gratuities. It will mean any tips received cannot be counted towards an employee's basic pay; they must be counted as additional and separate. The treatment of tips and gratuities has been a long-standing issue that is regularly raised by employees and trade...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: I welcome this legislation, which updates the substitute-consent regime provided in the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Bill's purpose is essentially to streamline the substitute-consent procedure in the planning system. Streamlining of the substitute-consent regime is required to increase the efficiency and utility of the process in order to safeguard confidence in the Irish...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: The Government has made several welcome efforts to cushion families from the increase in energy prices caused by Russia's war on Ukraine and Putin's attempt to use gas and oil as strategic weapons against the west. In April, the Minister committed to introducing a scheme to offer solar panels to people with high energy usage due to a medical need or to elderly people at risk of energy...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: I welcome our witnesses. I send my best wishes to the Secretary General. I will start with the school building programme. I heard Mr. Loftus say that 700 active sites had been acquired since 2021. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: Will Mr. Loftus outline for the committee the number of stages of acquisition, planning and, ultimately, construction? How many stages are there from site acquisition through to construction?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: That may be a matter for another question.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: All I wanted to know was the number of stages. Mr. Loftus referred to five stages. Is that for acquisition and construction or acquisition and planning?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: At times, there does not appear to be a continued focus on the various stages. Other Deputies have raised issues in their constituencies. I represent Dún Laoghaire and I am aware of a particular school which has been in prefabricated units on-site since 2005. The State pays for the upkeep and maintenance of the prefabs annually. About three years ago, one of the prefabs was...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Cormac Devlin: I appreciate that. Of the €29.4 million, I am not saying that all of that is in respect of prefabricated units that are there for long-term accommodation but how much of it is reoccurring? I mean prefabricated units that are being used on a continuous basis as either a school or an extension to a school. Does the Department have that figure?