Results 121-140 of 4,026 for speaker:

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (19 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: Nobody understands timetables and public transport efficiency than the users themselves. I am aware of the operational issues on Monday and Tuesday and there has been an increase in correspondence to my office since the Monday change as well, notwithstanding those operational issues. Connolly Station has always been congested and it is getting worse. There are issues right down to Grand...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (19 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: I raise the shambles of the timetable change in the northern commuter line implemented by Irish Rail in two stages over the past three weeks. We, the commuters of north County Dublin, Fingal and indeed some of the Minister of State's constituents, are not happy. They are experienced commuters used to timetable changes throughout the years. This has been an absolute shambles for a number of...

Disability and Special Needs Provision: Motion [Private Members] (19 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: I thank People Before Profit–Solidarity for this comprehensive motion on this most important area. As Deputy Cullinane said, we could paper the walls of the Dáil with debates we have had on disability and special needs provision. The figures on assessments of needs are stark, considerable and shameful. Just under 11,000 children are awaiting an assessment of need and 110,000...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to discuss early years education in the Chamber this evening. Unfortunately, for those of us who are serious about a publicly provided system of early years education, this motion does not meet the vision of that goal. This motion from Sinn Féin, and the confusing and contrary contributions we have heard so far, do not speak to where the early years education...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: It feels like an overdue relief that this Bill has finally made it to the floor of the Dáil. It is long overdue and it has been a long road to get here and rightfully there are concerns from all of us as to whether this legislation can be progressed in however long left there is left in the lifetime of this Government. To make it the first key legislation to be discussed after the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: I apologise to Mr. Hughes, my colleague Deputy Farrell and the Leas-Chathaoirleach for being late to the committee. I thank Mr. Hughes for coming to the committee. On the 4.5% increase in European travel over the last year, if Europe as a continent continues to grow at that rate or maybe slightly less or more, at what point does that become unsustainable and we reach a crisis level, or an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: We are in an environment where an awful lot of airlines are looking and planning to grow. As Mr. Hughes said, we are at a crisis point in the context of air traffic capacity. In that overall context, do bespoke or individual planning conditions, such as either passenger caps or total flight movements, help Eurocontrol to curb any further immediate growth, even though that may not be the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: That is interesting. On the sustainability side, I refer to sustainable aviation fuel and its production, future use, etc. Where are we at with that in the context of European aviation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: Is there light at the end of the tunnel on this? Are we making progress or is it a pipe dream?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: We have been dealing with drone issues vis-à-vis Dublin Airport where they impinge on the airspace. In Balbriggan, County Dublin, private pilot projects have been set up for delivery of takeaways, packages and all the rest. That is happening in other parts of Dublin and the country. I am not sure I have any questions, as such, on what Mr. Hughes has presented today. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: Yes, very thought provoking.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: 126. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the delivery of a safe traffic plan for students and parents at schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36119/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: 283. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 27 June 2024, to provide an update on the plans for the adjacent Department-owned site referenced, and when this will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36118/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Planning Issues (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: 284. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on planning permission for a school (details supplied) for a permanent location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36121/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: 464. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there is a delay in awarding the monies due under the Labour Court Case (LRC22987) to the Department, which in turn will fund the Citizens Information Board, to grant to the nine Citizens Information Services to pay the employees due (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36831/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Bus Services (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: 627. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for a delay in a bus service being provided to persons (details supplied); if this service can be provided without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36770/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (9 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: 111.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of unclaimed refunds in regard to the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34851/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (9 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: 112.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the State benefits from any unclaimed refunds form the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34852/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (9 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: 113.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the company operating the deposit return scheme earns any additional revenue from unclaimed refunds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34853/24]