Results 3,761-3,780 of 8,081 for speaker:Peter Burke

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (13 May 2021)

Peter Burke: Local authorities have been provided with a number of powers and measures to deal with the issue of derelict properties, both in larger urban conglomerations and in smaller rural towns and villages. There also exists a framework of overarching policy and capital funding which provides support to development, including urban regeneration. The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (13 May 2021)

Peter Burke: The Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2018, which came into operation on 8 February 2018, provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises, including vacant areas above ground floor premises, to residential use. This measure is aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (13 May 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 easing of Covid-19 restrictions over the coming months, a package of amending planning regulations were made on 30 April last to assist in facilitating outdoor dining as well as increased...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (13 May 2021)

Peter Burke: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. Following a review of the arrangements for the disbursement of funding for the provision and...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “acknowledges the extensive range of measures included in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future, building on the initiatives already undertaken and in progress, which will be brought forward to support individuals and families to access affordable housing...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I apologise that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, cannot be present as he is currently at Cabinet. The Government is opposing the motion. The Government firmly believes that home ownership is good for individuals, good for families, good for communities and good for the State. With this in mind, we have put affordability and the chance to own a home at the very heart of our housing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Sales (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: 211. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress on a multiagency enforcement programme on solid fuel use as a home heating source; if his attention has been drawn to imports of German coal to the Irish market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26131/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Strategic Infrastructure (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: The Seventh Schedule of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) prescribes infrastructure developments for the purposes of sections 37A and 37B of the Act, for which planning applications in respect of projects referred to as Strategic Infrastructure Developments (SID) are made directly to An Bord Pleanala. Battery energy storage systems are not specifically listed as SID...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: An Bord Pleanála (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: An Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála was undertaken by an independent expert panel and published in March 2016. An Implementation Group, comprising representation from the Department and An Bord Pleanála, was established to oversee the implementation of the Review recommendations. The Review contains 101 recommendations relating to legislative provisions,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: A planning application for residential development may be specifically described as ‘build-to-rent’ (BTR) development at the planning application stage. This is set out in Chapter 5.0 of the Apartment Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2020 and defines ‘build to rent’ development as:- “Purpose-built residential accommodation and associated amenities...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the committee for inviting me to discuss the general scheme of the local government (directly elected mayor executive functions in Limerick city & county) Bill, which was approved by Government on 20 April 2021. I am joined by Ms Mairead Ryan and Mr. Paris Beausang from the Department's franchise section and by Mr. Diarmuid O'Leary, Ms Áinle Ní Bhriain and Mr. Grant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: The briefing note states that the mayor will have a vote on all matters before the council, except in matters of oversight. In that context, head 12(2) states: "The mayor shall exercise a vote in relation to all matters that come before the elected council, except where the vote is in relation to the council's oversight role in respect of the mayor." That is not in the actual briefing note....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Mitchell for her engagement with the process. I acknowledge that she has been constructive, as have other members of her party. On the powers of councillors, I am very keen that they keep their reserved powers. This is why there is an essential tenet to robustly hold the mayor to account. This is going to be key in how this process works out on the ground. Councillors...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I apologise that I had forgotten to comment on that, my writing is not as good as it used to be. It will be the responsibility of the new mayor to present the development plan to local authority members. People must visualise that the current chief executive has the executive function of presenting the plan to the councillors. The councillors adjudicate on it, go through the process of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for his constructive narrative throughout this process. It is very much In terms of a deputy mayor, it is important to state that we did not create a position that would be directly below that of the mayor in terms of name, particularly in view of the fact that it is a body holding him to account. The councillors will hold him to account. I draw the Deputy's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: Yes, that is correct. I will get a figure for the Senator in a few moments. I do not have it written down.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: To clarify, the salary for the director general is to increase from €162,000 to €171,000 but I would add the caveat that this has to be negotiated with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Senator's point about having a deputy speaker is well made. The implementation and advisory group, the people of Limerick and various actors in Limerick were very strong on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: To correct the Deputy, in an instance where, due to incapacity or something happening to the mayor, all the powers revert to the príomh comhairleoir. This will mean that he will have to exercise the duties and functions of that office until there is a replacement becomes available following an election that has to be held within six months. The latter will also depend on the electoral...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Chair for his input. I will go through his points one by one. The development contribution schedule and rates will be the responsibility of the mayor. It will be his job to liaise with the executive. Let us think about what is happening here. All the powers the current chief executive has will be transferred to the new democratically elected mayor, except for those core...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Peter Burke: Under the general scheme, the selection of a special adviser is currently up to the elected mayor. The other staff complement of the office will come from the local authority section but he will have his choice of special adviser. This is something we can consider if the committee has views on it. I would be careful, however, of pigeonholing the new mayor by insisting that the person to be...