Results 1-20 of 1,075,225 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Paul Gavan OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Seán Canney OR speaker:Charlie McConalogue OR speaker:Josepha Madigan OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald OR speaker:James Browne OR speaker:Bernard Durkan) in 'Committee meetings'

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the Minister and his colleagues. I also welcome his ongoing commitment to the children's hospital. It is the biggest single project of that nature ever undertaken in this State. It is not, by a long shot, the most expensive hospital in the world, despite comments from some people. It is ten times bigger than any similar project ever undertaken in this State. It is very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I am sorry about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: We should recognise that all my questions are questions. The Chairman knows that. I usually finish on time as well, which often does not apply to everybody.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Can we start again? We are coming to the most intricate stages of the contract. It is important that everybody, the client and the builder concentrate on that. The smallest of things can cause an alarm and can lead to bigger things. Then, bigger things can go unnoticed. I have had occasion in the past to look at a number of contracts. I was surprised at some of the things that had gone...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: That is good. In recent times, this committee has asked particular questions and the contractor has stated that there have been changes to the contract. We know that there have to be some changes. There will always be changes to a contract. Some are instigated by the client and others by the contractor. Is the Minister satisfied that sufficient provision has been made? Is he also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: That is understood. I presume the changes are due to changes in regulatory compliance that have arisen since the contract was originally signed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Is it recognised on both sides that this is a requirement that has to be dealt with.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: We are aware from previous discussions that some of these matters remain unresolved and may have to be dealt with after the hospital is in operation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I happened to have been on the hospital site in a private capacity on numerous occasions in the past 12 months. I learned an awful lot. One can learn from a site inspection. Mine was not an official site inspection, I might add. I was there, and I must say it is a complicated project. Any complicated project will require the minutiae to be dealt with as part of the overall project. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I know. Presumably, part of the car park is in the concourse adjacent to the hospital.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Adjacent to the main entrance to the hospital there is a concourse where one can come up from the car park and go into the hospital. That is part of the hospital's effective design in order that patients, consultants or nursing staff can get to where they are supposed to be in the shortest possible time without going having to ask for directions, etc.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the witnesses.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: This matter is a very important one for the Department of housing and I thank the Deputy for raising it. It is very important that local authority tenants who are occupying social housing properties and paying weekly rents are living in homes that provide good comfort levels for their occupants. The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The response identifies something I have already acknowledged-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: Yes, I know.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: -----in terms of the internal work. We informed residents about this. However, this is tinkering around the edges until the fundamental issue is grasped, and I urge Cork City Council to grasp it. I also believe, however, that one of the obstacles to this is the lack of a clear funding stream for the regeneration of flat complexes. Obviously, general funding is available for maintenance...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I understand.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That will not be fixed as an "as and when" issue. There are still issues with cold, damp and water. I hope the Minister of State will bring this matter to the Minister. I will certainly continue to raise it because the tenants of these flats deserve a lot better than what they are getting at this time.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: The Deputy is correct. I recall a number of examples of complete regeneration projects in Dublin, including right in the heart of the north inner city and in Dolphin's Barn where flats were beyond their lifespan in the way described by the Deputy. A completely different regenerative approach was necessary but it was largely driven by Dublin City Council in the first instance and supported...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 10.05 p.m. go dtí 9.10 a.m., Dé Céadaoin, an 9 Deireadh Fómhair 2024. The Dáil adjourned at at 10.05 p.m. until 9.10 a.m. on Wednesday, 9 October 2024.