Results 121-140 of 1,105,234 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú OR speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:Bríd Smith OR speaker:Cormac Devlin OR speaker:Martin Browne OR speaker:James O'Connor OR speaker:Emer Higgins OR speaker:Michael Collins OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:Róisín Shortall OR speaker:Bernard Durkan OR speaker:Pat Buckley OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Sorca Clarke OR speaker:Eoin Ó Broin OR speaker:Michael McGrath OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív1 OR speaker:Mairead Farrell OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Richard O'Donoghue OR speaker:Neasa Hourigan OR speaker:John Brady OR speaker:Pauline Tully OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Dessie Ellis OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan) in 'Committee meetings'

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues relating to University Hospital Limerick: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Róisín Shortall: It was not a matter of all of the numbers. There was a separate point that HIQA made. I have to ask the Minister-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues relating to University Hospital Limerick: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Can I finish this last point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues relating to University Hospital Limerick: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Róisín Shortall: There is a serious issue of geography here. Does the Minister think it is acceptable that someone in need of medical treatment in, for example, Loop Head in County Clare or in Latteragh in County Tipperary, must not only drive past a hospital, but will also have a greater chance of dying if they have a major medical emergency because UHL is so overstretched and overcrowded? There is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues relating to University Hospital Limerick: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Róisín Shortall: The Minister did promise 24-hour opening-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues relating to University Hospital Limerick: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I am okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I thank the witnesses for being here at short notice and for the opening statement. Part of the reason a number of committee members wanted to do this session is that, while we accepted there was a need for Part 2 to be introduced before the break for Christmas, some of us were surprised at the cost-rental elements coming in. It is not that we are against them in principle but some of these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I get that. My question is, since most AHBs have not amended their constitution, does it make any material difference that they do not have that wording in their constitution? Obviously, when the folks in the Department drafted the legislation, they had a reason for putting that in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: The wording was too restrictive. It would have excluded non-housing-related activities and therefore not having it in means they can continue doing those non-housing activities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I am asking for the benefit of clarity. What would non-housing activities include?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Anything beyond the bricks and mortar.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Perfect. One of the other changes in Part 2 is the deletion of the alleviation of housing need. It is not that I have a problem with that but I think it is important there is public clarity. From Dr. McManus's point of view, what is the purpose or consequence of removing the alleviation of housing need from those sections of the existing legislation? What does that do or allow the AHBs to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: That makes sense.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have a number of questions on Part 3. With respect to the change to the definition of household, did the AHB sector ask for this? I know there are different organisations here. What was the rationale for asking for this, from the witnesses' point of view? What from their experience of cost rental so far led them to think this was a good proposition?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Is it Ms Cleary's understanding from reading the Bill that these separate households would solely be single-person households or could they be two-person households? Does she have a view as to whether it should only be a single-person household or a two-person household sharing? If there was a two-bedroom unit, for example, could it only be two singles, or could it or should it be possibly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have a concern with this, although again I am not opposed to the principle and understand the logic. One reason that single people may want to share is that they cannot afford the one-bedroom units because the rent would be more than a third of their take-home pay. While not necessarily a desired option but as a practical solution to their housing needs, two single people will come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have two final questions on the household definitions. Do the witnesses have a view on what the income threshold should be? We asked the Minister and he said it has not been decided yet, but I think they have a ballpark figure. Do the witnesses have a view? How do we guard against a couple whose combined income might be above the threshold but whose separate incomes will be below the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have a supplementary question on that. I have many other questions, but I am over time. One of the concerns I have is, given where the rents are, I suspect that a significant number of people are applying but are being refused on the basis that the rent will be more than a third of their take-home pay. Are the AHBs monitoring the position in that regard? Could they share figures on it?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: That would be useful. We should write to the LDA and say that the AHBs are able to provide that, even if it is on a total stock rather than scheme-by-scheme basis. If we had the LDA’s data, that would be very useful too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: They get more money than the local authorities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Oct 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: On that point - it is important that we are all very clear - Dr. McManus is right about the AHB homes that were funded through the old capital loan and subsidy scheme, CLSS, and are currently funded through the capital assistance scheme, CAS. It must be said, though, that the capital advanced loan facility, CALF, and the availability agreement is the most advantageous of all. It is not just...