Results 721-740 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The annual declarations are made first and foremost under Article 9 of the Birds Directive. The annual declarations have traditionally been made only under the European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 (S.I. No. 254 of 1986), there is also provision under regulation 55 of the European Communities (Birds and Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011) in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wildlife Licensing Unit (WLU) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department issues licences under Section 22 (9) g & h and 23 (6) c & d of the Wildlife Act to retain and possess injured animals/birds. In order to obtain a licence one must follow a significant and rigorous application process. All rehabilitation organisations are subject to this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As advised most recently in my response to Question No. 236 on 24 June 2021 and in many parliamentary replies prior to that, my Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (28 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department. The timing and scheduling of the Assembly will depend on the outcome of these discussions and on a number of external factors which need to be considered before the scope and terms of the Assembly are framed.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (29 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I established the working group referred to by the Deputy, under independent chairman Dr. Munoo Prasad, to examine important issues which had been identified during the Review of the use of Peat in the Horticultural Industry.  The working group is comprised of representatives of the relevant Government Departments, State Bodies and Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Surveys (29 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. Following the standard public procurement process, my Department issued a contract to an experienced and expert company to lead on the Irish survey work. The network of my Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) conservation rangers has also undertaken a significant amount of the survey work which has helped keep...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Health and Safety (29 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My officials are in the process of assessing the recommendations of the first interim report of the Consultative Committee, which undertook a review of the issues relating to the impact of gulls in urban areas.  This assessment will inform the resourcing and other implications (including  legal) required to implement the recommendations, where appropriate. This work is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (5 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Both species of seal in Irish waters - the Harbour or Common Seal and the more numerous Grey Seal - are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and Ireland is obliged to maintain their populations at favourable conservation status. We are also required to monitor these species and report to the European Commission on their conservation status. A standardised monitoring programme has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (5 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Ireland, like all Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Nature Directives which aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and special protection areas (SPAs). My Department writes to all identified land owners with a legal interest in a site, outlining the intention to designate the site, the appeals process that can...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (5 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The number of boats that were removed by Waterways Ireland from the waterways under its jurisdiction in each of the years 2016 to 2020 inclusive, is set out in the table below. Year Canals Shannon & Shannon Erne Waterway 2016 7 0 2017 0 0 2018 17 15 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (5 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Under Part II of the Electoral Act 1992, every person is entitled to be entered on the register of electors if that person: - has reached the age of 18 years, and - is ordinarily resident in a constituency in the State. Subject to the age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship then determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Irish citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tourism Industry (6 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In March 2021, €121,285,388 was allocated to Dublin City Council in respect of the North Inner City Concept Area 1 under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. The North Inner City project involves the regeneration and redevelopment of several areas of the north inner city that have experienced a degree of decline and dereliction over a number of years resulting in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (6 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department. The timing and scheduling of the Assembly will depend on the outcome of these discussions and on a number of external factors which need to be considered before the scope and terms of the Assembly are framed.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (6 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Under electoral law, Returning Officers are responsible for the selection and provision of polling stations at polling places. Section 94 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended by section 3 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1996, provides that Returning Officers must, where practicable, select buildings for polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users. A Working Group on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (7 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. The story he has told is replicating itself with thousands of families across the country. I hope I can provide, by way of background, where we are now and assure the Deputy that the Government is working tirelessly to try to resolve this matter on behalf of families. The Department is not familiar with the specific details of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (7 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: It is expected that significant changes will be made to the scheme. Progress has been made to date through the group and issues such as removing upfront costs for assessing the scheme have been agreed with homeowners, as have other issues, including rent costs for those who have had to move out of their homes. Planning permission exemptions have been agreed for like-for-like developments,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (7 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The request by the Chair of the working group for an extension to the end-of-September timeline for submission of the Report referred to by the Deputy was first brought to my attention on the morning of 29 September. The Chair indicated that a brief additional period of time would be required in order to take account of technical meetings conducted by the group on the different strands of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Forestry Sector (7 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) officials of my Department monitor designated sites and, in conjunction, with other public authorities, as appropriate, investigate incidents within these sites in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. The re-fencing of Uragh Wood Nature Reserve is intended...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (12 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Wall for raising this issue and providing me with an opportunity to give an update on the matter on behalf of the Department. The Department provides funding to local authorities under the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs and also to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (12 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Following the stock response that we have given the Senator, as well as the specific issues the Senator has raised here, the Department needs to come back with a specific set of answers. The workshop that was held with local authorities was useful in teasing out these issues. A new set of challenges has come about as we emerge from the pandemic. Building costs are surging. There is...