Results 981-1,000 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regeneration Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: With regard to the Noonan Road project, there is no further action my Department can take in respect of the submission for funding until Cork City Council provides the clarifications we are seeking. Our Department supports local authorities in improving their social housing stock through a range of programmes, including energy retrofitting, regeneration and refurbishment works on vacant...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regeneration Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: This is in addition to the normal large-scale regeneration and rebuild programme of works which continues to be funded by my Department in the Knocknaheeney area of Cork city. With regard to the point Deputy Gould raised about the €21 million spent between 2013 and 2020, there were different standards of works. The funding required for 7,000 units to meet the 2013 standards is...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: There was much discussion on Committee Stage in the Dáil around public consultation and the need to exclude certain periods.This is consistent with the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Section 54 of the Bill also provides that the Minister may, by regulations, specify further public holidays. On the passage of this Bill, my Department will begin preparing all relevant...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank both Senators and agree with them on public consultation and how hugely important it is. Senator Boyhan and I have spoken on a number of occasions in this Chamber about the importance of good, robust public engagement and how that brings about better outcomes for all parties. That is something we agree on. However, I consider that much of what is proposed in these amendments would...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: A number of points have been raised by the Senators. I will try to get through the ones primarily relating to the governance element of MARA first. I will then speak specifically to the elements raised by the Senators, in respect of local authority members in particular.I served 16 years on a local authority, was elected on four occasions and feel proud of the work we achieved in my time...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 274, inclusive, 278, 279, 283, 285, 290 and 291 together. As answered in previous Questions on this issue, my officials are continuing to work on assessing the recommendations of the first interim report of the Consultative Committee on urban gulls, which undertook a review of the issues relating to the impact of gulls in urban areas. My officials...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The report was published by my Department last week and is available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276, 277, 280 to 282, inclusive, 284 and 286 to 289, inclusive, together. My Department undertook the National Urban Gull Survey in 2021 as part of a wider seabird surveying collaboration with the UK known as Seabirds Count. The published report, enclosed for convenience, sets out the spatial focus of the surveys (Figures 2 and 4), including for a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 to 299, inclusive, together. Article 16 of the Constitution sets out clearly and distinctly the overarching requirements that apply to the membership of Dáil Éireann. In addition, and complementary to the constitutional provisions of Article 16.2 in particular, Part II of the Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides for a constituency review...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The navigation to Lough Allen through the Lough Allen Canal was restored and re-opened in 1994. Since then, Waterways Ireland has developed and maintained facilities for boats at a number of key locations including a significant marina development at Cleighran More and harbour facilities at Spenser Harbour. Waterways Ireland has recently received planning approval for the development of a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As a Kilkenny man, I am very fond of west Cork. It is a part of the country I am very familiar with. On the issue in Castletownshend, it is simply unacceptable that we have raw sewage discharging into watercourses. It is something this Government is determined to address. We have had a number of these issues raised consistently by Deputies. We need to make significant progress over the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As I said, the experience across the country is that small towns that are primed for growth are being held back because of a lack of adequate infrastructure. The Minister and I are determined to work towards resolution of these issues with Irish Water. As I said, the local authorities and Irish Water need to work together to try to ensure this infrastructure is in place. We have put in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (16 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Revised General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill was approved by Cabinet on 30 November 2021. I intend to refer the Revised General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage over the coming days in order to commence pre-legislative scrutiny.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (16 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service has already provided its views to the Local Authority in respect of this matter and has no further role with regard to the Local Authority's decision making on this project.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the committee for affording me the opportunity to present this set of proposed planning regulations on behalf of Deputy Peter Burke, the Minister of State with responsibility for local government and planning. The fast-track planning arrangements in respect of strategic housing developments, SHDs, for projects of 100 or more housing units, or 200 or more student accommodation bed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Will I take that question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Officials from the Department, Ms Ciara Gallagher, Mr. Brian Loughlin, and Mr. Terry Sheridan, are with us to deal with any issue I cannot reply to. I would say "Yes" that it certainly would. The positive aspect to these regulations is that the fees will go back to the local authorities to help enhance their resources within planning units to carry out their work. That is a very positive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate that Chair. Hopefully, I have answered the question adequately. As I said, it is certainly a positive element.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Chair and Senator Cummins for raising these important questions. The Department is undertaking a review of local authorities across the country in regard to resourcing. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will make an announcement around the resourcing elements the Senator has raised. We are conscious that this is putting an already over-burdened planning system within local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I agree wholeheartedly. These regulations, and the LRD Bill, put public participation back at the heart of large-scale developments. They also seek to ensure the planning system is robust and allows for a streamlined planning process that ensures everybody can take part while also guaranteeing that decisions can be made in a timely manner. We take on board the points made regarding...