Results 61-80 of 313 for long speaker:John Paul Phelan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2018: Committee Stage (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...point that Deputy Ó Cuív is making about rushing legislation. I have been here for 16 years and there is always a pre-Christmas rush. We have been looking to get on the schedule with the Business Committee for a long time. I would say to all members who have representatives on the Business Committee that we want their support to get legislation to the committee more quickly....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2018: Committee Stage (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...necessarily aiming this at me. Bigger is not necessarily better. When one looks at the county and city of Galway, where the city is doing okay and the county has, in certain areas, suffered for a long time, it is partly due to funding of the local authority but partly due to planning and the lack of retail, business and infrastructure in those towns and villages in County Galway. I...

Local Government Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...in respect of Cork. She is correct in that regard. That is the primary purpose of this legislation. Deputy O'Keeffe spoke about the role of councillors. The Deputy served as a councillor for a long period. He said that this is an important role and that councillors had lost functions in recent years. I would point out to the House that Sara Moorhead, SC, is conducting a review not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates Exemptions (14 Nov 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...parties that provide early childhood care and education on a not-for-profit basis, and properties that only provide the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme. In general, the Acts maintain the long-standing position that all properties of occupiers that operate with the intention of making a profit are rateable, including all private childcare facilities. There are no proposals under...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Parks and Wildlife Service Funding (23 Oct 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...and recreational heritage properties. Under Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018-2027, capital investment of €50 million has been earmarked for the national parks and nature reserves. This investment ensures long-term protection of the national parks and reserves, and the Department is delighted to have this opportunity for investment and implementation of measures...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Construction Contracts (16 Oct 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...' time and the Department is not directly involved in this issue. FOLD Ireland is a housing body and has a good record on delivery. The issue is that the construction firm, MDY, has that month-long period to indicate to the High Court judge that it has the facility to turn its financial situation around and to take the necessary measures for refinancing or extra investment. This...

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Statements (27 Sep 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...to have teeth. It absolutely will, including some of the teeth that may reside with the Standards in Public Office Commission and the Referendum Commission, when it is established for referendums, along with additional teeth. I emphasise what the two Senators at the back said - I am like a teacher now - Senators Higgins and Ruane, about being ambitious. I am very ambitious. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Members (20 Sep 2018)

John Paul Phelan: .... On the expiration of that period, payments continue to be made at half the applicable annual rate for the next succeeding 6 months but are not made subsequent to the expiry of that period, for so long as the uninterrupted absence continues. Notwithstanding the existing position, and acknowledging my Department's commitment under the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020, my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...housing body when it is expected they will be occupied. As someone who has been involved in politics for 20 years, I understand the sense of hope for a family who have been on a housing list for a long time. They know the house they are supposed to get, but this suddenly happens and they do not know when they can move in. It is certainly not a position the Government supports in any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Child Care Services (7 Sep 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ..., provides that all buildings used or developed for any purpose, including constructions affixed thereto, are rateable unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4 of the Act. In general, the Act maintains the long-standing position that all commercial properties - including all private childcare facilities such as play schools, pre-schools, crèches and Montessori schools - are liable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Role and Remuneration of Elected Members of Local Authorities: Discussion (12 Jul 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...it will be a lot - but it will be the Government's job thereafter to implement her findings. There is no shortage of willingness on my part to deal with this issue, which has been kicked around for a long time now. We might as well take the bull by the horns at this point. Given that we are in the run-up to the next local elections, this is the opportune time to do so.

Urban Regeneration and Housing (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Jul 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...people's definition of vacant and idle would not include an active family farm. By differentiating between lands that were purchased following a zoning change to residential, and lands that were long held and operated as family farms, the proposed amendment will target developers or speculators who hoard zoned, serviced land that has been zoned for residential use. It would allow farmers...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (27 Jun 2018)

John Paul Phelan: .... The national development plan puts aside €8.5 billion to improve the public drinking water and wastewater systems over the next ten years. We have had gross underinvestment for an awfully long time. There is so little headroom considering the volumes of water produced and consumed daily. This will be a strategic problem for the country in the future. Irish Water and the...

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation Provision (20 Jun 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...North Wicklow Educate Together post-primary school. As the Deputy is aware, a major capital project for the provision of permanent accommodation for North Wicklow Educate Together to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils is being addressed through the Department's six-year construction programme. The Department's capital programme continues to address the challenge...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Home Care Packages (19 Jun 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...hence my presence here. It is a serious issue. The overarching policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Home care is an increasingly important part of the supports for enabling older people to remain at home and for facilitating their discharge from acute hospitals. The HSE has...

Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Water Supply Leakages (13 Jun 2018)

John Paul Phelan: In terms of a timeline, the longer-term response will take in the pumping station, the Thomastown reservoir and the interconnection between Dublin city and Fingal. Local authority boundaries correspond with district electoral divisions and are not necessarily natural geographic boundaries, so gains may be made. The shorter-term response is that Fingal County Council and Irish Water are...

Topical Issue Debate: Home Loan Scheme (13 Jun 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range where they cannot obtain a mortgage from a commercial lender. Long-term financing, provided by the Housing Finance Agency, has enabled the Rebuilding Ireland home loan to be provided at low fixed rates of interest. These low interest rates enable local authorities...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...coming weeks. It is possible that additional powers will be given to this structure if that is agreed to by both local authorities. I have mentioned as an example Carlow where there has been a long-standing agreement for 40 years on shared services. I envisage that this group with have these responsibilities in that area. In other places throughout the country it is about performing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (29 May 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...Council. Approval of the tender recommendation should allow the county council to get works commenced later this year. The estimated cost of stage 4 is €2.9 million. Overall, this scheme has a long history, with almost €10 million having been already invested in phases 1, 2 and 3 of the scheme involving the carrying out of remedial works to local authority and...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (15 May 2018)

John Paul Phelan: ...years up to 2040 in order to ensure the provision of clean safe drinking water, effective management of wastewater, environmental protection and support for social and economic development. It takes a long-term view of water services investment at a national level, to ensure that investment is strategically targeted towards priority needs and to put in place an asset management approach...