Results 6,021-6,040 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is about getting the processes to run in tandem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay. I move to ESB Networks. The representatives gave figures for costs for connection fees. I think it was said the customer pays 50% and the ESB supplies the rest. I am estimating the cost of supply to one-off rural houses is slightly over €6,000 if we include the 50% and the scheme house is around €2,000. Is that right? It is about a 3:1 extra cost for a one-off rural...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is fine. Following on from Senator Cummins's point about the connection costs on brownfield sites, with the supply of infrastructure we can get more out of it by higher density infill development and compact growth than with the continuous sprawl, because the ESB is not expanding the network out. Is that something it takes into consideration? Compact growth is one of the objectives of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: With compact growth, the ESB would be upgrading an existing network infrastructure rather than having to go further with new greenfield infrastructure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will come back to the infrastructure in a moment. We have seen energy efficiencies introduced in houses over the last five, ten, 15 years. There are A-rated appliances, LED lighting and so on. Added to that we are going have electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps. When it comes to how the ESB rates what needs to go to a house now, are we looking at a 20% increase in capacity to each...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay, so that is the supply cables in, the fuse boards and all of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is about 20%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: 120%, okay. I thank Mr. Tarrant. I had a last question on feeding into the national planning framework on density and compact growth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: Would we be able to look at, say, the infrastructure investment and commissioning of various parts of the infrastructure of both the electric and water networks as a good indicator to see if we are meeting the national planning framework balanced development targets? Are they indicators that could be used?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: Sorry, I will let Senator Cummins in now. The national planning framework obviously sets out targets on how the country should grow, and how we should get the balance right, as well as compact growth, decarbonisation etc. Apart from housing numbers, could we use as indicators the investment that has gone into the network, and where capacity has reduced in areas? If one has the capacity and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is that similar for the ESB?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Tarrant. Senator Cummins, I am sorry for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: It would also have to take into account travel patterns associated with previous growth patterns, and how they impact on emissions and our climate action plan. Just because growth is happening does not necessarily mean it is in the right place. That would be my planning perspective.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have one last question for the ESB. The replacement of cables within the greater Dublin area will be done by the ESB and not EirGrid. Is that right?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is quite a large infrastructure project. Is there opportunity for other infrastructure providers to be part of it? It is quite significant to replace those cables. Is it just something the ESB would be doing purely concentrating on cables?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Uisce Éireann, CIF and ESB Networks for their time today. It is very helpful for us. I have taken quite a few notes, as other members have too. There are a couple of issues we can engage with various Departments or organisations on to try to move them along.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: 143. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 30 May 2023, if the passport application can be expedited to rectify a series of clerical errors that will be detailed on the application file; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27764/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: 144. 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. [27770/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: 161. 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. [28143/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (13 Jun 2023)

Steven Matthews: 302. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if discussions are expected with the Road Safety Authority regarding upcoming safety campaigns; if a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of tailgating and driving too close to fellow road users could be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28050/23]