Results 281-300 of 17,665 for speaker:Brendan Smith

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: I again raise the need to enable higher education students studying outside this State to avail of the €1,000 reduction in student contribution fees. The Minister confirmed to me in a reply to parliamentary question that this was one measure of the package of measures to help households with the increased cost of living. Families here, regardless of their children's study location,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care of the Elderly (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 33. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects the Commission on Care for Older People to convene; the impact that the additional funding secured in Budget 2024 will have on expediting this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48616/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care of the Elderly (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 58. To ask the Minister for Health how the extra funding of €4.6 million in Budget 2024 will increase the provision of transitional care to make sure that older people get the care they need leaving hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48617/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 139. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the voids programme for 2024 will be finalised; the national allocation; the funding that will be made available for Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49035/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 163. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that the significant investment in the voids programme over recent years will be continued in 2024, in view of the importance of this programme in bringing back vacant housing stock to habitable use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49036/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 204. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure a substantial financial allocation under the road works programme to Cavan County Council in 2024 for the further planning and design of a route (details supplied) in view of its strategic importance for the Border region and the need to upgrade this road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49191/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Properties (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 281. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the supports that are available from his Department to public bodies to plant trees on publicly owned lands; if such supports are available to community and voluntary organisations to carry out similar work on grounds to where they have access to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49196/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 301. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of capital funding available to his Department this year for the upgrading of existing childcare facilities and the provision of new childcare accommodation; the funding that will be available in 2024 for such developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49256/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 302. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is proposed to introduce a grant scheme to assist in the provision of large-scale pre-school accommodation and the upgrading of existing accommodation, as existing grant levels will not be sufficient to ensure adequate childcare accommodation in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Mapping Diversity, Negotiating Differences: Constitutional Discussions on a Shared Island: Discussion (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank Professor Todd and Dr. McEvoy for a very interesting opening statement and compliment them on their work. As Deputy Conway-Walsh said, it is always a concern that we do not get to talk to people who feel marginalised. I was surprised to hear Dr. McEvoy mention consultation fatigue. I have often thought there was not enough consultation with the groups they mentioned and I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Mapping Diversity, Negotiating Differences: Constitutional Discussions on a Shared Island: Discussion (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: Deputies O'Dowd and Tully and I represent Border counties, and while I will sometimes come across a woman who has given birth to a baby and works in Cavan, for example, I come across more queries from people in south Fermanagh who wonder why they cannot access oncology services in Cavan General Hospital and have to go to Belfast or Derry for some of those services. There is so much that could...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Mapping Diversity, Negotiating Differences: Constitutional Discussions on a Shared Island: Discussion (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: I understand from listening to the witnesses today that the people who were involved in the deliberations were more interested in the social and economic issues rather than the narrow political issues like constitutional issues, political structures and configurations, etc. Were the participants interested overwhelmingly more in economic, social, bread-and-butter, day-to-day issues than...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Mapping Diversity, Negotiating Differences: Constitutional Discussions on a Shared Island: Discussion (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: We are not shocked by that revelation. Did social media play a part in informing the views of participants?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Mapping Diversity, Negotiating Differences: Constitutional Discussions on a Shared Island: Discussion (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: Was Professor Todd concerned about the influence social media had?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Mapping Diversity, Negotiating Differences: Constitutional Discussions on a Shared Island: Discussion (9 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: My final question, on the issue of participation, was addressed earlier by Professor Todd. Were 50% of participants from Northern Ireland and 50% from this State? Was it roughly that divide?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: We are very fortunate that we have a great network of supermarkets and other food stores of varying sizes in our towns and villages. The stores are predominately very modern with high standards of hygiene and good service for customers. Those retailers are very concerned about the small business support scheme. They state very clearly that the measures proposed in the budget will not be of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (8 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 35. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timescale for the completion of the design of the Cavan town flood relief scheme; the expected timeline for submission of the planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49018/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (7 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: I very much welcome the major funding from the Government for the shared island initiative. This is funding projects in my constituency, including the restoration of the Ulster Canal, which will be very beneficial for a number of counties throughout Ulster. The Taoiseach may recall that I raised with him when he held the enterprise portfolio the importance of developing enterprise centres...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (7 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 12. To ask the Taoiseach his views on the recently published annual report of his Department. [47659/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (7 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 3. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the British Prime Minister. [47658/23]