Results 1,081-1,100 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Culls (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: For clarity, district conservation officers make a call in terms of the management of numbers in national parks. The Deputy is talking about deer populations outside of our nature reserves and national parks. Last year, we managed to significantly improve the provision of section 42 deer hunting licences. I have met the Irish Deer Commission. We need good training for people who are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for bringing this matter forward as a Commencement matter. I addressed it previously, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, also has addressed it previously. It is an unfortunate incident and unacceptable, that must be said. In regard to an update, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, met the managing director of Irish Water, as well as the chief executives of both...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The point is well made about the further 35% of smaller water treatment plants that serve Irish Water customers. I will take that point back. It is important that there be a full audit of all water treatment plants because there is the potential for further incidents. There is potential for that in those smaller plants. Since the formation of this Government, one thing we have done is put...

Youth Mental Health: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I acknowledge the trauma and hurt of the young people and their families impacted by appalling failings of CAMHS in south County Kerry. They have been badly let down and harmed by a service in which they should have felt safe and that was trusted by the families. It is unacceptable that such failures of clinical governance failed young people so badly. I was involved in a collaborative...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Solar Energy Guidelines (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department has advanced interim regulations, allowing for increased solar panel planning exemptions, which will cover the vast majority of the land area of the country, excluding limited zones around airports and aerodromes. The draft interim regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive 2001/42/EC and it has been determined that they are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Details of Ministers’ engagements are published periodically on my Department’s website and I will arrange for the relevant weblink to be circulated with the official record. www.gov.ie/en/collection/5f6f1-ministers-diaries/ Of those who have requested to meet with me, many were already represented on The Moore Street Advisory Group. Indeed I met with this group at one...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natural Heritage Areas (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There are 632 proposed natural heritage areas in Ireland, including the area to which the Deputy refers. Although proposed natural heritage area sites are not subject to the protection provisions of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, they are taken into account in local and national land-use policy, agri-environmental farm planning schemes, and environmental assessments and they may also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department, with key partners and stakeholders, has completed a new National Policy on Architecture which will promote and embed quality in architecture and the built environment in Ireland, for increased environmental, economic and social sustainability and resilience. It will support the implementation of priorities such as Project Ireland 2040, the Climate Action Plan 2021, Housing for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Review process of the National Parks and Wildlife Service is ongoing and I refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question 586 of 19 January 2022. The position is as outlined therein - there are three phases to the Review process. The first phase; which involves an extensive research, consultation, orientation and feedback work feeds into the remaining phases. The rest of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The 2022 capital provision of a total of €20,464m for Waterways Ireland represents a significant increase compared to 2020 and 2021, and includes funding of €7m from the Shared Island Fund toward Phases 2 and 3 of the Ulster Canal restoration project. Waterways Ireland drew down capital funding of €5,73m in 2020 and €7m in 2021. Waterways Ireland will use this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Greenways Provision (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Barrow Blueway project is a significant initiative which will support communities, and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives. Waterways Ireland obtained planning permission for the Project, a 46 kilometre stretch from Lowtown to Athy, including the canal side works and the roadside works. Work commenced on this project...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland is a North-South Body under the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999, and as such was established without a Board. The functions of the Agency are exercised by a Chief Executive, under the direction of the North South Ministerial Council. In 2021, the North South Ministerial Council agreed that officials from the sponsor departments, in consultation with the Joint Secretariat...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland provides a variety of free public moorings throughout its navigation network, ranging from basic safe harbours to high quality floating moorings fitted with lighting, electricity, pump outs and water supply to cater for the more than 8,500 vessels registered on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon Erne Waterway. These facilitates are maintained during the boating season, which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Priorities (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Section 42 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (as amended) provides, that where protected wild animals or birds are causing serious damage, persons affected may, on application to the Minister, seek a permission to take appropriate steps to mitigate the damage. Applications are investigated by local National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS) staff to determine if serious damage is being caused and, if...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland is operationally independent in regard to its management of the inland waterways under its remit, therefore I do not have any function in this regard. However, I am informed that Waterways Ireland would welcome the opportunity to engage directly with the person(s), organisation or community group to gain a greater understanding of the nature and extent of this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Parks and Wildlife Service (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this Commencement matter. I will try to outline the trajectory in terms of the report referenced in The Sunday Timesand where it fits into the bigger piece of work that we have been doing over the last number of months. My portfolio as Minister of State with responsibility for heritage and electoral reform is an expansive one. The top priority for me on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Parks and Wildlife Service (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for such positive comments. As I said, it our intention to try and get the strategic plan for the future of the NPWS to Cabinet towards the middle or end of February. We know it has been an expansive piece of work. It has taken us longer than expected, but I think it will be worth it. I wish to reiterate the comments the Senator made about the NPWS as an organisation....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has undertaken a comprehensive road repair programme in Killarney National Park over the winter months. The section of roadway in question was included in this programme of works and is now completely resurfaced and finished to a very high standard. This area is well serviced by an adequate footpath and trail network, which joins the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the members of the committee for affording us the opportunity to brief them on the proposed monuments and archaeological heritage Bill. The Chair has outlined our officials. I welcome Emer Connolly, the recently appointed director of the National Monuments Service; Michael MacDonagh; Seán Kirwan; Nessa Foley; and Seán Carpenter, who recently joined our team as well. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for his question. We are aware there is already a national monument at Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. Works are ongoing to put funding in place to develop it and for the conservation and interpretation of that site. There is already protection in existing legislation for sites such as Moore Street. Where the Bill would have a role is that there are added elements in terms...