Results 161-180 of 17,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (18 Jan 2024)

Brendan Smith: 128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the proposed building project for Cavan Institute will proceed to the next stage in 2024; the expected timescale for delivery of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2088/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (18 Jan 2024)

Brendan Smith: 158. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total funding provided in 2023 for the non-national road network; the specific allocations made to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council; if he will ensure that increased funding will be provided for this road network in 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2285/24]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (18 Jan 2024)

Brendan Smith: 168. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the widespread concern of farmers to recent changes in VAT refunds on dairy equipment and mobile farm equipment which will prevent in many instances necessary investment in farm facilities and cause additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2290/24]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (18 Jan 2024)

Brendan Smith: 178. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give detailed consideration to the issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied) concerning increased costs for small businesses; the measures that will be implemented to ease such pressures on small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2300/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2024)

Brendan Smith: 222. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline the schemes under the remit of his Department to assist in restoring vacant and derelict buildings to habitable use for housing purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2301/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (17 Jan 2024)

Brendan Smith: 286. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if further consideration will be given to the provision of support for hackney services in rural communities in counties Cavan and Monaghan where it is not feasible to have a bus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1583/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Brendan Smith: 692. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals, if any, there are to award funding to more primary schools under the STEM grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2094/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Brendan Smith: 1296. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up to date position regarding the issue of payments under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2095/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: I very much welcome that. I know that there are such communities right throughout the country. There are a number of small towns in my constituency about which I spoke to the Minister that will warmly welcome substantial grant aid. In many of our smaller towns, villages and rural communities, there is a great demand for childcare places because the population is increasing. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: I have spoken to the Minister on a number of occasions about the need to introduce large-scale grant aid towards the provision of childcare centres. As the Minister will recall, some time ago there was grant aid available of up to €1.1 million to assist community organisations providing much needed childcare. Some of the childcare facilities that were developed at that time need to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: Unfortunately, both public and private providers have been hit by rising costs in recent years, particularly since Mr. Putin's evil war against Ukraine was launched. I wish to raise the reference costs regarding the scheme and the investment. It is outside the remit of the Minister but there is much concern among farmers over the changes and the interpretations of rules recently introduced...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: I sincerely hope Revenue revisits this very important matter. I am not clear on whether there are still young farmer and woman farmer cohorts within the application process. It is important that these cohorts of the overall farming community be supported. Will the Department issue detailed data on what is necessary to get a priority classification?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approvals will issue in respect of TAMS applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55732/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: I return to the same subject, by and large. The importance of TAMS, is illustrated by the Minister's statement that 3,000 applications have been received under tranche 2. Again I appeal for the timeline to be met as much as is possible because when farmers plan to invest, they need to be given every possible assistance. With regard to the dribble bar, one of the other points which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 7. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval will issue in respect of TAMS applications relating to animal welfare-related investments and the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55733/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the fact the Minister issued a statement recently about approvals for TAMS. I note there have been delays with TAMS and I very much welcome the issue of approvals. It is important to get approvals under way as quickly as possible. I am particularly anxious those approvals would be issued where people have applied for accommodation in respect of animal welfare issues and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for the reply and the progress he is making with TAMS. I understand why he would have a closing date tomorrow in regard to tranche 2. Planners have been under extreme pressure because of the number of schemes and, unfortunately, some may be caught who have not submitted applications. I understand at the same time that the Minister wants to get to the next cohort of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: I very much welcome the Minister's confirmation that he is considering the dribble bar. In my own territory - we all are more familiar with our own constituencies than elsewhere - farmers want to invest but there are big costs involved. It should be borne in mind the difficulty that will arise for those now with 150 kg N/ha and that they have to invest in particular machinery and may not be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 87. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will introduce a grant scheme to assist in the provision of large-scale preschool accommodation and the upgrading of existing childcare accommodation, as there is a need to increase substantially the level of grant aid to ensure adequate childcare accommodation in the coming years; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (14 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 103. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is proposed to increase capital investment in the early learning and childcare sector for 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55735/23]