Results 23,501-23,520 of 26,179 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Cathaoirleach for affording me the opportunity to present to the committee these two sets of proposed planning regulations, namely, the Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023 and Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. Y) Regulations 2023. The Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023 will provide for a temporary exemption...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the first point, it is hoped it will be three months. I will hand over to Mr. Moran from Met Éireann to go into more detail. The Deputy will see there is an urgency in respect of this matter. I brought in so many technical people in order that people understand the issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the other points the Deputy raised, which are technical in nature, I have asked Gas Networks Ireland to attend today's meeting. I will hand over to Mr. Gleeson and Mr. Burke, who will deal with the questions raised by him. It is very important that the committee gets a full understanding of the issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does Mr. Gleeson wish to add to that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: To clarify, the Chair asked initially about the statute. This exemption is specific to Met Éireann and it only applies up to 31 December of this year. It is not an open-ended exemption; it is for a specific purpose to deal with the situation as presented. I wanted to give that little point of clarity.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will get Mr. Burke to deal with that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It was arrived at in consultation with Gas Networks Ireland and it is based on international standard. I will let Mr. Sheridan deal with it on behalf on the Department and we might go back then to Gas Networks Ireland. It is a technical point and an important one. Will Mr. Sheridan give a quick overview in terms of the Department? Then we will go to Mr. Burke as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Just to add to that, the Department obviously had the discussions. Gas Networks Ireland came back with the 1.5 m limit. The Department and the officials reviewed it and effectively looked for the 5 m limit. Therefore, it is a request of the Department to Gas Networks Ireland. It is just under three times above what Gas Networks Ireland was providing. It was very much a view of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: They are required to apply to the local authority for a road opening. There is a process there. It is not entirely exempted from a process; it is just exempted from the particular formal planning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are basing this on international standards. Obviously, the Department has been in consultation with Gas Networks Ireland. I will ask Mr. Burke to elaborate a bit more on that in view of the fact that the Deputy is drawing attention to a particular point. Can Mr. Burke provide reassurance in the context of distances?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: There are no emissions. It was based on the fact that there are emissions from the gas vent, but there are also no emissions from the regulator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is Mr. Burke not talking about-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: At the moment, Gas Networks Ireland is talking about replacing existing gas vent stacks, not about providing new regulating stations. Could Mr. Burke indicate if that is correct? Is that the intention now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: When Gas Networks Ireland goes to a local authority, does it require a minimum distance from residential dwellings? The existing regulating stations are already in place and the existing stacks are also in situ but is Gas Networks Ireland required to apply to local authorities for the provision of new facilities? Is anything set down in the requirements on distance?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does the regulating station cause any emissions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: What is the interaction of Gas Networks Ireland with local residents if it proposes a new regulating station?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is a fair comment. We will take the matter under advisement. I am substituting for the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, today because he had to attend another event. We take the point. The officials will go back and look at it and come back to the committee again. It is not being done on the basis that it is not required internationally or that, technically, there are no emissions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister and I will look at the matter in tandem with the officials. We will take it under advisement. We will come back to the committee.