Written answers

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

Department of An Taoiseach

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee E on health last met. [38527/18]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Cabinet Committee E last met on 11 April 2018. Work continues on the issues/projects raised at that meeting. Most notably the Sláinte care report was published and launched.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee D on infrastructure last met. [38528/18]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Cabinet Committee D last met on 1 February and its next meeting is not yet scheduled.

As I have previously indicated to the House, the Committee works to ensure a coordinated approach to the delivery and ongoing development of policy across the areas of infrastructure investment and delivery, housing, and climate action.

Since the last meeting there is significant work underway across Government departments and agencies on each of these areas, in particular through regular discussion of these matters at meetings of Government.

Cabinet Committee D also provides a forum for strategic oversight of the implementation of Project Ireland 2040, the Government’s overarching policy initiative to achieve balanced development and meet the infrastructure needs of our growing population.

Under the two pillars of Project Ireland 2040 - the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan – four funds, totalling €4 billion in investment, have been launched in the areas of rural and urban regeneration and development, climate action, and disruptive technologies.

In addition, the Land Development Agency, another cornerstone initiative of Project Ireland 2040 was recently launched. It will work to ensure the optimal use and management of State land through strategic development and regeneration, with an immediate focus on delivering homes, including social and affordable homes.

Housing remains a central priority for the Government. While the indicators show that the numbers of new houses being built is up by more than a third compared to this time last year and is increasing month on month, we recognise that we are still facing a huge challenge in meeting demand. We will continue to focus on increasing housing supply, tackling homelessness and increasing the availability of affordable and social housing through the delivery of Rebuilding Ireland and the additional policy measures announced by Minister Murphy to tackle these issues.

Climate action objectives are also at the heart of Project Ireland 2040 and building on the National Mitigation Plan an investment of €22 billion in Exchequer and non-Exchequer funding will be made to ensure a step change in climate action policy.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee B on social policy and public services last met. [38593/18]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Cabinet Committee B last met on 7 June.

The Committee, which covers the areas of Social Policy and Public Service Reform, ensures a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government, and provides the opportunity to shape proposals on issues such as equality, disability and disadvantage which require input from multiple Departments.

Work continues as always on the agenda items to make further progress.

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