Results 3,401-3,420 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (11 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) administers a number of grant schemes, including the Local Biodiversity Action Fund and the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme, to assist locally led biodiversity projects throughout the country. Appropriately sited and installed structures may be eligible for funding under these schemes subject to the criteria of the scheme and...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (10 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Regarding the point raised by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan concerning carbon budgets, all developments are now covered by building regulations and energy standards. We had two contributions that said we are giving too much to developers, while others said we are not giving enough. The LIHAF scheme is important in frontloading infrastructure. Deputy Verona Murphy made disgraceful comments...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 67 together. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist seo. Increasing housing supply and addressing homelessness is a priority for the Government and we will continue to support all local authorities, including Galway City Council and Galway County Council, to deliver on this agenda. Housing For All sets out...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Deputy makes valid and useful points. The task force that the Government has set up, which will meet next week, and the response immediately is being led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth but all Departments are playing a significant role in that regard. The issue of holiday homes is being considered and the subcommittee will look at that as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Specifically in relation to State land, "No" is the answer. We will be using the emergency provisions of section 181(2) of the Planning and Development Act to deliver that because this is a crisis situation. We are exploring other potential planning regulations which may allow for a range of developments to provide accommodation for Ukrainian refugees without the need for planning...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist. The increase in homelessness seen in recent months is of serious concern to the Government and we are acting to address it. While significant work has been done, there is still considerably more work to be done. There are a myriad of reasons for the increase, including landlords leaving the market, which I think the Minister referred...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I have researched the operation of the policy in Cork City Council and Cork County Council. They have advised that if persons present with a notice to quit, they will engage immediately. The notice to quit will be sent to Threshold for verification. Once that is validated, Cork City Council or Cork County Council will support the tenant with services such as HAP place finder. If a tenant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There should be a standardised approach. Our Department funds Threshold, so if the Deputy and clients are not finding this to be the case on the ground, it should be the case. They should have that support immediately, and in advance if they are at risk of homelessness or find themselves with a notice to quit. It is critical that all local authorities have that standardised approach.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is leading the initial humanitarian response, including providing immediate and short-term accommodation for persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. Meanwhile, my Department is focusing on the longer-term accommodation challenges and is leading cross-Government efforts through a housing task force...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The May 2021 report of the Moore Street Advisory Group recommended that an adequate and appropriately structured compensation package should be put in place for the Moore Street traders as soon as possible. My Department was at no time directly engaged in talks with the traders.  My Department had engaged in some limited preliminary talks, led by Dublin City Council, regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Commission (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - "Our Shared Future" - commits to several electoral reform initiatives, including the establishment of an Electoral Commission. In order to progress this broad reform agenda, my Department prepared a general scheme of an Electoral Reform Bill and this general scheme was published on 8 January 2021 and was forwarded at that time to the Joint Oireachtas Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Oldcourt Castle is a national monument in private ownership on private lands. The National Monuments Service of my Department received reports of vandalism at the site in 2020 and again in 2021.  My Department carried out inspections at the site and advised the owners appropriately. My Department has not received any reports of vandalism at the site this year.    The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Properties (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: In a legal transaction and conveyancing managed by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office the freehold ownership of this building along with three other buildings was acquired by the State from the previous owner in 2015. This acquisition and conveyance of freehold title was not subject to any encumbrance, leasehold interest or title burden. No lease of any description has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: With regard to the use of fishing/pleasure boats at the site mentioned my Department does not issue new permanent mooring spots. There are, however, 20 boat moorings on the Lakes and these moorings are subject to a local lottery and are allocated annually for a twelve month period. The NPWS is happy to include all names in the annual lottery and interested parties should contact the Duty...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Northern Ireland (5 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Narrow Water Bridge is a cross-border project led by Louth County Council and supported by the Shared Island Fund, which is designed to fund strategic north-south projects that implement the commitments and objectives on Shared Island set out in the Programme for Government.  The bridge will connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co Down. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (4 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The core objective of the Community Monuments Fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. It contains a number of different measures aimed at enabling conservation works to be carried out on archaeological monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support, encouragingaccess to archaeological...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Culls (4 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am unsure as to what scheme the Deputy may be referring to as no such scheme exists in my Department to cull seagulls - national culls are not carried out, even on a pilot basis. If an individual wishes to apply for a licence to deal with gulls causing serious damage, then they can do so under Section 42 of the Wildlife Acts by applying to the National Parks & Wildlife...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Rangers (4 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. Conservation Rangers work as part of the team of regional National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff and are responsible for implementing nature policies throughout the country. Very often, they are the public face of my Department on conservation management, monitoring species and habitats and compliance. The principal duties of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (4 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Through the National Parks and Wildlife Service, my Department manages an extensive network of natural heritage sites of some 87,000 hectares. The six National Parks of Ireland account for circa 65,000 hectares of this network. I am ever mindful of the need to focus on the core responsibilities relating to the management of our National Parks which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (4 May 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The May 2021 report of the Moore Street Advisory Group (MSAG) recommended that an adequate and appropriately structured compensation package should be put in place for the Moore Street traders as soon as possible. The topic of compensation for the traders was raised at various meetings of the MSAG and my Department was represented on the group and therefore aware of this.My...