Results 3,521-3,540 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electoral Process (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with the Senator. Certainly, in terms of accessibility, the view from the meetings I have had with our franchise section and with access groups is that significant improvements have been made regarding public accessibility and ensuring premises are fully accessible for people with visual impairments and physical disabilities.That is critical. As I said, the objective is to maximise...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Development Contributions (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Boosting supply is key to addressing the problem at the heart of the housing system. Housing for All has set an average annual delivery target of 33,000 homes per year over the period up to 2030. In this context, it was noted early last year that some permitted developments were not being commenced. This appeared to be due to increased housing construction costs. Construction inflation,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Development Contributions (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The development contribution waiver scheme has made a positive contribution to the highest level of annual residential commencements in 2023 since records began in 2014. This means that the uplift in new home delivery experienced in 2023, when almost 32,600 new homes were completed in Ireland, will be sustained in 2024 and into the coming years. Almost 33,000 new homes were commenced in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Policy (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It certainly brings to light a whole range of challenges from extractive industries in the supply chains of materials. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications. While we are transitioning away from carbon intensive fuel sources at pace, coal is still a critical fuel source for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Policy (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. I have outlined the position on the matter and reiterate the ESB is a commercial State company and Ministers do not have a statutory function in any of the day-to-day operations of the business. The dependency on white coal to run Moneypoint power station is expected to diminish significantly by next year, when it transitions away from burning...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Policy (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: It is my understanding the ESB is currently engaged in a formal complaint resolution process with Christian Aid and other NGOs and the ESB has signalled its willingness to engage in this in a full and meaningful way. The ESB is engaging and I have outlined the Department of the environment's role in relation to that too.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Garvey for raising this issue. I certainly recall those programme for Government discussions. I brought the town centre first policy. I tried to replicate it from the Scottish experience. It was a critical component of the programme for Government, as is tackling vacancy. The programme for Government commits to examining ways to ensure that unused or underused building...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The one-stop shop idea is a good one. Separately this year, through the Heritage Council, we are funding the roll-out of architectural conservation officers in counties that do not have them. That is hugely important because these staff play a vital role in animating many of these properties back into use. The living city initiative, which focused on issues with accessibility, was a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (7 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I am happy to be in a position to provide more detail in relation to the sister-park arrangement between Glacier National Park in Montana and Killarney National Park. The agreement itself is initially of 5 year duration and will last until 2026, but there are provisions in place to extend it further with consent of both sides if desired. Agreements between Parks in different...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (7 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: In 2022 my Department operated a pilot Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for owners of Protected Structures. This scheme provided grants to cover the cost of having a conservation architect visit the property, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner. The completed reports outlined maintenance guidelines for the building, and suggested repairs and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: With amendment No. 661?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: It must be made clear that this Bill, as well as the current Act of 2000 recognises the pivotal importance of meeting the climate challenge and the central role that planning can play in these efforts. My Department has a broad remit over the built environment, planning, the marine environment and national biodiversity policy, as well as Met Éireann’s role in climate science and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I might try to reply to all of the points raised. With reference to Deputy Ó Broin's point on the deferral of the approval of the revised national planning framework, that is the case, and the Government decided that today. Pursuant to section 20C(5)(b) of the Planning and Development Act, as amended, the Government has published a statement explaining why the Government has decided...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Matthews. I have certainly given that commitment. We see the word "environment" as being sufficient. In the broader context, and given the commitments I have already outlined on biodiversity and climate specifically, and on strengthening the Bill, we will certainly give consideration to looking at this and specifically at the word "climate". I think "environment" is...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The amendment seeks to amend the obligation to prepare a strategy relating to environment and climate change to provide that when a planning authority is preparing such a strategy it shall also include objectives relating to the zoning of sufficient and suitable lands for renewable and low-carbon energy deployment consistent with the achievement of Ireland's national climate targets. I...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The amendment seeks to amend section 84 to provide that planning authorities and an coimisiún pleanála shall perform their functions under the Act in a manner consistent with the climate action plan, the climate action strategy, the national adaptation framework and sectoral adaptation plans, furtherance of national climate objectives, and the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: We can give consideration to it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: These amendments seek to provide that a planning authority may extend a permission where the permission is subject to judicial review and it is satisfied that the proposed development did not materially convene the development plan when permission was granted. I ask Deputy McAuliffe to withdraw the amendments as I am already bringing forward amendments to Part 4 to provide that a planning...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Absolutely. Thank you.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: As the Deputy has rightly outlined, this piece of work from the expert group was put together due to serious shortfalls in delivery of Traveller accommodation throughout the country. Having sat on our own local Traveller accommodation consultative committee, LTACC, for a number of years, it was frustrating for me to see the low level of delivery. That was probably reflected throughout the...