Results 641-660 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (15 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Since its launch in May 2020, my Department has been in contact with other relevant Departments concerning the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. The Strategy is an ambitious and far-reaching document which aims to strengthen and improve the protection afforded to habitats and species in the EU as well as put in place measures to restore nature and begin the process of halting biodiversity loss....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The ruined windmill at Vinegar Hill is in my guardianship as a national monument under the National Monuments Act 1930 and is managed by the Office of Public Works. The lands immediately surrounding the structure are in the ownership of Wexford County Council. The County Development Plan contains objectives specifically aimed at the protection of battlefield landscapes and their settings. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I have neither statutory nor Ministerial responsibility for the harvesting or supply of horticultural peat. To assist in addressing the question of horticultural peat for domestic purposes, I have established a working group under an independent chairman, Dr. Munoo Prasad, to examine the issues which had been identified during the Review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hen Harriers (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan has not been published. In June, the draft Plan was circulated to the Consultative Committee (comprising representatives from non-governmental organisations, academia and sectoral bodies) and their observations on the Plan sought. Once that input has been received and taken account of, the processes for a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Surveys (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 605, 606, 607 and 608 together. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in my Department undertake regular monitoring and surveys of breeding seabird colonies around Ireland in order to provide an evidence base to inform conservation management measures and decisions. I am aware of the preliminary work that was undertaken by the British...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Surveys (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The results of the survey that is being carried out on foot of the etender that was published in relation to a national survey of urban seagulls will feed into any policy formation and decisions on potential actions to be taken in this regard. The survey is currently underway and a report on findings is expected in the Autumn.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The purpose of Section 59 of the Wildlife Act 2000 is to empower the Minister to authorise acts that are deemed to be necessary for the preservation of public health and safety even when such actions would ordinarily contravene legal provisions set out in Part II and Section 51 of the principal Act (Wildlife Act 1976).  The circumstances where the Minister would envisage granting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I have neither statutory nor Ministerial responsibility for the harvesting or supply of horticultural peat. To assist in addressing the question of horticultural peat for domestic purposes, I have established a working group under an independent chairman, Dr. Munoo Prasad, to examine the issues which had been identified during the Review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: National Parks and Wildlife Service, North Eastern Regional Management of my Department is, and has at all times been available to discuss with the EIRE 6 Restoration Group, any proposal it may have for the remediation of certain works previously carried out on the EIRE 6 sign. Regional Management is also available to discuss any proposal by the group to carry out restoration of the sign,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme supports landowners to deliver actions that benefit habitats and species in biodiversity areas of European and Irish importance. Over the past 15 years, around 800 Plans have been delivered covering a variety of nature interests, from birds and other species of conservation concern to habitats including eskers, coastal dunes, fens and turloughs. Currently, there are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 655, 656 and 662 together. I refer to the reply to Questions No. 325 and 332 of 13 July 2021, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Programme for Government (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I have taken the following steps towards fulfilling this commitment: I launched a protocol of cooperation and collaboration between the National Parks and Wildlife Service of this Department and An Garda Síochána for the purpose of combating wildlife crime.  This protocol will lead to much closer cooperation between both enforcement bodies, especially in the areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: A programme such as the one described is already long established and underway within Killarney National Park.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Since the tragic fires in Killarney National Park earlier this year there has been significant work undertaken. The National Partks and Wildlife Sevice (NPWS), of my Department, has been working tirelessly to properly assess the damage and deal with the long term impacts. The NPWS have used the best available data and imagery (satellite and standard aerial) to map and assess the exact...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Work on a revised General Scheme for the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill is currently underway in my Department. It is my intention to write to the Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage and formally request pre-legislative scrutiny once all other requirements relating to the procedures governing the introduction of draft legislation have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Policy on Architecture is at an advanced stage of development. Following analysis of the public consultation submissions, a comprehensive consultation report was prepared during 2020 and early 2021 with the cooperation of the Government Policy on Architecture Advisory Group, which is composed of representatives of my Department along with the Department of Education and Skills;...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The NPWS review is currently underway and is at drafting stage following the extensive research and consultation phase. It is hoped that the final report, which is being prepared by the Independent Chair, Prof Jane Stout of Trinity College Dublin, will be completed in early Autumn.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Section 22 provides for the enforcement of protection of wild birds. It is an offence, except in accordance with a licence issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to hunt a protected wild bird, to injure a protected wild bird, to wilfully take, remove, destroy, injure or mutilate the eggs or nest, or to wilfully disturb a protected wild bird on or near a nest...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The process of resourcing a Wildlife Crime Unit in the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has commenced. It has always been an important function of the NPWS to enforce the wildlife laws and this will continue to be the case. It will continue to work, primarily, by supporting the law enforcement work of the regional staff, for example, by arranging and conducting training,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (27 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The information sought is set out in the table below: No. Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 28 European Communities (Birds & Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 5