Results 41-60 of 9,146 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: The grant gets paid at different stages.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: That is good. Somebody mentioned a bespoke IT system. I think it was Mr. Rafferty. Could he explain, first, why it is required and the other benefits it might bring? Is this a bespoke IT system for local authorities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: So this is an IT system for the BPFI.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: I know from previous discussions we have had in the housing committee that there are often sections in local authorities that do not speak clearly to each other. I refer to commencement, planning and building control. If we were going to design an IT system, I hope it would not just be designed for that scheme but that it could provide many benefits across local authorities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: All right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: This is one of my last questions. Ms Gleeson referred to legal advice to be sought by the State. Is that legal advice on what would come under the state aid requirement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: I do not know much about how state aid works. If the legal advice is that state aid is not a factor, does the Department then have to get European clearance?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Gleeson. That is very helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: As there is a vote in the Dáil, I will suspend the committee and the meeting will reconvene five minutes after the vote on the Order of Business. Deputy Durkan will take the Chair for the next segment of this session and Deputy Conway-Walsh is next to speak.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 209. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the free primary schoolbooks scheme; a timeline for when schools will receive guidelines for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20531/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rights of Way (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 274. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the legal mechanism to establish a new right of way; the procedure in instances of disputes over rights of way; the process whereby rights of way are assessed and confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20327/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 275. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the incremental tenant purchase scheme; if consideration is being given to including tenants of approved housing body housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20328/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (8 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 284. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 421 of 30 April 2024, the actions he will take to ensure that a degree course (details supplied) is included in his Department’s ongoing review of the suite of current engineering qualifications declared under section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001. [20589/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rights of Way (1 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 173. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to concerns of local authorities regarding the establishment of rights of way in county development plans (details supplied); if his Department has considered establishing a judicial-led arbitration process to resolve complex disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19702/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (1 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 224. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to ongoing concerns by a group (details supplied); if he is conscious of the need to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19610/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Steven Matthews: This will be a brief meeting that will run to 2.45 p.m. We meet following the referral to this committee by both Houses of the Oireachtas of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024. My understanding is that this is the fourth year the committee has considered this matter. I welcome the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister very much. We had agreed when the meeting was being organised that I might just outline some of the concerns. Members will have an opportunity, in any event, to contribute for a minute or two but we must finish at 2.45 p.m. I agree with the Minister that this is an important measure and that it helps businesses, which are struggling with costs. When we introduced it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Steven Matthews: I think the fees applied up to April 2024.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Steven Matthews: I will let Deputy Gould and Senator Boyhan in and then the Minister can answer both sets of questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister. I understand a circular will go to local authorities now to inform them of that. Could that circular reiterate what was said by the Minister, Deputy Burke, about monitoring and accessibility? It would be helpful.