Results 5,521-5,540 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have to move on. I am next, followed by Deputy Ó Broin and Senator Boyhan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is okay. I refer to section 241, which relates to tree preservation orders, TPOs. If it appears to the planning authority that it is expedient to make a TPO, because it is often put that we do not have the resources or the finance to make TPOs, I would like the inclusion of a provision that members could, by way of resolution, request tree preservation orders. I ask the Department to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: Section 249 (5), which I raised before, relates to the correction of any error of fact or law. It was agreed that we could insert something not material to the decision. Is that still the view of the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is probably one of the most contentious sections that have come up. I refer to section 139 (10) on page 305. If one were to revoke planning permission where a development has commenced, it is important that the test for commencement aligns with the test for commencement of extensions. In other words, what we do not want in cases where there is a revocation of a planning permission, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is to include a lot of environmental impact assessments and report. It is a really good idea to have an environmental assessment portal to which people can go. I am referring to screening determinations by the board that people could request.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: Section 277 is on the making of architectural conservation areas. I am not sure whether it is defined in the Local Government Act if that is for a municipal district or a full council. They are generally done for county development plans. It would be beneficial for local councillors to be able to make a determination on that. Under section 325(2)(b), on page 579, the commission is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is Senator Boyhan keeping an eye on the clock for me?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have two minutes. That is great. Section 234(1), on page 459, refers to exceptional circumstances. I am not clear on what "exceptional circumstances" means. Will guidance be provided in that regard? We had to clarify that when we were doing substitute consent during the planning and evaluation Bill. I ask that "exceptional circumstances" be clarified. I refer to my last note. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I think Deputy Ó Broin wants to come back in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: We are out of time now. We could probably go on, but it is appropriate to take a break. I thank the witnesses for their time. I know there is a considerable amount of work by their team going into this, as there has been by the Attorney General and his team. It is very important we get it right. The witnesses' attendance today has really helped, as has their previous attendance and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have that here in my notes. We would like to hear about timelines on the urban development zones, UDZs, or the land value sharing and urban development zones Bill, because we do see that they are going to cross at some point here, and we as a committee will have to carry out the pre-legislative scrutiny on that. The transitional arrangements are critical to this as well, for example, if...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am delighted the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, is here to answer this question regarding solar panels for schools. Last October, we announced in the budget that we would roll out solar panels on schools for free. It is a very sensible suggestion. It can power the lighting and the interactive white boards in the schools. The increase in the number of school meals we rolled out...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I appreciate the Minister's response. I visit many schools around County Wicklow and I commend her Department on the quality of the build of the new schools there. The quality is exceptionally high. The pathfinder programme is very important. The Minister knows better than anybody the pressure schools are often under to heat their buildings. They are always under financial pressure....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: Today's meeting is to discuss an update on the tenant in situprocess. From the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, we are joined by Ms Áine Stapleton, assistant secretary with responsibility for social housing delivery; Mr. David Kelly, principal officer in charge of housing finance and delivery co-ordination; and Ms Rosemarie Tobin, principal officer with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. Deputy Emer Higgins can go next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will take the next slot. I concur with what Senator Fitzpatrick said at the start of the meeting about the work rate. My experience of dealing with local authority staff who deal with homelessness and housing is that they are dealing with an incredible workload and demonstrate incredible dedication. Often we are simply the people who make the connection between the local authority and...