Results 1-20 of 384 for speaker:John Connolly

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

John Connolly: I welcome the outcome of the rail review study. I particularly welcome the outcome as it pertains to the recommendations it makes for my own constituency and for the west in general, especially the doubling of the rail track to Athenry and the proposed reopening of the western rail corridor. I know the Minister is familiar with this. However, I go back to the publication of the national...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 Jul 2025)

John Connolly: In the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, the Government committed to a full review of the response of the State to the impact of the storm. As we recall, across the west and north west, there were extensive periods of outages of water, electricity, broadband and communications services. It has had a large impact on the minds of people in that part of the country. Even today, constituents...

Review of Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004: Statements (1 Jul 2025)

John Connolly: I will start by mentioning the July provision in schools around the country. One of the many successful measures taken by the Minister of State's predecessor was the expansion of the in-school July provision to mainstream schools, which occurred following the Covid years. I am not sure if the Minister of State has the figures but I estimate that tens of thousands of children are currently...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress made towards meeting the programme for Government commitment to support local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34641/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: There is a very progressive commitment in the programme for Government to support local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches to help build liveable communities. We all know the importance of active recreational spaces. Have efforts commenced to develop a strategy around that commitment?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: The Minister of State noted many of the challenges that sports groups and local authorities meet in the development of facilities. The programme for Government also includes a complementary commitment to conduct a nationwide audit of sports facilities to address shortages in areas where there is a population of over 1,500. The audit will probably find a deficit in the provision of playing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: The GAA has done a lot of analysis of its activities in different parts of the country. It is concerned about the future organisation of the GAA in some urban communities because the lack of playing space will limit its ability to undertake activities and increase its membership among new communities. That is worth noting in this debate. As a concrete example, in 2017 Galway City Council...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 34. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on progress towards implementation of the development control plan for University Hospital Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34620/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 100. To ask the Minister for Health the plans within her Department to increase the provision of acute inpatient beds for mental health patients as per the recommendation of the report of the Specialist Group-Acute Bed Capacity, which recommended that efforts should be made to increase the number of mental health beds nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34619/25]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 178. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps his Department is taking to ensure the resilience of the communications system used to contact the emergency services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34640/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Generation (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 200. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the sources of energy used to fuel the production of electricity at the State’s electricity power stations, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35115/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Generation (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 201. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of the electricity used by the State that is produced indigenously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35116/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 208. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the current plans proposed for the development of enhanced cycling infrastructure on the Western Distributor Road in Galway did not include specific bus priority measures along the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35117/25]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Programme for Government (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 248. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress made towards meeting the Programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of a culture card for 16 and 17-year-olds to access theatre, music and art events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34642/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 271. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration can be given to increasing the property price ceiling for houses in Galway city for which support can be sought from the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35119/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 355. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of successful SUSI applicants in each of the 32 counties in the 2024-2025 academic year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35118/25]

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Review of Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: The witnesses are all very welcome and I thank them for their attendance. I should be more familiar with some aspects and I ask the witnesses to provide quick answers to my questions. I have questions on the minimum educational requirement or minimum age to join an apprenticeship programme. I understand it is traditional for an apprentice to find a company first and then apply to...

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Review of Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: Has the grad scheme been successful?

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Review of Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: There was one or two things that were not answered after my previous contribution. We do not have data on those who do not find an employer. We do not know how many young people seek an employer for an apprenticeship and do not find one. If we had some way of gathering that information, it would be helpful. Are we confident that we can get to the 10,000 figure that is in the existing...

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

John Connolly: 30. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to confirm the intention of the National Transport Authority to licence and seek an operator of the 414 service between Galway and Bearna described as an existing route in the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34775/25]