Results 4,601-4,620 of 4,789 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natural Heritage Areas (20 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Regional Management Staff in the National Parks and Wildlife Section of my Department oversee the protection of our natural heritage on an ongoing basis in line with their functions under the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. A new Wildlife Crime Unit will be established in the National Parks and Wildlife Service this year and this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (20 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: While primary responsibility for convening of the assemblies rests with Department of the Taoiseach, the convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department. These discussions primarily relate to the scope and timing of the assembly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Harbours and Piers (20 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Coliemore Harbour is a recorded monument and is therefore protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2020. As required under those Acts, my Department's National Monuments Service (NMS) has been notified by the local authority of its proposals for investigations and repair of a collapse of the bedrock supporting a footpath leading to the southern jetty. NMS is liaising with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (14 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer the Deputy to our earlier reply on this matter. My Department has no immediate plans to re-survey Lough Funshinagh. However I am also considering correspondence received from Deputy Naughten in the past two days. I understand that the Geological Survey of Ireland have been monitoring water levels on Lough Funshinagh since 2016, and that they have indicated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Built Heritage Investment Scheme (13 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) is one of two capital funding schemes for built heritage run by my Department. It is administered by the local authorities and funds hundreds of small-scale, labour-intensive works at protected structures across the country, carried out by skilled heritage craftspeople, every year. The allocation for the BHIS in 2021 is €3 million....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Shared Island Unit (13 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Nichola Mallon, MLA, Minister for Infrastructure, shares with Minister Darragh O'Brien and myself a commitment to North South Cooperation in a tangible way. Officials from both my Department and the Department for Infrastructure, continue to co-operate effectively and communicate on a frequent basis on all matters concerning Waterways Ireland. On November 11 2020, I attended the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (13 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme operated by my Department provides funding to assist local authority biodiversity officers, or heritage officers in local authorities without a biodiversity officer, with the implementation of projects that promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021. The current National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP),...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Commission (13 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future - commits to having an Electoral Commission in place by the end of 2021.  On 15 December 2020 the Government approved the General Scheme of an Electoral Reform Bill which, inter alia, provides for the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission. The General Scheme has been published and sent to the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Control (13 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The current declarations allowing for the control of certain wild bird species are due to expire on 30 April 2021. The effects of the declarations are to allow the control of certain wild bird species by landowners or their agents where these species are causing serious damage to crops, livestock, fauna or where they represent a threat to public health, throughout the State. A separate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Protection Areas (13 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer the Minister of State to earlier replies on this matter. Regulation 5 of the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds (Malahide Estuary Special Protection Area 004025)) Regulations 2011 provides that certain operations or activities may not take place within or affecting the Malahide Estuary Special Protection Area without the prior written consent of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Disease Management (13 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The issue of Lyme disease is not one confined or specific to the National Parks. Ticks are widespread throughout the countryside and in areas of rough vegetation and forestry. They are not at all confined to National Parks, Nature Reserves or State lands. Ticks can be found on a variety of domesticated and wild animals including sheep, goats, horses, cattle, dogs, deer, rodents and various...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together. All cetaceans are protected under the EU’s Habitats Directive and Ireland is required to report to the Commission on their conservation status every six years. The most recent reports were published in 2019 and can be accessed on my Department's NPWS website: Twenty-four species of cetacean have been recorded from Irish waters....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (17 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: Regulation 5 of the relevant regulations (i.e. the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds (Malahide Estuary Special Protection Area 004025)) Regulations 2011 and the European Union Habitats (Malahide Estuary Special Area of Conservation 000205) Regulations 2019 provides that certain operations or activities may not take place within the special protection area or within the special...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (17 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: Senior regional management staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have been in ongoing contact with Galway County Council in relation to this project. A method statement prepared by Galway County Council which outlines the methodology and environmental mitigation for the installation of 10km of fencing works along the N59 (Bunnakill to Oughterard) as part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: An application for compensation under the raised bog cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. The 2020 annual payment under the scheme was issued to this individual on 27 May 2020. I have been informed that an official of my Department has been in contact with the individual to advise of the...

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: My officials and I are taking note of Members' remarks. We are taking this very seriously.

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: It is my understanding that there is a study being conducted on the-----

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: He was earlier.

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: This has been a very useful debate. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward the Bill. I will begin by responding on some of the issues raised by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan. The local connection rule has been comprehensively dealt with. I was present when Deputy Joan Collins raised it last week during the Topical Issue debate. She played an audio clip of services trying to access beds...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Information (15 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer the Deputy to my earlier replies on this matter. It is proposed to establish this dedicated Unit during 2021. Details in relation to staffing resources and funding have not been determined at this time.