Results 6,621-6,640 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Where local authorities are asked to reconsider the zoning, for whatever reason the landowner may put forward, is that evaluation by the local authority an executive function, or is it the councillors that make the decision on it?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: So it would have to be advertised as a variation to a development plan.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay. When a development plan is changed, it is generally accompanied by a chief executive's report and recommendation, and possibly, the Planning Regulator etc. Will there be criteria set out as to how to make a judgment on whether this land should be dezoned? A local authority is obliged to have enough land zoned to meet the core strategy and the needs of the population. We have all been...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is there not?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: A local authority is obliged to have enough land zoned to meet the requirements of its core strategy. If land is being de-zoned, how do we ensure that local authorities do not go below the threshold needed to meet the requirements of their core strategies?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I appreciate that this is complex. In order to get it right, the Minister has to take his time. There is no doubt about that. I would be concerned that we will end up with a request for de-zoning and that we zone other land. One in five or one in six land parcels that are zoned proceed to development within the lifespan of a development plan. There is no guarantee that land being zoned...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I suggest that such land should not be subject to zoned land tax because it is not developable and probably should not have been zoned in the first place.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: We should address how we will not end up with someone looking for land to be de-zoned knowing that when we come back to do a county development plan in ten years' time and we need to vary the current plan, he or she will seek to get it zoned then and get a better value uplift in it. If one is out, one is out and we will develop the town in another direction.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Will the Minister of State wrap up then?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: The Bill is the Government legislating for the recommendations of the Electoral Commission. The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage was presented with the general scheme of the Bill and given an opportunity to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny of it, but we waived that opportunity because committee members felt that the commission was an independent and objective body...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 77. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly in the warmer homes scheme operated through the SEAI that does not allow for the energy upgrade of one-off stone wall properties as they cannot meet the qualifying criteria for any primary measures, and by, extension, secondary measures; if this can be reviewed; and if he...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 120. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding proposed changes for January 2024 in the way the Revenue Commissioners treat general medical services income within general practitioner partnerships; if he is concerned that this will impact the number of GPs operating; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of GPs in how this change is to be administered; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the temporary pause of a school bus service (details supplied) due to staff shortages; if an urgent temporary measure can be put in place using local resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49316/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a permanent school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49651/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 244. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the qualifying criteria for well water grants administered through local authorities; if an instruction can be issued to allow for the inclusion of applications for premises that are soon to be lived in following renovation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding housing estates in urban areas that are not connected to the sewerage network; if any grant funding is being considered in this case; if existing rural programmes could be expanded to include any housing estate with a long-standing communal septic tank set up; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 377. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the potential presence of RHDv2 infections in wild hares and domestic rabbits; if any research is ongoing at a Department level in this regard; if any other actions are being taken or proposed to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49494/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (14 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 613. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised by adult education tutors in relation to contract proposals published by his Department in May 2023; if he is committed to engaging with this sector on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49377/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 112. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns of members of An Garda Síochána regarding the inability to enforce noise pollution laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50135/23]