Results 321-340 of 1,016,736 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' speaker:Frances Black

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I will indeed. I thank Deputy Shanahan for raising this. On taking office, I had a very good meeting with a number of Irish-language groups and groups representing Gaeltacht areas. There is a real need to do a lot more in this space. The Deputy’s two constructive suggestions are ones I am happy to take away and come back to him on.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Michael Collins: People all over Cork county and city are incensed at the paltry amount in roads funding given to Cork each year. While canvassing in Baltimore, Kealkill, Kinsale, Drimoleague and Macroom last week, the thing on the top of everyone lips is the condition of our roads. The independent AIRO report drawn up by Cork County Council proves the Government’s underspend has gone unnoticed...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Collins for raising the important issue of Cork roads funding and the condition of the roads. It is an issue I hear from my own colleagues in the county of Cork. I will look at the comparison he gave of Kildare and Cork and will ask the Minister for Transport to get back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: There are a good few roads in Kildare that are not too hot.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will upset the Ceann Comhairle.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I call Deputy Mac Lochlainn. I do not know what the roads are like in Donegal.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Do not get me started. I want to raise the issue of Scoil Mhuire National School, Milford, County Donegal. The Minister, Deputy Foley, visited the school last year. I do not raise it lightly today. It was a school built in the 1950s for the town that was there at the time. Today it is 215 children. If the Taoiseach visits Donegal, I ask him to see it to believe it. It is a totally...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Murphy for raising the issue. As the Deputy said, the Tánaiste travelled to the region only last week and had a number of meetings, including with humanitarian workers at Rafah. The Government has been very strong, as have all parties in this House, with regard to the importance of aid being able to flow. I know that the humanitarian aid ships - the freedom flotilla -...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Verona Murphy: On Monday evening, I attended a meeting in Kilmore. Forty-six children have concessionary tickets but no bus to take them to school in Wexford town. They all have working parents. It was brought to my attention that, apparently three weeks ago, there was a bus put on for the very same situation in Gowran, County Kilkenny, where Deputy McGuinness was informed that he would not be getting a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I am sure Deputy McGuinness will be flattered by the Deputy's belief in his excellent abilities. He is an excellent public representative but we obviously have systems in place with regard to school buses. We have brought forward a very significant reform. I accept it is a very real issue, including in my own constituency. I will ask the Minister for Education to look into the specific...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: The increased cost of business grant scheme was introduced by the Government last year. It is a very good scheme, which closed at midnight last night, but there is a major loophole in it. Where businesses are renting from somebody else, the proprietor is paying the rates so those businesses cannot claim this business scheme. I compliment the officials in Tipperary County Council's revenue...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for welcoming the scheme. It is a scheme where, thankfully in the last couple of days, we have seen a very significant uptick in the number of people applying. The take-up rate was quite low and has increased a lot but as the Deputy said, there is still funding in that scheme. I will talk to the Minister about the specific issue the Deputy has raised and see if it can be...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Marian Harkin: The Taoiseach already will have received an invitation to visit Dromahair to meet the local community regarding the decision to locate 155 IP applicants in the only hotel not just in Dromahair but in the whole of north Leitrim, despite the Government's new policy of not using the last hotel in any town. For context, pro rata, 155 applicants in Dromahair equates to about 77,000 in Dublin...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising the issue. I do take on board the importance of community engagement, and I meet communities as I travel around the country. I think there should always be engagement with communities. I understand that the Abbey Manor Hotel shut down in 2009. It was derelict for over 13 years before being purchased by new owners in 2022. That is certainly what I am...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

James O'Connor: I wish to raise the issue of towns that have taken in large numbers of migrants in IPAS centres. My own home town of Youghal is one of the examples across the country that have taken a huge proportion, having lost almost 70% of our hotel bed capacity in that town. Not enough is being done to support towns where this has happened. Economically and socially for the local communities, the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Connor for raising the issue. I am conscious the Minister of State with responsibility for integration, Deputy Joe O'Brien, is here as well. The Government is eager to support communities and to assist with integration and services. Communities across Ireland have done much to assist and it is important that we try to respond to the needs of those communities and to engage...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Richard Bruton: From the work that I am doing with the Fine Gael policy lab, it is very clear that we need a new vision and a step-change in realising the potential we have from longer lives. To be fair to past strategies and current work, they are trying to break new ground. The real problem is the weakness in implementation across policy silos of Departments. Would the Taoiseach consider leadership in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bruton for his contribution and for the work he is doing on positive ageing from the position of our own political party. I am aware of a number of really good initiatives like the Age Friendly Ireland programme, and the real impact that is having. I am conscious of the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy Butler, who does an absolutely excellent job...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Mairead Farrell: The Taoiseach is obviously aware of the issue of the 51-week leases now being required by vulture fund-owned student accommodation, and he is of course aware of the detrimental impact that this is having on students and the study abroad sector. Over the past number of months, the Taoiseach has raised his intention to introduce legislation to ban this practice. However, given the tight...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy on this. We got an opportunity to engage on this in my previous role so we do need to rectify this. I am going from memory now but my understanding is that primary legislation is required. In my last role, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I brought a joint memorandum to Government with regard to progressing this through housing legislation. My...