Results 1-20 of 9,204 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: I raise the issue of teacher allocations and the apparent inflexibility of the current system. The key factor for determining the number of teachers for the next school year is the number of pupil enrolments in the previous year. I am dealing with a situation in a school in Bray where, despite the school having had a significant increase in student numbers over the course of the school...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: Members and people looking in are very welcome to the Oireachtas Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. We are meeting to look at the Revised Estimates: Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann; Vote 23 - the Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin; and Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I welcome the Minister for Housing, Local Government and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister. I call the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and then the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, will speak.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. Before we proceed, and in light of last week's elections, it is only right to acknowledge the hard work done by local authority staff and returning officers in all of the count centres throughout the country.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: Some of them are still counting as we sit here. The operation was professionally run and they are protecting our democracy. The count centre is a great leveller. Every one of us walks into it worried and concerned. I acknowledge the work done in all of the count centres. The Limerick mayoral election is an important step forward in local democracy. This committee dealt with the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: Okay. The Deputies promised we would-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: The Deputies twice promised we would not have a row and I think we are veering into one now.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: We do not want to see an underspend at all. We want to spend as much money as we can on housing for people who need it, are using homeless services and so forth. The capital underspend of €206 million that we are talking about is a very small percentage of the overall budget.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: Yes, just to put it in context, notwithstanding that it is an underspend and we want to spend as much as we can and get good value for it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: Okay. I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan. Those were good questions. As we deal with the Estimates every year, I am reminded of the broad range of areas that fall under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, including everything from Met Éireann to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to housing, which is obviously one of the priorities for this Government to deliver on. As...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: That is €20 billion as the overall spend between public and private. Could we break it down into a 60:40 spend or what is the breakdown between public money and private investment?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: I totally agree with the Minister. When we put money into that, while it does not actually result in greater housing numbers, it is good forward planning to be able to do that. I will move to the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, on the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It was probably during 2008 and 2009 that its budget was cut by about 70%, although it was not within the Department...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: The staffing numbers have also increased. On that recent visit, I was quite impressed to see younger staff there as well. It was an ageing staff and trying to find a ranger was like trying to find a corncrake - they were rare on the ground. That is quite impressive to see. We have been talking in billions but there is a particular spend in local government that I would like to explore...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: That concludes the questions. I thank the Minister and the Ministers of State for their attendance for the long session today. It was informative and helpful. I also thank the officials for their assistance and help today. That concludes our consideration of the further Revised Estimates Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann; Vote 23 - the Electoral Commission; and Vote 34 - Housing, Local...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Message to Dáil (13 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: In accordance with Standing Order 101, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the further Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2024: Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann; Vote 23 - the Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin; and Vote 34 -...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for the lesson on diggers, excavators and plant hire. I assure anyone who has an interest in that type of business that climate action will not affect it. Houses can be built with low-carbon technology. In fact, the housing committee is going to visit some low-carbon technology modular housing in September. I would be delighted to invite Deputy Healy-Rae to the...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: That is rubbish. The Deputy is not even speaking to the amendments. Come on Ceann Comhairle, that is not on. I have listened to the Deputy's rubbish all night.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2024)

Steven Matthews: That is rubbish.