Results 561-580 of 1,054,529 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:David Cullinane OR speaker:James Lawless OR speaker:Pádraig O'Sullivan OR speaker:Alan Dillon OR speaker:Eoin Ó Broin OR speaker:Johnny Mythen) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (11 Jul 2024)

Catherine Connolly: We will co-operate.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (11 Jul 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for his question. The increased cost of business scheme was announced in budget 2024. It has been allocated €257 million and is specifically designed to target smaller businesses. It was initially opened for registrations between 14 March and 1 May. However, on 15 May, I announced two changes to the scheme as part of the wider SME package. First, registration...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (11 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I share the Minister's goodwill towards the officials and staff of Longford County Council. It is one of just 19 local electoral areas, LEAs, throughout the country that paid out more than 99% of their grants. That is commendable work on their part. Initially, €160 million was allocated. At present, it looks as if €102 million has been paid out under this scheme. The...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Cathaoirleach and members of the committee for the invitation to be here this morning to address the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community. I welcome the opportunity to provide an update on the delivery of accommodation for Travellers. I am joined by the following officials from my Department: Mr. David Kelly, assistant secretary with responsibility for...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: We will take all the findings from the evaluation process into consideration to ensure, to the Deputy's point, that the scheme is fit for purpose. The figure of €40,000 was based on when the scheme was being put in place and being piloted. It has been successful in many ways but, to take the Deputy's point, cost considerations need to be factored into the new scheme and setting the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: It is important to have true and accurate information on where Travellers live and their accommodation preferences. The Department noted the findings of the 2022 annual estimates of accommodation of Traveller families, which indicted there were 12,183 Traveller households in the State, of which 79% were in standard accommodation and 21% were in Traveller-specific accommodation. I hope to...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: Regarding the Senator’s question on the implementation of the Oireachtas joint committee recommendations but also regarding the expert group’s implementation, in March of this year, we supplied the most up-to-date positions on progress on the implementation report. We also published the programme board update in May of this year. We have presented two sets of updates on the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: Under the Traveller accommodation programme, it is important we have an on-the-ground assessment linked with the number of Traveller-specific households who require Traveller-specific accommodation, be it in group housing schemes or halting site bays, but also there is a preference for many Traveller families to be housed within social housing. We are providing support through Housing for...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for his line of questions. I will take his question on the recommendations for the national Traveller accommodation authority. I recognise that the programme board is actively considering the recommendation for the national Traveller accommodation authority. It is one of the key recommendations in the expert review group. I understand from my officials that there is work...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: In terms of Traveller-specific accommodation, our Department is responsible for the delivery of halting site bays or group housing schemes. It is up to the local authority to design and deliver. Certainly, it is being considered as part of a delivery programme. With rising construction inflation, the cost of delivery of group housing schemes for Travellers has increased. Modern methods of...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: It is really important that within local authorities, be it through social workers, the HSE or disability services, we have a consultative process to evaluate the needs of families who may be impacted by disabilities or special needs. The provision of suitable accommodation is really important within a housing-----

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for your honesty with regard to some of the questions you have raised about Traveller-specific accommodation. As someone who has been within the Department for only the past 11 or 12 weeks, I have been trying to get to grips with what has been achieved. We did have challenges within local authorities in terms of their delivery, but I have seen huge progress over...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: I will respond to Deputy Ó Cuív. He has re-emphasised the importance of needs analysis within local authorities to determine the level of demand. We issued guidelines in December 2023 relating to the preparation, adoption and implementation of the local authority TAP. The fifth round of the programme was adopted in 2019. That will run until the end of this year. What is really...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Department of House, Local Government and Heritage (11 Jul 2024)

Alan Dillon: We must build in both current and future demand into the projections for accommodation programmes in the next five years.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Film Industry (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: In relation to the Deputy's specific question around legislation in this area, it will be in the context of the sharing of royalty payments between producers and performers of recorded music. I recently sought and received Government approval to address this matter by amending the primary copyright legislation. Accordingly, drafting will proceed on the relevant Bill shortly. As the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (11 Jul 2024)

Industrial Development

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (11 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 9. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on progress in acquiring an IDA Ireland purpose-built facility in Longford town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30008/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (11 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Will the Minister provide an update on IDA Ireland's plans for an advance building solution facility for Longford town. At present, the town boasts in excess of 2,000 FDI-supported jobs thanks to Technimark, Avery Dennison and Abbott. Abbott is due to start work on an expansion at its plant and Avery Dennison has applied for planning permission. I have repeatedly asked this question in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (11 Jul 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Flaherty for his important question and the work he is doing in this regard. IDA Ireland’s regional property programme ensures the continued supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of IDA Ireland, as well as Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise offices. Indeed, the availability of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (11 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister for his commitment to this project. He is working hard on it. I appreciate that there are commercial sensitivities involved. Discussions are at an advanced stage in relation to the acquisition of a site for the new facility. Will the Minister, as he has to date, to take a personal interest in it. This is a key project for Longford town. It is critical for the future...