Results 21-40 of 1,909 for speaker:Pat Casey

Mental Health: Statements (Resumed) (1 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: Listening to the debate on mental health services, I have been impressed by the unity of purpose and sincerity shown by Deputies. This problem requires a continuous national response by the Government and a local response by wider society and non-government actors, such as the community and voluntary sector. Mental illness is widespread and there is not a family on the island which has not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Genomics Scheme (8 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: 69. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied with the participation rate of farmers and the programme spend to date under the beef genomics scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14473/16]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (8 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: 74. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make an allocation for 2016 and 2017 for young farmers under the national reserve fund; when he will announce its conditions for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14485/16]

Rent Certainty Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: It is with frustration and disappointment that I will oppose the motion. I am frustrated because I wanted this Dáil to be different from its previous incarnations when the Chamber was used for party political gamesmanship, rather than as a forum for exchanges on policy proposals that would resolve the challenges facing the nation. There is no doubt that housing is a national crisis...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Garda Strength (22 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: 17. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda Síochána stations and the number of gardaí in County Wicklow on 30 April 2011 and on 30 April 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17092/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Garda Strength (22 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: As this is my first time addressing the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, I wish her well in both of her roles. My question relates to Garda stations, the number of gardaí in Wicklow, the change in numbers between 2011 and April 2016 and the impact that has on crime figures.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Garda Strength (22 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: I acknowledge the good work the Garda is doing in exceptionally difficult and constrained times. I know the Minister is talking about the distribution of gardaí. There is still only a limited number of gardaí available for the country as a whole, and Wicklow has suffered by a reduction of 40 since 2011. More worryingly, Wicklow received ten new recruits, two of whom have...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Garda Strength (22 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: The retirement of senior personnel and the knowledge that goes with them is also a concern. As an immediate response, would the Minister consider increasing the retirement age of gardaí from 60 to 63 on a voluntary basis? I think I have heard this mentioned before. That would help address the situation immediately and the force would retain that knowledge. The cost-benefit balance...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: Not so.

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: The Minister of State has to conclude.

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: Twice.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: Does the Chairman mean questions specifically on the housing programme?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: My concern is that the total spend up to 23 June did not even reach on quarter of the total allocation. Is that normal? Of a total allocation of €538 million, only €117 million was spent up to 23 June. Is the money not being spent? Is it normal for spending to take place in the second half of the year? As this is my first attempt at this, I do not know what has happened...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: This is not specifically on the figures, but it is around them. First, it relates to the subvention of Irish Water from motor taxation of nearly €586 million. Coming from a rural community and seeing local and regional roads deteriorate over the last few years, the fact that only 30% of the motor tax fund has been spent on road infrastructure is a concern. My other question...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: I am concerned about the calculation of the local government fund, specifically the surplus of €112 million that local authorities are being forced to spend on housing. This has implications on other services provided by local authorities. In our county, we have suffered big time in trying to retain libraries services and recycling centres because of the way the local government fund...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: At local level, each council decides on its local property tax rate in September even though its budget is not agreed until November. There is a complete disconnect in that regard. It seems to me, as someone who was a local authority member until a few months ago, that it is almost the case that the real budget decision is made in September when the council decides whether to set the local...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: I am learning.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Pat Casey: I agree with both comments regarding the service being provided for councillors, especially when it comes to development plans. One of the most frustrating aspects of An Bord Pleanála process is the lack of decision-making and the trend of kicking things down the road for six months and then another six months. In the context of resourcing that organisation, is there any chance that we...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Pat Casey: No.

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Pat Casey: As spokesperson on housing and urban renewal, I welcome the committee's report on housing and homelessness. Under the chairmanship of my colleague, Deputy John Curran, the committee has produced a comprehensive document which understands the depth and the breadth of the Irish housing and homelessness crisis. The manner in which the committee was formed and conducted its business which,...