Results 81-100 of 25,649 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I would like to clarify that the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport but neither the Minister or his officials are involved in the day-to-day management, operation or planning of public transport services....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: On behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, I thank Senator Dolan for raising this important matter. The Minister and Department recognise the importance of connectivity to people who live and work in Ireland. It is key to bringing life back to our villages, towns and urban centres. As indicated in my initial response, the NTA, which is responsible for public transport in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Taxi Regulations (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Acting Chair. I thank in particular Senator Sherlock for raising this important matter. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I would like to clarify that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is responsible for policy and overall funding of public transport. Neither the Minister nor his...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Taxi Regulations (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Sherlock. As previously stated, the NTA, as independent regulator for the SPSV sector, sets the standards and requirements for the sector which include rules about vehicle standards and vehicle age limits. For safety, emissions and quality reasons, standard taxis and hackneys must be less than ten years old to operate. Once a vehicle reaches its maximum permissible age, the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator O’Loughlin for her inquiry on the implementation of phase two of the National Transport Authority fare determination and, more particularly, its impact on the commuters of south Kildare. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. From the outset I would like to clarify that the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I reassure Senator O’Loughlin that the Government is strongly committed to delivering a cost-efficient and sustainable public transport network. The ongoing review of existing fare structures has a key role to play in achieving this goal. The Minister for Transport has welcomed the publication of the NTA’s fare determination which represents the first step in delivering the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Arts Policy (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this very important matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future includes the interest to develop innovative support schemes for amateur drama and musicals. In 2021, with the support of the Department, the Arts Council provided funding to the resource organisations that support...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Arts Policy (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Musical theatre is an amateur pursuit for most of those involved and it has established a sustainable model of operation. It relies on voluntary commitment and enthusiastic audiences. As the Senator mentioned, 130 musical societies throughout Ireland are members of the Association of Irish Musical Societies. This involves approximately 14,000 people directly involved in musical theatre,...

Seanad: Curragh of Kildare (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, who is unfortunately not available tonight. I also thank Senator O’Loughlin for tabling this Bill and Senator Chambers for seconding it. The fact that Senator O'Loughlin has proposed these measures shows how necessary they are. The Minister for...

Seanad: Curragh of Kildare (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: A good Limerick man.

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who unfortunately is not available. I thank Senator Chambers for bringing forward this Bill. The Government will not be opposing it. The Minister looks forward to engaging with Senator Chambers in particular on these issues. I share the deep concerns expressed by the Senator in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to confirm that a response to the Deputy's correspondence will issue shortly. Lodges like those in the Phoenix Park are considered intrinsic to the historic estates, parks and gardens in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and are retained for State use. A number of these properties are located within secure areas of the Park e.g. Áras and Uachtarain and as such are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Office of Public Works, (OPW), is responsible for the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes and Flood Relief schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995 as amended. Some of the locations referred to by the Deputy form part of the Feale Arterial Drainage Scheme, within the townlands referenced (Causeway, Ballinorig, Banemore, and Ballymacquin). The OPW...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Traffic Management (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. Following an extensive public consultation process, the Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study Report was published, post consultation, in 2021. This report included a number of key recommendations including that commuter traffic be reduced, that cycling and pedestrian infrastructure be increased and that opportunities...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: An Garda Síochána (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The OPW need more time to collate the information and will respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together. The OPW is coordinating the delivery of measures towards meeting the Government’s National Flood Risk Policy. A broad range of structural and non-structural measures are being implemented to address flood risk under an approach structured around three pillars:Prevention: e.g. avoiding inappropriate development in flood-prone...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am advised by my officials that there are 41 lodges/properties in the Phoenix Park. These properties are primarily allocated to staff in specific posts, such as Park Ranger, Deer Keeper, etc where there is a requirement for officials to be present on the ground as part of their employment. Lodges like those in the Phoenix Park are considered intrinsic to the historic estates, parks...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Office of Public Works has responded directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Office of Public Works will be tendering for the provision of a mobile coffee and light snack dock at Casino Marino for the 2025 season. A notification will be advertised on social media platforms and with a local newspaper. Any interested parties will have the opportunity to arrange a site visit ahead of the deadline. It is anticipated that the mobile unit would be operational on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (22 Oct 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate of approximately 2,500 properties. This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána, laboratories, warehouses as well as cultural...