Results 9,141-9,160 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: A complex building would be an engineered timber building using CLT or glue laminated timber, GLT, to build multiple storeys. The committee has seen evidence of six- and eight-storey buildings in other European nations and an example of a 14-storey building in Helsinki. I accept what Ms Neary said about rain ingress into buildings through the cladding but they are using standardised...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: I completely agree. We do not want a rush to try to do something that we will regret over the course of the next ten or 20 years, either because the buildings are not done to a proper standard or we have a fire disaster because we were trying to rush things. I fully accept that we need to have standards and a systematic approach so that Ms Neary's colleagues can expect the same result from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: It is not innovative in the country where I am buying it, only here. Is that the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: How long would that process generally take? I have met people who are producing these buildings in Europe. We could produce them here. There is plenty of capability in Ireland to produce these. I am not saying that we have to import them from Europe but there is a ready-made model there. I am just wondering how long the Agrément certification takes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: I accept that progress is being made and that we are going in the right direction. The sense of frustration I have is that we seem to be doing so very slowly. I would counter that by saying that we need to do it right, rather than quickly and wrong. This is where it comes back to whether they are perceived or real difficulties that we are hearing from people who work in this area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: I just have one follow up question on that. In a lot of the research and in the meetings we have had on dereliction and vacancy, there was talk about the establishment of what was called a one-stop shop. If someone wanted to go in and change a building's use from commercial, a three or four storey building, into residential, we have taken away the requirement for planning permission for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: I will have to read it as I have not read it yet. Does Mr. Wickham have a comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: That is very helpful. Bringing Buildings Back is a really good document and the witness is right that there was a new version of it released recently. That is excellent. I do not see anybody else indicating to ask questions. On behalf of the committee, I want to thank all the witnesses for the work they are doing in this area. I know we can be quite demanding because we want to see...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 255. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the OPW-led assessment of a building (details supplied); if this project can be expedited to bring these buildings back into community use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23000/24]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 266. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the new draft employment regulation order for security officers; if he is concerned about the impact any delays are having on those who work in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22755/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 340. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the proposal to amend planning regulations to allow homeowners to install small bike sheds in front of their properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22418/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the inflexibility of the free solar panel roll-out for schools scheme; if a higher than 6 kw generating yield system can be contracted for the same price; if a school is allowed that flexibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23153/24]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (28 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 171. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to concerns of sports/recreation clubs regarding the lack of insurance cover available to cover children's summer camps (details supplied); if he plans to engage with this sector on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23976/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Sport and Recreational Development (28 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 275. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 369 of 14 May 2024, the position regarding the licence for a club (details supplied) applied for through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23726/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (28 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 303. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the review of the suite engineering qualifications declared under section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001; the membership of the expert panel established as part of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24122/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (28 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 418. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the fees paid to optometrists for public eye exams under their existing Departmental contract; if this is under review; if he has met with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23550/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (28 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 475. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 661 of 30 April 2024, if his attention has been drawn to concerns that Ireland is falling behind other EU member states regarding the newborn screening process and the number of diseases assessed at this milestone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23979/24]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (29 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the ongoing review of the coroner’s service following the closure of the public consultation in January 2024; to provide a timeline for the publication of the reports; the parameters of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24184/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (29 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 186. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the opening of the register of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24211/24]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (30 May 2024)

Steven Matthews: 24. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the details of the recently announced funding of up to €120 million under the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24033/24]