Results 1-20 of 2,916 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: It was a pleasure to meet the Deputy in Killarney at the Black Valley last week when fibre broadband was being connected to the Black Valley. This is a sign of the Government's commitment to bring good infrastructure all around the country, including Kerry and Killarney. I thank the Deputy for giving a very detailed geography of the issues facing people using the existing road and the need...

Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 29th March, 2023, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer, following those set down to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence: ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. The answer indicates the Department of housing has no plans to introduce more specific guidelines on how solar farms should be developed. The Deputy asked about that. The Department is saying it is bringing in regional capacity allocations. In other words, these are projections for the amount of solar power we have produced in each region of Ireland. Those are to be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The proof that road projects are proceeding and being completed in Kerry is shown by the Listowel bypass, which was completed this summer. This year, €4.7 million was allocated for the construction of new national roads in Kerry and another €9.7 million was allocated for the improvement of the existing network. This is in addition to approximately €119 million in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Due to the funding constraints for national roads this year, a prioritisation exercise was necessary. In line with the NDP and Government policy, the Minister for Transport has allocated national roads funding for 2024 in a manner which seeks to achieve the following outcomes: protection and renewal of the existing national road network; progressing major projects in or near construction;...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: This is a much larger project that is more than 20 km long and which goes past Farranfore, as well as Killarney. It is a much more ambitious and larger project.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister for housing has asked me to take this question on his behalf. I am glad to have the opportunity to update the Members of the Dáil on the regulation of large-scale solar energy developments from a planning perspective. With regard to this specific issue, it is the case that, as with the large majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (9 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: My Department is committed to tackling scam calls and texts across electronic communications networks and services. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the statutorily independent regulator under the aegis of my Department, established an industry action group to address the growing menace of scam calls and texts, the Nuisance Communication Industry Forum (NCIF). This...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (9 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. The premises in question...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (9 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: My Department is in the process of conducting a mid-term review of the Ministerial Approval of Irish Farm Film Producers’ Group (IFFPG) to operate the extended producer responsibility scheme under S.I. No. 341 of 2001, Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations, 2001, as amended. This work was initiated in November 2023. The review process has been comprehensive and I anticipate that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (9 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. The Question refers to a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (9 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 to 113, inclusive, together. DRSI CLG, trading as Re-turn, was established by beverage producers and retailers to fulfil their obligations under the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2021. The company is structured as a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee. Re-turn obtained Ministerial approval in July 2022 to operate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (9 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. The Question refers to a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Jul 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I will communicate to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, Deputy Ó Cuív's frustration at the situation. I will ask for her projection of when the services will be delivered. The Deputy can see from the answer that the problems seem to stem from a lack of staff - half of the positions in CDNT 4 are currently vacant. The HSE has turned to private service providers and has an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Jul 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Does Deputy Ó Cuív want to know how many of the people recruited are for CDNT 4?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Jul 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I will ask that.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Jul 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I will pass the Deputy's comments on to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. She in turn will continue with the Department and the HSE to advance progress on the provision of services for those living with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and their families. To this end, I am happy to report that a cross-departmental working group will be established to develop a long-term and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Jul 2024)

Ossian Smyth: My colleague, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, is fully committed to the continued development and enhancement of our children's disability services through the CDNTs, as they seek to ensure equitable access to services for all children with complex needs. I acknowledge the difficulties faced by children and their families seeking to access...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Jul 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I am taking two.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Jul 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Is Deputy Ó Cuív happy for me to answer his question?