Results 3,381-3,400 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Steven Matthews: That concludes our time. I thank Ms Cosgrove, Mr. O'Connor and Ms Loftus, as well as Ms Geraghty, Mr. Taaffe and Mr. Curran. I add my congratulations to those expressed by other members on Mr. Curran's appointment to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Obviously, it is a loss to us in Wicklow. I refer to the cross-boundary projects we are working on. I thank our guests again. If...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 98. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps that she is taking to ensure Ukrainian citizens fleeing conflict who are accommodated in rural areas have access to vital services to support their integration into the community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17934/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (5 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the DEIS application of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if an appeals mechanism is in place for the school management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18284/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (5 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 503. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the DEIS application of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if an appeals mechanism is in place for the school management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18285/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 11. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the construction technology centre; the timeline for its establishment; and the role it will play as part of the wider Housing for All strategy. [18303/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 97. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to ensure citizen engagement with offshore wind energy projects in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18847/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 94. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18583/22]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 21. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding engagements his Department has had with the renewable energy sector; the potential for job creation identified; the initiatives proposed to ensure adequate supply of staff for these sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18302/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Planning Issues (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 127. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding maritime area consent applications; the timeline for when they will begin to be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18845/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I welcome Mr. Walsh and Mr. O'Neill back to the committee and thank them for the engagement they always show at the committee and for the responses from TII to questions we submit. I will address a number of local issues in Wicklow, if I may, and they are referenced in this report, the national development plan national roads capital programme and greenways delivery update. There are two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I suggest junction access and egress improvements should be a priority. We know about that. They need to be looked at. Mr. O'Neill is right; I think the last substantial work done on the road was in the 1990s. Much of it probably could be considered substandard in terms of some of the exits I use anyway. There is a very short run-off and run-in to them. I really think the junction...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Is it generally new projects where TII builds a road?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I might write to TII about these two particular locations where the noise level seems to have increased. I am saying it seems to have increased based on constituents contacting me. I stood out in one of their gardens recently and the noise was quite significant. It would really detract from the enjoyment of one's property. I suppose that is a consequence of car dependency and increased...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: That is another important piece of infrastructure. When the N11 was constructed, it really severed Kilmacanogue from Bray. There is actually no really safe way for a pedestrian or cyclist to get from Kilmacanogue to Bray. The construction of that greenway plus the overbridge will really provide that opportunity, even for people to cycle safely to school. It gets people into the Bray...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I forgot to raise one issue in my contribution, namely, the Wicklow-to-Greystones coastal greenway. It was welcome to receive the €350,000 towards carrying out the environmental assessments that are required for that. It is a fantastic scenic location and the project will be a fantastic link if it can proceed on that entire east coast trail greenway we are looking to create all the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: One of the negative responses to greenways is that we often get a tarmac strip. I know it is standard for them to be 3 m or 5 m. Are we open to using materials that are more sympathetic to the environment? It does not necessarily need to be tarmac. They are not taking heavy-weight traffic. There may be high volumes, but they are not heavy weights. Where we have pinch points in sensitive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I do not think that is a good enough reason to go with a tarmac product. The point that Mr. Walsh raised there about a greenway just being a tourist attraction limits the use of what a greenway could be. For example, we are considering closing exits from the N11, we need to concentrate on improving the inter-town connectivity where people from those towns would have been coming out onto the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects and Related Issues: Discussion (6 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Walsh. I would be happy to introduce him to those groups in the Wicklow and Greystones area who wish to engage on it with whoever the consultant might be.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Good afternoon, I welcome everybody. The committee is meeting to discuss the draft river basin management plan for Ireland 2022-2027. The public consideration period on that has just finished. It is the third river basin management plan to be produced for Ireland. We are joined in the room by Dr. Matt Crowe, chairperson, Mr. Dónal Purcell, senior executive officer, and Dr. Triona...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Dr. Crowe. I invite Mr. Mark Boyden to make the opening statement on behalf of SWAN.