Results 1,661-1,680 of 8,073 for speaker:Peter Burke

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I launched the second joint National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027, on 14 January 2022 together with Minister O’Brien and Ms. Anne Rabbitte, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability.The new Strategy sets out the vision for the cooperation and collaboration of Government Departments, state agencies and others in delivering housing and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. In some cases, when the initial planning permission for a holiday home is sought, planning authorities have additionally specified by way of planning condition (such as an occupancy clause) that such...

Water Policy: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Members for sharing their views during the course of this wide-ranging debate, which I have found to be helpful and informative. In the short time remaining, I will sum up by responding to some of the concerns which were most commonly raised by Deputies in the debate. Deputies will of course have other opportunities to raise any issues of individual concern or priority with the...

Water Policy: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: Yes. Why does the Deputy ask?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Wall for raising this very important issue and allowing me the opportunity to provide an update on the matter. My Department provides funding to local authorities under the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability, to assist people in private houses make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. This also facilitates early...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I again thank Senator Wall for raising this, as he has done on previous occasions. I will raise the review with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. It is important that is completed this year As the Senator said, these are a very valuable resource to make people's lives better and allow them to live independently. As a State, that is the space we need to be in. As I said, we have increased the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this, which is a very important and pressing issue in society. It is true to say we are seeing an increase in the number of people accessing emergency accommodation and the situation is proving very challenging. The Government, local authorities and those in the NGO sector are making every effort to prevent and protect those at risk of homelessness....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I assure the Senator that we will continue to monitor all those metrics in the Department. We have a huge challenge in the winter months in terms of the security of tenancies but the fact that the temporary no-fault eviction ban is in place gives us time to increase the supply. That is the key area. We are trying to increase right over our cities and rural areas the supply of housing,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Ahearn for raising this important matter again. I had the pleasure of visiting Kickham Barracks and the site and know the huge work being done there. As the Senator said, almost all the Cabinet were down to see it and I have no doubt that will bear fruit in the future. The Minister, Deputy Harris, was eager to be here to respond directly but, unfortunately, had to attend...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for putting that passionate and detailed case in relation to Kickham Barracks. It is an excellent site, as I said when I visited. URDF is due to open again shortly. That is a competitive process but we supported that project in the past.One of the key matters arising from the first successful call and, in particular, the last call that was unsuccessful was that we...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Transport Authority (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I hear the frustrations he has quite rightly articulated in respect of his community and decisions that were taken. Public consultation should be at the core of decision-making processes of all State agencies. There are a number of different ways in which the NTA meets with elected public representatives to discuss public transport projects. At...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Transport Authority (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I again thank the Senator for outlining the position in his community regarding the projects and the NTA. I will absolutely go back to the Minister. I always report back to senior Ministers when an issue comes up during engagements with Senators, especially when there are concerns in the context of State agencies liaising with public representatives. This is a very important issue. During...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank both Deputies for giving me the opportunity to outline funding and Government support for local authorities, with particular reference to Galway County Council. Across all schemes and funding sources, my Department provided €82.9 million in 2020, €84.4 million in 2021 and €24 million to the end of September 2022 to Galway County Council. Included in this is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: In the first instance, the €2.75 million is for Galway alone, not other local authorities throughout the country. That is a recognition of the total allocation of €12.8 million for 2023. That is a significant allocation by the Government at a time when moneys are, as we know, difficult to raise in the current circumstances. I acknowledge Galway County Council is doing work...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Reviews (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: The Review and Consolidation of the Planning & Development Act 2000, is progressing in line with timeline set out by the Office of the Attorney General, who is leading on the project and it is expected that the draft Bill will be brought to Government before the end of the year. Intensive engagement between the working group, the Department and other stakeholders with regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Appointments Service (9 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: My Department advised the Public Appointments Service (PAS) of the requirement to hold a recruitment competition for a replacement permanent Chief Executive in Galway County Council.  It is a matter for PAS to put the necessary recruitment arrangements in place and in this regard I understand that the post was recently advertised by PAS on www.publicjobs.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Properties (8 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land, including a statutory body or a State authority, to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (8 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as Minister I am specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flexible Work Practices (8 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: My Department has undertaken a wide variety of initiatives aimed at making the role of the councillor as flexible and inclusive as possible. Through funding research, providing supports to organisations that deliver capacity building and training, and annual calls for funding for both local authorities and political parties, my Department is working to make the role of the councillor more...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility for valuation matters. While some property and land is exempt, most...