Results 341-360 of 17,775 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waterways Ireland (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State sincerely for his positive response and welcome that this project is being actively looked at again. I hope the environmental impact statement and other associated preparatory studies will be successful. Our local councillor in that area, Councillor John Paul Feeley, and I worked extremely hard to get investment at the Shannon Pot. Fortunately, through the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waterways Ireland (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: As I said, Councillor Feeley and I advocated very strongly for investment in the tourism project that is the broader Cuilcagh area. Many years ago, in the early nineties, I was involved in the restoration of what was then the Ballyconnell-Ballinamore canal to make it the Erne-Shannon waterway. Great credit is due to Waterways Ireland, and the Office of Public Works before it, for restoring...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 73. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline details of the Voids Programme for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54190/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 112. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provision will be made to have child benefit paid in respect of students in full-time education who reach the age of 18 during the current school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54211/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if measures will be introduced to assist applicants that have domiciliary care applications progressed where there are delays outside the control of parents in having necessary assessments carried out for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54212/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Availability (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 184. To ask the Minister for Finance if measures will be introduced to assist in the provision of better credit facilities for small and medium enterprises as many businesses, particularly small enterprises, are facing serious difficulties due to the non-availability of reasonable loan and overdraft facilities from the pillar banks; if he is aware that some businesses that had reasonable...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 190. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the measures that will be made available to assist small and medium enterprises with the challenges that have arisen for such businesses due to increased costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54397/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Social Media (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 213. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the additional measures that will be introduced to deal with the spread of misinformation on social media platforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54401/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 332. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in making a permanent appointment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54383/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service (7 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 334. To ask the Minister for Health the measures that will be implemented to deal with the shortage of home support workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54400/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (6 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: Thankfully, the all-Ireland economy has developed very strongly since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998. Businesses have developed on a cross-Border basis; trade has strengthened North-South and east-west; and enterprises have developed on an all-Ireland basis as well. It is very important that in planning for further expansion of the all-Ireland economy, we are mindful...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (6 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: -----the central Border region. This is a region that does not have major urban centres or a third level institute so it is particularly important we plan for the areas that are not as developed as the major urban areas.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (6 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 16. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [53189/23]

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Programme for Government (5 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: 6. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [52547/23]

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Programme for Government (5 Dec 2023)

Brendan Smith: The Taoiseach may recall that there was a commitment in the programme for Government in 2020 to provide additional supports for SMEs and also to scale up Microfinance Ireland so it could support greater numbers of small businesses and start-ups in accessing finance. We all know that energy costs are killing some businesses. Small enterprises in hospitality and small retail businesses are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Amalgamation (30 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school application will be approved (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52741/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Amalgamation (30 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: The boards of management of St. Mary's Boys' National School and the Convent of Mercy National School in Belturbet, County Cavan, submitted a well-researched and detailed proposal to the Minister's Department seeking approval to amalgamate the schools and have a new school provided on an identified suitable site owned by the parish within the town. Both aspects of this proposal need to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Amalgamation (30 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: I am glad the Minister has confirmed the Department is assessing the application. I do not want an amalgamation proposal to be approved for the schools to operate from the existing sites. That would defeat the purpose of the exercise. I compliment the Minister on the excellent school building programme she has had in place for the past three and a half years. My constituency,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Amalgamation (30 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. As she will know from having visited Cavan and being familiar with the area, unfortunately Belturbet has suffered terribly over decades. There were bombs there and people were killed. The town suffered immeasurably. Thankfully, we are now in a new era in areas like Cavan and Monaghan. I welcome that the population of Belturbet showed a substantial increase in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (30 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the concerns of commuters about delays occurring at peak times in accessing buses, if additional capacity will be provided on a route where a public service contract is operated under the National Transport Authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52772/23]