Results 1,561-1,580 of 26,018 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: To provide context, we have divided amendments under seven thematic areas. to be helpful to members, I will read the following notes. The first heading relates to exempted development and Irish-language impact assessment. Section 9 provides for the Minister’s power to make exempted development regulations, which currently includes that the Minister, in making such regulations, must...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is under a later subgroup. I dealt with the first three.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Ó Broin misinterpreted me.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I do not mean it in that sense. I am trying to be helpful.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: On Deputy Ó Broin's amendments, section 46 places an obligation on planning authorities to prepare a strategy relating to the creation, improvement and preservation of sustainable places and communities. Section 46(2)(b) specifically provides for the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage, including the protection of Irish as the community language of Gaeltacht areas in the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The policy-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes, please go ahead.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We can do that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will deal with Deputy O'Callaghan's amendments, going from last to first. He referred to empty properties. As he is aware, we are waiting on the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to bring legislation forward. We will provide guidelines in this area. I am sorry, the legislation is with the European Commission. As a general observation, there is nothing...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We would like to take that away and look at it. We will come to this, but I am saying we are open to looking at it. To deal with the issues in the round, in respect of the language and linguistic impact statements, we must have a structured approach. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is responsible for the Irish language in terms of a Government context....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: First, one of the key purposes of the new guidelines that are being produced for the Gaeltacht areas is for a language impact statement to be provided. That is accepted. I apologise for reading from my phone but I want to be clear. I refer to the current development guidelines issued to local authorities in 2022 in respect of Gaeltacht areas. I purposely looked at this. There are a number...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Could I-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: No, but I will answer the Deputy's question. It is important that I put on record what is the current position. Section 7.6(c)(4) states: That development proposals in Gaeltacht areas have a positive impact on the linguistic and cultural heritage that can be robustly assessed at planning application stage - some forms or scales of development may not be appropriate; That is standard.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It should be an important consideration but it is not the only one. With due respect, planning is an inexact science.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is not binary.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: They are the 2022 guidelines for development plans.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The 2022 development guidelines, as currently provided, clearly indicate that local authorities should take it into account as part of their consideration. It is not the only factor.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: They are the facts. To provide absolute certainty in the area, we are currently working with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to deal with the linguistic impact statement in terms of the speaking of the Irish language. That is currently being finalised with that Department. That will provide specific planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas.