Results 3,701-3,720 of 8,081 for speaker:Peter Burke

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Apr 2021)

Peter Burke: In order to continue supporting ratepayers, and in recognition of the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government has put in place a more targeted commercial rates waiver for the first half of 2021. It applies to businesses most seriously affected by the restrictions. Automatic eligibility is extended to hospitality...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Apr 2021)

Peter Burke: With a view to supplementing the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Grant Scheme which was recently announced by my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media , and further to the expected easing of Covid-19 restrictions over the coming months, a package of amending planning regulations were presented on 27 April to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 Apr 2021)

Peter Burke: 733. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will review the possibility of retrospective further tax relief on third-level fees; if measures will be considered which can be accessed later than the calendar year in which the fees were paid, for example, as part of the remaining balance of a student loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21299/21]

National Marine Planning Framework: Motion (29 Apr 2021)

Peter Burke: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the draft National Marine Planning Framework, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 24th March, 2021. With the introduction of the national marine planning framework, followed closely by the maritime area planning Bill and the maritime jurisdiction Bill and, in the near future, the expansion of our network of marine...

National Marine Planning Framework: Motion (29 Apr 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank all Members for their contributions to the debate. I wish to strongly respond to what has been said and point to the consultation that has taken place on the Bill. The Government has prioritised this area. We can see that by the action it took in setting up the stakeholder advisory group composed of almost 50 different actors from various sectors, including fisheries. There was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Airport Policy (29 Apr 2021)

Peter Burke: On 30 May 2017, the then Government designated 284 hectares of land at Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) under Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) for the establishment of a strategic development zone for developments which may include— (a) commercial activities including the development of infrastructure to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (29 Apr 2021)

Peter Burke: 95. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has plans to examine and strengthen current antisocial behaviour laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22372/21]

Private Rental Sector: Motion [Private Members] (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: As the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, stated at the outset, to give this topic the attention it deserves would take more than is available to us today so many actions will speak a lot louder than words. I genuinely welcome the opportunity that has been provided by Deputies to discuss the private rental sector. I look forward to debating this topic further when the Government publishes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flexible Work Practices (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for her question. Similar to other sectors, the local authority sector will continue to make available flexible working, remote working and family-friendly arrangements that facilitate work-life balance while ensuring the delivery of all local authority services. Consideration of family-friendly working practices is particularly important in ensuring that elected councils...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flexible Work Practices (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy. It is great news that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is reflective of society at large. It is important to have a gender balance in our local authorities that reflects the communities they serve. Councillor Lorraine Hall is on our committee. On foot of the Moorhead report’s recommendations on the non-pay items, we have established a sub-group to examine maternity...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flexible Work Practices (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for her comments. As she rightly stated, flexibility is so important for our local authority workers. They can avail of many family-friendly, supported policies that will be enhanced and continued. We are talking about career breaks, flexible working, the work-sharing scheme, parental leave, paternity leave, parent's leave, maternity leave, carer's leave and associated...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: The climate action plan 2019 reaffirmed the important role of planning and the national planning framework in supporting national decarbonisation objectives. A top priority of the national planning framework is compact growth and its inter-relationship with sustainable mobility and transport. Compact growth is also a strategic response to counteract urban sprawl, which results in a high...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: The initial question referred to the overall strategy for the decarbonisation of society. Action 165 of the climate action plan specifically requires the identification of one location or area in a local authority that will be subject to a plan for a decarbonisation zone. Thereafter, follow-up steps could include harnessing the potential to develop a low-carbon town project for future calls...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I accept the question from the floor. It is difficult to comment, given that I do not have in front of me the detail on a particular town and I am talking about the broader policy. I will engage with the Department and revert to the Deputy on the matter. As I stated, each local authority was mandated to put forward one area for selection as a decarbonisation zone. We can discuss Drogheda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 44 together. While our towns and villages have shown remarkable resilience through the recent crisis, they require specific policy supports to ensure they will continue to function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and raise families, to act and serve as cultural and recreational hubs for the surrounding areas and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: Living towns and the hubs to which the Deputy has referred will be key elements and tenets of what we do as we assess what will assist workers and communities and as we develop a sustainable model to grow our towns. We have had a number of bilateral engagements with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, and her Department with a view to expanding the network of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Higgins for her comments, for articulating aspects of the affordable housing Bill and for all her good work on the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. She has been very articulate on it. On the comments of the other Members, Deputy Stanton has raised the issue of derelict homes on a number of occasions. We have a stick approach in the form of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for his question. My Department is focused on a review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects, including sound or noise, visual amenity setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. Almost 500 submissions were received in response to a public consultation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: As the Deputy articulated, significant changes have occurred in recent years. Working in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, our Department has been trying to arrive at a response that is fair to communities. We are clear on the need for communities to have protection, but we must ensure a balance so that we also meet our renewable energy targets....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (5 May 2021)

Peter Burke: It is clear in the first instance that, through the climate action plan and the national planning framework, counties should provide clarity in terms of where they will achieve their targets in order to meet our national climate action obligations. Those targets can be achieved through a large number of renewable energy options, for example, biomass, solar farms and wind energy. It is up to...