Full Transcript Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I welcome the witnesses and thank Ms Buckley and Mr. McCarthy for their opening statements. I do not presume to speak for everybody here but we allshare the same wish, which is to have a planning system that works and makes fair and robustdecisions in a timely manner. We…
It is very welcome that we have a body within the Taoiseach’s Department looking at the idea of strategic foresight. I believe, however, that there should be stronger role for the Oireachtas in this regard. Looking to international examples, Finland is one that jumps out immediately. The government there must make a statement on the…
Green Party T.D. for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh warmly welcomes the funding announced to preserve and promote local monuments and historical sites under the Community Monuments Fund. Blackfriars Abbey and Molana Abbey will each receive €100,000 in funding with Stradbally Church receiving €50,359 and Dromana Tower House receiving €20,086 Dep. Ó Cathasaigh said “This funding…
Proposed changes in the VAT rates levied on solar panels will help ‘accelerate our Rooftop Revolution’, according to Green Party TD, Marc Ó Cathasaigh. Measures being brought to cabinet next week ahead of the Finance Bill could save households up to €1000 on installation costs, with proposals to cut VAT rates on solar panels to…
Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has warmly welcomed Min. Heather Humphreys’ plans to expand the School Meals Programme to all schools by 2030 at the latest. The announcement came as the Minister published an independent evaluation of the School Meals Programme which sets out the positive impact the Programme is having in terms of…
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for this opportunity. This is an issue that has been consistently raised at the committees on education and autism. The staffing issues are a big problem. Does the Minister have the pertinent statistics for CHO5 where I am? As Deputy McAuliffe said, it is not just per CHO. There are…
Full Transcript: I will begin by asking a straightforward and fundamental question: who is this sector currently working for? Who is it working for socially, economically or environmentally? It is difficult to answer that question. In considering the social aspect, people have pointed out the importance of sheep farming and upland farming within our communities.…
Transcript: Picking up on what the Minister said in his last contribution, it has been extremely valuable that a stand-alone Department was created for further and higher education due in particular to the emphasis it has allowed us to put on further education, apprenticeships and skills. We find ourselves in the European Year of Skills.…
An 80% increase in numbers of properties across Waterford availing of energy upgrades is a sign of a retrofitting programme ramping up to meet need, according to Green Party Marc Ó Cathasaigh. According to figures released by the SEAI, the numbers of homes retrofitted in Waterford increased from 436 in 2021 to 785 last year,…
Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has urged eligible communities across Waterford to apply to the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme, announced yesterday by Min. Malcolm Noonan. The scheme aims to support community-led projects to restore and protect nature within their communities, with everything from ecological surveys, boardwalks, trails and bird boxes to education and awareness-raising…
