Results 3,901-3,920 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (18 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there is absolutely no substance to the recent claims that married couples are not permitted to take their photos in Killarney National Park. There has been no change of policy introduced in respect of the treatment of commercial photography in the National Park. Photography by the general public and amateur wildlife photography is permitted within the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (18 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Futurecommits to a broad range of electoral reforms including a commitment to the modernisation of voter registration. The modernisation includes the introduction of rolling registration; the simplification of forms and processes; the gradual roll-out of an online option for registration; a single, national database within which Local Authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (18 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My statutory remit and responsibility as Minister does not include regulation of the harvesting or supply of horticultural peat. However, to assist in addressing the important issues around horticultural peat for domestic purposes, I set up an Independent Working Group under the Chair of Dr. Munoo Prasad. The potential of alternatives to the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry was...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am happy to take that question from the Deputy. The report from the horticultural peat working group has been sent to me and I have sent it on to the relevant Ministers. A number of recommendations will go to Government for consideration. I will not get into the detail of these here today but I welcome the work that has been put into this and it does offer some possible solutions. As I...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (17 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Electoral law provides that a person of unsound mind is disqualified from seeking election to the Dáil or European Parliament and from membership of Seanad Éireann. This provision was to have been repealed by the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016. However, that Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the last Dáil. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (16 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wildlife Licencing Unit (WLU) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has granted two licences to the Office of Public Works (OPW) in relation to Emo Court between September 2018 and November 2021. On 27 March 2019, the WLU issued a licence (163/2017) under Regulation 54 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 to the OPW for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (16 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) within my Department accepts applications from any individual or organisation that wishes to apply for a licence under Section 22(9)(g) of the Wildlife Acts to possess an injured or disabled wild bird for the purposes of rehabilitation and release and/or a licence under Section 23(6)(c) of the Wildlife Acts to possess an injured or disabled...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (16 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The six existing National Parks of Ireland account for circa 65,000 hectares, with another almost 22,000 hectares of nature reserves and other heritage sites. These extensive natural heritage sites are managed from a conservation perspective, and attract in excess of 4 million visitors annually. Given the resources available for capital investment within our National Parks and Nature...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: At the current time there are five biodiversity officers employed in the following local authorities: - Fingal County Council - Wexford County Council - Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Dublin City Council - Kerry County Council Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department. The timing and scheduling of the Assembly will depend on the outcome of these discussions and is ultimately a matter for the Department of the Taoiseach, under whose aegis Citizen Assemblies are held. There  are a number...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Commission (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future commits to the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission. The legislative provisions for the Electoral Commission are being progressed as part of an Electoral Reform Bill, which also provides for the modernisation of the electoral registration process, the regulation of online political advertising during election...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department is responsible for the implementation of a range of legislation and policy relating to biodiversity in Ireland, this does not include the employment of biodiversity officers, which falls under the remit of each local authority. Currently there are five biodiversity officers employed in the following local authorities: Fingal County Council; Wexford County Council;...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I wish to thank the Deputy and the communities across County Mayo for their interest in the National Park.  I note the feelings of the local communities and wish to point out that while the name has changed to better represent the areas the National Park encompasses, my Department's commitment to both Ballycroy and the National Park remains unchanged. Since the expansion of the Park in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 308 of 5 October 2021, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natural Resources (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 proposes that by 2030 at least 30% of the EU’s land and marine areas, taken collectively across all 27 Member States, would be protected for biodiversity, and that 10% (or one-third of those areas) would have strict protection, meaning that no deliberate disturbance of species, and no deterioration or destruction of habitats would be permitted....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My statutory remit and responsibility as Minister does not include regulation of the harvesting or supply of horticultural peat. However, to assist in addressing the important issues around horticultural peat for domestic purposes, I set up an Independent Working Group under the Chair of Dr. Munoo Prasad. The potential of alternatives to the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is the lead on the development and coordination of implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). The current Plan runs from 2017 to 2021 and work is underway on drafting the next Plan, Ireland's fourth, to be put in place next year.  The Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme, operated by the NPWS, offers...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The delivery of the 46km Barrow Blueway route from Lowtown to Athy in partnership with Kildare and Laois County Councils is a priority for Waterways Ireland. This development and others like it present valuable opportunities for rural communities to attract more visitors, stimulate local businesses and regenerate local areas. Planning approval was received in March 2019. The project...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Glenveagh National Park is managed and owned by the National Park and Wildlife Service of my Department. The OPW has no role whatsoever in the management of car parking at this site. At no point during 2021 has the National Park had to close as a result of the carpark being full. The car park itself, however, reached full capacity on 24 occasions during 2021, meaning for a limited period...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Projects (11 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together. My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). This year 562 heritage projects across every county...