Results 9,141-9,160 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: I am going to be clear on this. The guidelines that are set often lead people to be concerned about sites. I want to be clear that high density does not mean high-rise, and that is what people keep saying. I am not saying there has to be a high-rise in every set.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: It is very clear-----

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: There is not an exact minimum per site. I want to be clear on this.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: That is fine. I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, in terms of this debate, if we are to achieve climate change and compact growth, it will mean a higher density and better use of land.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: There are plenty of decisions in front of An Bord Pleanála at this moment. Neither I, as Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, nor the Minister, Deputy Murphy, dictate to An Bord Pleanála how to judge every individual site. Likewise, we do not do it to local authorities. There are guidelines set out to achieve the best planning outcomes...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: I cannot instruct An Bord Pleanála to issue a certain-----

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: They are given guidelines to work on. I cannot instruct An Bord Pleanála to do anything per site.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: That is what I said in my answer.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: I will be clear again. We do not, and cannot by law, dictate to An Bord Pleanála or any local authority, whether in Wexford, Meath, Galway or Cork, what to do on any individual site. I could not have been clearer when I said that a moment ago.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: To be clear, we do not dictate guidelines on a site-by-site basis.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: I cannot be clearer than that. Aspirations, aims and densities are set out. Please do not always link high density to high rise.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: That is fine. In a general policy context, I can confirm-----

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: -----that An Bord Pleanála is well versed as to what the guidelines are, as are local authorities. Our national plan has been set out to select targets, aims and aspirations. The Deputy must appreciate that I cannot direct An Bord Pleanála to achieve particular outcome on any site.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: If it will help, I will certainly do that. We engage with An Bord Pleanála around-----

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: The Deputy should let me finish what I am saying. We engage with An Bord Pleanála and all planning authorities around guidelines, aims and aspirations which are in the national planning framework and the various guidelines that are being updated. Those are guidelines. I want to be clear about this. An Bord Pleanála knows what those guidelines are but if the Deputy wants me to...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: Per site.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: There are no such requirements per site.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: Some of the Deputy's questions are subject to an ongoing planning situation so I cannot comment specifically on one case. The Deputy asked about An Bord Pleanála and the length of time it takes to make decisions. In general, a major programme of reform has been implemented in An Bord Pleanála over the last couple of years and it is now reaching much higher targets on turnarounds...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: I will make two quick comments.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Damien English: It will take ten seconds. The Government has committed €116 billion of taxpayers' money to infrastructure in the coming years. Limerick is a major beneficiary of the national planning framework.