Results 261-280 of 4,720 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Natural Heritage Areas (12 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. To highlight my Curragh credentials, my mother is a Newbridge woman and she met my dad, who served in the Defence Forces for 37 years, at a dance in Suncroft many moons ago. I have a great affinity for the Curragh. I will respond to the matter of the natural heritage area first. My Department has no role in the designation of national historic...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Natural Heritage Areas (12 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I am happy to work with the Senator and Kildare County Council to try and pursue our common set of objectives. The development plan process is a most important one. I have spoken to the heritage officer in Kildare County Council about this matter. While the Curragh has not progressed to legal designation, there is a proposed review of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hen Harriers (17 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan (HHTRP) is nearing completion and is currently being refined and updated as necessary by my Department in consultation with other Government Departments. This has required a considerable review of background information. I intend to have the draft HHTRP ready for consultation as that review is completed, expected within two months. The draft...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Surveys (17 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Freshwater Pearl Mussel is critically endangered in Ireland and the EU. It is very sensitive to water quality and to land use management that may impact on the rivers in which it lives, including the Munster Blackwater. The Munster Blackwater is a deep, dark and fast-flowing river, and is difficult to survey for these reasons. Data on the status of the Mussel in the Blackwater,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Famine Artefacts (17 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am advised that a granite pillar was brought to the attention of my Department’s National Monuments Service as possible evidence of the existence of a famine graveyard at the location in question. However, I understand that the Department’s view is that the origins and associations of the pillar are unlikely to relate to burials. While there is insufficient evidence at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Built Heritage Investment Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). The BHIS and HSF for 2021 were launched on 12 November 2020 with a combined allocation of €6m,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Register of Electors (17 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Futurecommits to the establishment of an Electoral Commission and the completion of a modernisation process for voter registration. Work on both of these reforms is in underway and they are provided for in the general scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill, which was approved by the Government in December 2020. The general scheme provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Projects (17 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I have recently appointed Dr. Munoo Prasad as chairperson to the working group to examine the issues identified during the review of the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry. Dr. Prasad is an independent consultant and researcher. He has vast experience from working in the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Bord na Móna. Invitations to nominate representatives to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (17 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Navigation to Lough Allen through the Lough Allen Canal was restored and re-opened in 1994. Since then Waterways Ireland has developed and maintained facilities for boats at a number of key locations including a significant marina development at Cleighran More and harbour facilities at Spenser Harbour. Waterways Ireland has recently received planning approval for the development of a boat...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (17 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 906. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the situation regarding kidney patients and the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8741/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (18 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Works on the conservation, protection and restoration of the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street started in late 2015 with the objective of having the 1916 Commemorative Centre at least partially open to the public in time for the centenary of the Rising. Total expenditure under the contract amounted to €4.48 million, inclusive of VAT, project management,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (18 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together. The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for turf cutters affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include those affected from raised bog natural heritage areas. It is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (18 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In recent days, I have appointed Dr. Munoo Prasad as chairperson to the working group to examine the issues identified during the review of the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry. Dr. Prasad is an independent consultant and researcher. He has vast experience from working in the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Bord na Móna. The role of the chairperson will be to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (18 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 209. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the funding challenges facing an organisation (details supplied) which have put its counselling service in extreme jeopardy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9114/21]

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Bord Pleanála (19 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue, which is also close to my heart, and for giving me the opportunity to update the Seanad on progress in the roll-out of the Plean-IT project upgrading the IT system operated by An Bord Pleanála and the Local Government Management Agency's e-planning project. The operation of an efficient, up-to-date and fit-for-purpose planning...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Bord Pleanála (19 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator has made useful suggestions. I will take on board the useful note that he provided to me. We know our city and county development plans are now aligned and moving in the same trajectory. I attended an open session on Kilkenny County Council's heritage plan, which was really fantastic. Members of the public have been drawn into an online portal, consult.kilkenny.ie, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (24 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The intrinsic heritage value of the Graving Docks on City Block 19 is recognised by my Department and Waterways Ireland and the conservation of waterway heritage assets has been identified within the Dublin Docklands Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), which forms part of the Dublin City Development Plan. Any development of City Block 19 will have the protections outlined in the SDZ and an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Plant Species (24 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. In law, control of invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed is a matter for landowners. While my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (24 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Invasion of sand dunes by Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) is of ecological concern and a request for proposals to investigate the national extent and future management options for Hippophae rhamnoides in sand dunes is being prepared by my Department. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (24 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The sand dunes at Barley Cove and Inchydoney, County Cork are not in the ownership of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Any works to be done on these properties would be the responsibility of the landowners. The Barley Cove dunes are within the boundary of the Barley Cove to Ballyrisode Point Special Area of Conservation and the Eastern part of the Inchydoney dunes...