Results 1-20 of 234 for speaker:Paula Butterly

Tillage Sector: Statements (15 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: I thank the Minister for the support he has offered to farmers since taking up the role. I have spent many a day and many an hour discussing the issues facing farmers and I thank him for the support, especially for the farmers of County Louth. In his opening statement, the Minister addressed the issues and challenges facing tillage farmers in particular. These include downward pricing, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: 35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the introduction of a Garda vetting card which, once initially approved, could be reviewed and renewed on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52723/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: 29. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider introducing a starter home scheme to address the imbalance in affordable housing provision for lower and middle-income earners to enable them to purchase their own homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53182/25]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Eligibility (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: I thank the Minister of State. In fact, I welcome the widening of the eligibility in regard to who does and does not qualify for a widow's pension. That, in itself, was an anomaly that was highlighted through a campaign in the press due to that widower. Let us reflect for a moment on the fact that, as the Minister of State said, if somebody is in receipt of a reduced widow's pension, they...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Eligibility (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: I wish to discuss the rule that excludes widows and widowers from receiving illness benefit solely because they are in receipt of a widower's pension, notwithstanding the fact that they have returned to work and are paying all of their PRSI contributions. The Minister of State will be aware that illness benefit is a contribution-based process. If somebody has returned to work and has made...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: The croí cónaithe funding scheme has been hugely successful, especially in the likes of County Louth. What is the uptake and how many more applications does the Minister anticipate, given the extra funding?

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: The vacant property refurbishment grant.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: Due to the fact that it has been so successful, and the Minister of State said that next year we will have to make further provision for that, is there going to be an expansion of the plan that will, perhaps, allow for bigger drawdowns or larger grants, particularly in regard to over-the-shop refurbishments or buildings in town centres?

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: County Louth has a very large rural base, notwithstanding Drogheda and Dundalk, the two largest towns in the country. I often feel that we do not get bang for our buck because of that density issue. I have seen the grant really work in the rural areas, in the classic 60s- or 70s-era bungalow being brought back to life. It is a fabulous initiative, because it is so hard to get planning...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: I will second what you were about to say, which is that I welcome more grants.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: Totally, because, as the Minister of State said, 220 is a significant number and the fact it has been so hugely successful will mean we will always have our hands out for more.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: I have just one with regard to affordable housing. I asked it the other day. It relates to the single-stage approval process. We got a commitment from officials that it would be October or November but now that we have the Minister before us, he might expand on that.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: It absolutely is. Even though I always talk about County Louth as a regional spokesperson, I get people in from Cork talking about the Cork tower, and about how part of it is flying along and the other half is not. I welcome the fact this process is going to come in within a matter of months because from the feedback and representations I am getting, it is the huge delays in the process...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: It is only the two of us. If Deputy Ó Broin wants to continue, I will come back in.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: I have short questions, I hope, and then the Minister of State can elaborate with the answers. Will the Minister of State walk me through the local property tax and the self-funding model for the local authorities, please? Regarding defective concrete blocks, the Minister of State alluded to a scheme or Bill. Will that widen the criteria or eligibility to include people who have second...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: Yes. At the moment, it is the domestic-----

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: I have had representations from people who have bought maybe defective concrete blocks. They have bought second homes or have holiday lets, or, worse, even commercial properties.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: If we are putting in additional funding, is it to widen the scheme to more households or will we be expanding it to include people where it is not the primary residence?

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: What about the local democracy task force timelines?

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (2 Oct 2025)

Paula Butterly: 317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if her Department will ensure that local authority building control departments enforce compliance with the 2014 Building Control Code of Practice; and the measures which are in place to prevent non-compliance in domestic construction. [52624/25]