Results 1,841-1,860 of 4,786 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Parks (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Yes.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Parks (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for her question regarding the Phoenix Park. She mentioned Fingal County Council and I was there yesterday launching its biodiversity plan. The county council has done fantastic work and great credit to them. As the Senator will be aware as a regular visitor to the park, recent years have seen a significant increase in recreational visitors. The OPW faces a difficult...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Parks (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: It sounds to me like the Senator is saying there needs to be ongoing collaborative engagement. There was a non-statutory consultation process and 9,000 submissions were received. I absolutely take on board the points the Senator is raising and they will be brought back to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. Eco-toilets are a good idea. I have seen them in operation in other parks...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this question on the planned new ambulance base for Gorey. Since 2016, the National Ambulance Service, including the south-east region, has undergone significant reform and modernisation, involving the prioritisation of investment in new service developments, including increased workforce, fleet and improved technology. NAS staffing resources nationally have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I will do that. I have given an outline of the fact that it has been included in the capital plan for 2023 and the pathway by which it can then progress through the national capital and property steering committee. The response is the response. I note the Senator's concerns and the fact that he is dissatisfied with the response and I will certainly take this back directly to the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 106 of 25 October 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. There is not yet scientific consensus on the meaning or necessary level of strict protection...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Details of relevant capital projects carried out in each of our six National Parks in 2023 and planned for 2024 are set out in the attached table. The list of proposed works for the Parks in 2024 will be refined and additions made following the completion of the business planning process for 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is an Executive Agency within my Department with responsibility for, inter alia, the management of our National Parks. The NPWS does not employ personnel specifically with climate action expertise. While there may be staff who have such expertise it is not an essential requirement for any role in the NPWS and therefore we do not hold a record of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together. My Department does not have responsibility for hedgerow surveys. Teagasc has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and a number of local authorities have commissioned hedgerow surveys at county level. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) operated by my Department provides funding to assist local authority biodiversity...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (12 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland is a North South Body responsible for the management and maintenance of more than 1000km of Ireland's inland waterways. They include the Shannon, Shannon Erne Waterway, Erne System, the Barrow, the Royal and Grand Canals and the Lower Bann Navigation. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The information requested is not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waterways Ireland (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy and Deputy Feighan for the work they have done on this matter. As I said, the process is ongoing and the tender package is being prepared around the new environmental impact assessment, EIA, for the project. We will await the outcome of that. One thing I was conscious of at the launch of the strategic plan was that Waterways Ireland is showing a level of ambition for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I again agree wholeheartedly. There is no doubt there is a race on and it is not just on in Ireland, but right across Europe and globally. The resources the Deputy spoke about are therefore required across the world. Ireland is competing in a very competitive market for the expertise required. The Department has worked on giving certainty to the sector. The delivery of offshore...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waterways Ireland (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for asking this question. He and I were both present at the launch of Waterways Ireland's ten-year strategy down the street from Leinster House. It presents very exciting opportunities, including, as the Deputy said, regarding the potential for our navigable waterways to be economic drivers in rural communities in particular. The navigation to Lough Allen through the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waterways Ireland (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I again agree wholeheartedly with everything the Deputy has said. The potential here is immense, especially for parts of rural Ireland and the Border counties. It could provide a viable and vital economic driver for the region. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I are deeply committed to supporting the work of Waterways Ireland in trying to achieve that, along with partners. The tourism...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority was established, and its functions commenced, on 17 July 2023. Up to year-end 2023, the focus of operations is to build on the pre-established work of my Department, embedding both the governance structures and the consenting regime of the agency. A recruitment process is currently under way to enable MARA build expertise in its people, processes and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. This is critically important for the State and our ambition in offshore renewables. I assure the Deputy the Government is ensuring the resources required for MARA to deliver on that ambition are put in place and there is support to do so. As I said, it has gone from a standing start when its functions commenced on 17 July this year towards looking at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Services (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, by way of reassurance, when local authorities were in the stewardship of the provision of water and wastewater services there were always design build operate, DBO, contracts in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services. It is the case, as I stated at the start, that this for the delivery of project management for Uisce Éireann. The utility that is Uisce...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Services (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, there is a commitment to a referendum on the public ownership of water. Uisce Éireann as a public utility is enshrined in legislation, and that would have to be changed through subsequent legislation. That is the case. I will go back to the point of the DBO projects. I refer to the scale of the challenge for water and wastewater delivery. In this House, we speak on a daily...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Services (7 Dec 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 40 together. The company referenced has been successful in an Uisce Éireann public procurement process and is one of eight companies placed on a framework for the provision of project management services in the delivery of the capital investment plan. The framework covers technical and project management services across water and wastewater. ...