Results 1-20 of 24,387 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Mortgage Interest Rates (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this very important issue. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister. As Deputy McGrath will know, the formulation and implementation of monetary policy is an independent matter for the European Central Bank, ECB. As it sought to combat excessive inflation, the ECB increased official interest rates on ten occasions, to 4.5%, in the period 2022 to...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Mortgage Interest Rates (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The Deputy is right to raise the matter. It is an issue vexing many of our neighbours and friends. The Government is acutely aware of the impact of the rising interest rate environment and the strain it has caused for some borrowers, and has responded with various initiatives to assist those affected. Following engagement with the then Minister for Finance in 2023, the mortgage industry...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Data Centres (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Burke for his contribution and comments, and I will take his remarks back to the Minister. As I said earlier, next month the Minister will bring a policy document on private wires to Cabinet. However, private wires alone will not solve the issues currently facing the data centre sector in Ireland. To date, Ireland has attracted the best data centre and tech companies in the...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: School Accommodation (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Smith for raising the issue and I hear his remarks and concerns regarding the provision of school places at primary level in Portmarnock. The Department uses data from a range of sources, including child benefit data, enrolments and information on new residential developments to plan for school placement needs. I will take the points Deputy Smith has made back, and I ask him...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: School Accommodation (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I apologise because I was not given copies of the script.

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Data Centres (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Burke for raising this very important matter. He is right to highlight the relationship between data centres and electricity demand, which is a global challenge. There is the additional demand for energy by data centres and the need to ensure we are competitive. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. I will first set out...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Disability Services (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy again for raising this very important matter, which is a priority for the Minister and the Government. This is reflected in the current programme for Government, which includes a clear commitment to support families who are waiting for assessments of need and to ensure children and their families can access the supports they need. The Minister understands the scale of the...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: School Accommodation (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to remind the House on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth of the significant challenges facing us in meeting increasing demand for pupil places throughout the country. As the Deputy raised the issue of Portmarnock in the coming years, I am grateful for the opportunity to clarify the position on the provision...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Litter Pollution (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I met the group in the corridor earlier. I thank them for being here. I wish them an enjoyable visit. I thank Senator Costello for raising this matter. Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Litter Pollution (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I hear the Senator's frustration and understand her annoyance, given that there is a lot of voluntary work being done by people that is not being appreciated in this instance. I know the Senator is not happy with the reply but there is an independence. The Department has no involvement. For the Senator's information, the Department provides annual funding to IBAL towards the cost of its...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Senator Boyle for raising the matter and for his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Donegal regarding transport and specific routes, including the areas he mentioned. It is a beautiful part of Donegal from Ardara to Glenties to Portnoo. I hear the Senator about the gaps and I look forward to going to Donegal in July to visit with the Senator. I hope we can meet some of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator is right to express his disappointment and that of the people of Donegal in respect of the A5. I thank him for doing so. It is a project to which the Government is committed. It has invested. The decision of the High Court in Belfast is deeply disappointing. I hope that representatives of the Department for Infrastructure in the North and our Department of Transport can meet...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Lawless, who sends his apologies.In 2011, Na Píobairí Uileann established PipeCraft, a dedicated training facility for musical instrument making. In 2017 they developed a partnership with Ballyfermot College of Further Education for a new programme called Irish traditional music...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I reiterate my remarks to the Senator that it is an important course and I thank her for raising the matter. It is not a solace to the Senator but it is a matter for each individual board to take into account allocated budgets and engage with the different stakeholders. The Minister has no direct responsibility. I will bring the Senator's concerns to the Minister and the Department and ask...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Disability Services (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I apologise that the Minister is not here and that I do not have a copy of the speech for the Deputy. I will get it to her as soon as possible. Like her, I deal with parents and children every day and every week and she is right that there is frustration. We all need to work collaboratively to ensure access to services is improved...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport I recognise the importance of boosting connectivity in County Galway. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to increasing Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities. Under Budget 2025, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I think the Deputy will agree with me when I say that the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan has been a huge success, with over 150 new or enhanced services introduced since 2022. This means that over 240 towns and villages have been connected to the public transport network, and approximately 600,000 people have access to new and enhanced bus services. 61 new connections have been...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (25 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport I recognise the importance of boosting connectivity in County Offaly, which I am reinforcing through my introductory interactions with Local Link offices nationwide, including in Co. Offaly. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Road Network (24 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I cannot give an answer about last week's meeting because I do not have that information but I will bring the Deputy's comments back. Regarding the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney route, as Deputy Gallagher is aware, the proposed project is an important one. It is about ensuring road safety is improved. The upgrade will enhance that road safety by reducing the number of direct access points...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Road Network (24 Jun 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Tá mise.