Results 921-940 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Perhaps I could follow up on that. The long-term leases mentioned by Mr. Taaffe are where a local authority enters into a 25-year arrangement, for example. What happens after those 25 years to tenants in those long-term leases? What is the plan after the 25-year lease?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Dunne. I have a couple of questions. The purpose of today's meeting is to scrutinise the affordable housing Bill, to help us report back on that Bill and suggest improvements that may be necessary. We know that local authorities and approved housing bodies have a long track record of delivering good quality housing and they will continue to do so. We must also examine the Land...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Equity return is mentioned in the cost rental section. Does Mr. Dunne think the legislation would be improved by defining that as limited equity return, and the limit being defined?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: The perspective I am taking is that the equity return on cost rental should be provision of affordable cost rental housing, long-term secure tenancies, fixed to the consumer price index. The focus of cost rental should not be profitability but affordability. That is why I make the point about the equity return. I think it should be defined as limited equity return in order to define that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: The Land Development Agency is going through the Houses now. The Land Development Agency will have responsibility and capability in infrastructural delivery and acquiring land and working closely with local authorities. Does the CCMA see the advantages of the measures in the Land Development Agency Bill and the affordability legislation working in tandem?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Deputy Duffy mentioned the meeting with the Austrian Green Party to look at the Vienna model. Cost rental is a model the Green Party has promoted for a long time, so I am delighted to see it placed on a statutory basis now. The Vienna model has been in place for generations, and that is why it is so successful. It is because it has proven track record. Do we have a bit of work to do in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the witnesses for their attendance and for sharing their experience and knowledge of this subject with us. We are trying to put together a report on this legislation that will feed into and improve it. The attendance of the witnesses here this morning has assisted us with that.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (3 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: 93. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will review the reports on the 2017-2018 pilot programme that was run through the SEAI that sought to increase the energy efficiency of schools; and if such a scheme will be reintroduced and include grant funding for improvements such as installing LED lights to replace existing fittings. [12002/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: 502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a permanent building for a school (details supplied); if a feasibility study has been carried out; if the proposed site is in the ownership of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12004/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (3 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: 982. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to meet the previously committed funding requirements of a facility (details supplied) in order to alleviate the concerns of staff, patients and families connected to this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12007/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (4 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: 44. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a number of banks issuing notices to customers regarding the introduction of negative interest rates including solicitor client accounts which will have knock-on charges for mortgage applicants who will see charges for transferring their deposit through this transactional account; and if he will make a statement on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I welcome members and witnesses to our meeting on pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020. We are joined remotely by Mr. John Coleman, CEO, Ms Rose Kenny, head of operations, and Mr. Phelim O'Neill, head of property, all of whom are from the Land Development Agency. The opening statement has been circulated to members. I will first ask the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: We might return later to the question on the completion pipeline from 2023 to 2025. I am moving now to Fine Gael. Can I have an indication from Fine Gael?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry Mr. Coleman but we have run out of time in that slot. We will come back to the issue of engagement with the local authorities in the next round of questioning. Deputy O'Donoghue is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Coleman for clarifying that. I have had discussions with others about the fact that the LDA is there to assist the local authorities and also has the capacity to pull together public lands that local authorities may not have the ability to pull together. The Affordable Housing Bill refers to affordable housing for purchase or long-term, secure rental also known as cost rental....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I will direct the next question to Mr. O'Neill and it follows from my previous query. Will he give an indication of completion numbers from 2023 towards 2025? There was mention of activity on nine sites in the opening statement. What is the percentage of affordable units on those recent developments?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: It is not on my rota but I do not mind who goes first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: The video broke up, so did the Deputy pick up the answer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Just about but I can let the Senator back in in the third round. I call Deputy Higgins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Mr. Coleman?