Results 1,861-1,880 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Community Development Projects (21 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department currently supports a programme of large-scale regeneration projects in Limerick, Dublin and Cork and smaller projects in Tralee, Sligo and Dundalk. These regeneration projects target the country's most disadvantaged communities and seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through an holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. As the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Community Development Projects (21 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Those are questions we can come back to the Senator on. Certainly, all parties were aware of the end date of 2023. It was critical for future planning that Limerick City and County Council would begin the process of engagement and consultation around the continuum of support for the very valuable initiatives the Senator has spoken about, notwithstanding the fact there are staff affected by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Projects (21 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Barrow Blueway Project is a significant initiative which will support communities and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives. Kildare County Council is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for the overall project delivery. The project is funded under the Rural Regeneration and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Pollution (16 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Algal blooms (phytoplankton over-growth) in lakes are a natural phenomenon that can be exacerbated by excess nutrients and warm settled weather. Algal blooms are not specifically monitored for in the national water-monitoring programme, as, by their nature, they can be relatively short-lived events. My Department is currently preparing Ireland’s third-cycle River Basin Management...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee (15 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to Standing Orders 95 and 181.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Do I have ten minutes?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I hope I will not need it. I will try not to bore the House. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí go léir. The was a valuable debate yesterday and today. Before I conclude, I will take some time to respond to some of the issues raised by Deputies. More immediately, I will respond to comments made today, starting with Deputy Howlin, a politician for whom...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator. As the Senator may be aware, updated rural housing guidance are currently being prepared by my Department. He speaks very well about the challenges but there are fantastic opportunities out there now. The updated guidelines once issued will expand on the high-level spatial planning policy of the national planning framework, NPF, and in particular on the national policy...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator. I was instrumental in bringing the town centre first policy into the programme for Government. Critically, as I look across the country and travel, I see many fantastic premises such as 19th and early 20th century buildings that could be brought back into productive use. This is why the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage introduced...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I have.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is an executive agency within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility for, inter alia, the management of our National Parks. The NPWS does not employ staff as qualified arborists and does not have such a grade or title of position. While there may be staff who have such qualifications it is not an essential...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Dáil Question No. 692 on 7 November which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I understand NPWS staff met on site with the individual last month in relation to the proposed activity, and that an application for an Activity Requiring Consentis now being processed. This is required because the proposed activity occurs within a Special Area of Conservation. The NPWS team will contact the applicant again directly and provide them with an update on progress.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The general scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill was published in December 2022. Following the scrutiny of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, my Department has been working in close collaboration with parliamentary drafters over the past several months to develop the Bill and I anticipate that it will be ready for publication early in 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Sea fishing boat licensing and registration is a function of the Sea Fisheries Administration Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Questions in relation to the permitting or licensing of such vessels and their fishing activities are a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in different bands according to the area concerned, with income defined and assessed according to a standard household means policy. The baseline income eligibility thresholds were increased for all local authorities, with effect from 1 January 2023, by €5,000 to €40,000,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: There are probably cases like that all over the country. Prior to 2011, there were no income limits and there was inconsistency across local authorities. Some disregarded while some included all incomes. That is why the household means policy was introduced. It sets out the manner by which local authorities should assess the means of an applicant for social housing support for the purpose...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: To refer back to the local authority's responsibility and role in supporting that family, the Deputy's local authority was under band 3. The income eligibility was increased to €30,000. The increase in the three bands was welcome and had been sought for some time. We supported it in government. On the particular case the Deputy referenced, it is unfortunate that the applicant had...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Septic Tanks (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for asking this question on behalf of Deputy Ó Cathasaigh who has raised this issue consistently at every opportunity. On 3 November 2023, the Minister announced changes to the three grants for domestic wastewater treatment systems, commonly known as septic tanks. The changes include increasing the grant amount available from €5,000 to a maximum of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Septic Tanks (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I wholeheartedly agree about a public awareness campaign. Perhaps a lack of public awareness has led to the previous low uptake. A circular will be sent by the Department next week and a question and answer section on the schemes will be available on the Department's website. The Deputy is correct. We will lead off on a new cycle of the river basin management plan early next year,...