Results 1-20 of 264 for speaker:Joe Cooney

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (10 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 173. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the reason there appears to be no appreciable difference in driving test pass rates before and after the introduction of essential driver training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38393/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: I thank everyone for coming to the meeting. To fix the housing crisis, the Minister said he would need to be radical and take risks and that he is determined to use every opportunity to drive on the delivery of homes. I compliment him on that. The main blockage to the Government delivering homes is probably the lack of wastewater infrastructure. Its delivery is shockingly slow and for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: The Minister is saying today he will support that and he will tell Uisce Éireann, which is getting fantastic funding from the Government, that we need those wastewater treatment systems delivered in rural villages and towns that do not have the infrastructure and are dying on their feet. Shops and post offices are closing and school numbers are dropping. We are being assured today...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: Given the length of time it is taking - years and sometimes decades - to get planning for critical water infrastructure, should there be a dedicated, fast-tracked planning stream to put treatment plants in place?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: I see the Minister's point but we need to put some system in place to try to help and support the rural villages that badly need these treatment systems in place. Will the Minister give an update on planning exemptions for the stand-alone structures and extensions up to 40 sq. m to the rear of houses? When will these works get the go-ahead? It is a great move, which is vitally important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: The Minister of State referred to it being public display. How long will it be on public display and how will it work after that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: Is it possible to have this legislation passed before the end of the year?

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 659. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of simple possession searches for drugs undertaken in each Garda division for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of drugs sale and supply searches undertaken in each Garda Division for 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37706/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 792. To ask the Minister for Health if she will confirm that the co-location of standalone maternity hospitals with adult acute hospitals will remain Government policy into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37333/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 793. To ask the Minister for Health the progress regarding the co-location of the UHL maternity hospital to the Dooradoyle campus; if she will provide an estimated timeline for such a move to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37334/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 794. To ask the Minister for Health if she will confirm previous statements by Ministers for Health that any decisions about reconfiguration of health services in the mid-west will be underpinned by clinical advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37335/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 795. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide a detailed breakdown of ambulance handover times for each emergency department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37336/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 796. To ask the Minister for Health for a breakdown of total WTEs for all grade codes from 2020 – 2025; and to provide the activity analysis for the same period by HSE Region, in tabular form. [37337/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 797. To ask the Minister for Health if safe staffing levels exist in each emergency department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37338/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 798. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to deliver the required acute hospital capacity as determined by the ESRI acute demand projections for each hospital in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37339/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (8 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: 821. To ask the Minister for Health to detail all requests for additional staffing for the National Ambulance Service since January 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37478/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Dog Control and Sheep-Worrying: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: I thank all the witnesses for coming in and highlighting their concerns. In fairness, they have highlighted a lot of concerns of which we are well aware. We have witnessed what has gone on in the past. Dogs are the responsibility of the owners. I agree with the Deputies sitting beside me that laws need to be put in place in order that owners are held responsible if their dogs are out of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Dog Control and Sheep-Worrying: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: I see the ratio of dog wardens to dogs is 1:10,000. That makes it impossible. There should be more dog wardens put into those areas for a start. We all know this will not happen overnight. Legislation will not come in overnight but that is one thing that should be looked at.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Dog Control and Sheep-Worrying: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: It is important to look at the different locations. We are all well aware of the areas in the country where sheep farming is going on. The sheep need to be protected first. I go back to the responsibility of the dog owners. We have to give credit. There are some fantastic dog owners and we cannot forget that. Is there enforcement as regards dog owners? Can they be taken to court? Can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Dog Control and Sheep-Worrying: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Joe Cooney: The most important thing is having more resources-----