Results 1,821-1,840 of 8,073 for speaker:Peter Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: There is a registration process with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, for contractors and with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. There are safeguards there to watch over the process to ensure these works are done correctly. It is very important that operators are registered and that work is carried out effectively. The SEAI is obviously driven to do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The robust part of what we do in government now where one is trying to change things, which would really open your eyes, is that exemptions like these go through a strong process in respect of appropriate assessment and strategic environmental assessment. One thing about that is when you are assessing changes to exempt development, you have to look at both the positive and negative impacts....

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General: Financial Resolution (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on budget 2023, which is a significant package with an €11 billion intervention to try to help families, support pensioners who are worried about heating their homes, support families with the weekly shop and, critically, keep vulnerable jobs so we have a record level of employment in the economy. I will move on to areas that are my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: We are working hard to support local authorities for 2023, which will be a difficult year. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has secured an unprecedented increase in housing for the homeless, with over €250 million, which will be a significant asset for Dublin City Council and other councils, protecting the most vulnerable. It is important for the State to do so. In the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The Deputy is correct about the trajectory that Dublin City Council has taken. It has forgone almost €12.3 million by decreasing the local property tax. Timing is an issue for the Revenue Commissioners. It needs advance notice to inform citizens what the rate will be, hence the budgetary meeting has to be in September to adjudicate on the rate. I was in the Seanad earlier. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Hourigan for the question. My Department is cognisant of the current financial environment in which local authorities, including Dublin City Council, are operating, and the pressures facing them in respect of general inflation and higher energy costs in particular. These challenges are common across the sector - indeed, across the State - and I will set out how support from...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue. I wish to be associated with his comments on John McKeon. I spoke to him yesterday and he is out of hospital after seven months. That is a huge achievement for him in terms of getting through his illness. He is a credit to the local authority in Longford. I am sure he will be back at work shortly. I look forward to engaging with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I acknowledge the contribution of the Senator. As I assured the chief executive and his team, we have not been found wanting in delivering the allocation for Longford in the two years since I have been in the Department. This is the third year that we have secured that allocation. When the previous cathaoirleach was seeking to be part of significant capital decisions on purchasing land in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Prices (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: This question relates to Budget 2023, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Deputy will be aware that the Budget Statement was announced yesterday.  This set out how the Government propose to assist with the rise in energy costs and will provide some assistance to all energy users, including the cohorts mentioned...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. Guidance on the noise aspect is currently being finalised by my Department in conjunction with the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 72 and 143 together. Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 43 together. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Reviews (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The review and consolidation of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) is progressing in line with the timeline set out by the Office of the Attorney General, who is leading on the project. A Bill is expected to be brought to Government by the end of the year. The Attorney General has established a working group of planning law experts to assist him with the review and there is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Information and Communications Technology (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The ePlanning project which is currently being developed seeks to integrate the IT systems of the 31 planning authorities using a single online portal allowing for the online submission of planning applications, submissions and their associated fees.  Once fully rolled out, ePlanning will provide an online option for the public to engage with the planning system, in addition to...