Results 101-120 of 4,720 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank both Deputy Ó Broin and Deputy Mitchell for raising this issue and for putting forward constructive proposals regarding it. As we are all aware, last night Dublin city councillors voted by 48 votes to 14 not to transfer lands at Oscar Traynor Road as part of a development agreement to deliver 853 homes on the site. That was a democratic decision of the local authority members....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I reiterate that the advice of the council's executive to council members was that an exhaustive process was undertaken in recent years and the proposed delivery model, which was agreed through Dublin City Council, was considered the most effective way to deliver the site both in terms of mixed tenure and from a financial perspective. Notwithstanding this, I note the decision of the council,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for bringing this important issue to the attention of the House. I welcome the comprehensive report from the EPA showing that, while many serious challenges remain, Irish Water is continuing to make progress and is improving the performance of our waste water systems. The Deputy will appreciate that, since 2014, Irish Water has taken on the full statutory...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Matthews for making those very important points about Irish Water and the capital investment programme required. It will take a nationwide approach to prioritising planning and investment. The company has developed a long-term investment perspective in order to address the deficiencies in public water and waste water systems. The company is closely regulated by both the EPA...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Sporting Rights (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: It is not possible to be definitive about future public health developments at this time.  There are no current plans to extend the hunting season for pheasants.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The Collaborative Town Centre Health Check is an initiative of the Heritage Council which is funded by my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: Senator Flynn has summed up, in essence, what we are trying to achieve. I take on board all the comments. It is also important to state that during my attendance in the Seanad in recent weeks, I have been deeply impressed with the level of debate. I thank Senators McDowell, Higgins and Craughwell for bringing forward this Bill. I also thank the members of the Seanad reform implementation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Generation (19 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. We have all been taken aback by it and the scenes we have witnessed are shocking. My Department and I are aware of last weekend's peat slide near the Meenbog wind farm, which is currently under construction close to Barnesmore Gap south of Ballybofey, County Donegal. The matter is being actively investigated by a number of statutory agencies led...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Generation (19 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I chaired the interagency group in the wake of the Drumkeeran landslide. We have met on a number of occasions. We have an excellent report, which I have read. It has some very good recommendations that we can learn from. There is no doubt that weather-related events seem to have had an impact, in particular a very dry spring followed by heavy rain falls in respect of Drumkeeran. As I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (19 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate the issue of defective concrete blocks is a particularly emotive one for households and I sympathise with all who are caught in this distressing situation. It is very worrying for those affected. The issue came to light in 2013 when significant cracking of external walls was recorded in houses in Donegal and Mayo. An expert panel was established in 2016 to investigate the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (19 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The Department would need to see the substantive information the Deputy mentioned that supports Clare County Council's request for an extension of the scheme to County Clare. There is an opportunity for Clare County Council to take the lead and, first, demonstrate that the issues in Clare are, in fact, due to the presence of excessive levels of deleterious materials, whether mica or pyrite,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Inland Waterways (19 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: There has been extensive engagement in recent weeks at a very senior level between my Department and officials in the Department of the Taoiseach in this matter.  The Deputy will recall that in July 2007, the North South Ministerial Council agreed to a proposal to restore a 13km section of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones. This project is important for the border region...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The regular management, maintenance and improvement of local authority housing stock is a matter for each relevant local authority. The Department supports local authorities to improve their social housing stock through a range of funding programmes including energy retrofitting, regeneration and refurbishment works to vacant properties in order to return these to productive use as quickly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I wholeheartedly agree. The Deputy referred to the design of the flats by Dublin city architect Herbert Simms, which were built between 1936 and 1938. I am familiar with Pearse House. From a heritage perspective, these flat complexes throughout the city are vitally important. The Deputy rightly points out the issue of dampness. This is a significant public health problem, which causes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The Minister has committed to a meeting. Just to outline the works on Pearse House in the past 24 months, all roofs were repaired in 2018. Blocks A and C had their roofs upgraded in March 2019. Stairwells were repaired in 2019. A drainage survey of the entire complex was completed in 2018. There were repairs to the network system, and upgrades to the fire and domestic alarms and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: Under Call 1 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in 2018, Waterford City and County Council received an initial allocation of €6m for the North Quays project. This URDF supported project consists of largely transport focused infrastructure works that will open up the City’s North Quays site for the development of commercial and residential land with direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: EU Regulations (24 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: Notwithstanding our reservations on the draft Regulation in relation to the transition period for implementation, Ireland did indicate at the most recent meeting of the REACH committee in September last that, as we are committed to phasing out lead shot in and around wetlands, we would support the draft Regulation. A vote was taken at the meeting on the draft Regulation and it was passed by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architectural Heritage (24 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department's Built Heritage Division is aware of the significance of the built heritage of Brú Chaoimhín and has recorded several buildings there on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). With regard to the safeguarding of protected structures, Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The Government approved the drafting of the General Scheme of an Electoral Reform Bill on 20 October 2020. The general scheme will address commitments in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future relating to the establishment of a statutory, independent electoral commission, the modernisation of the electoral registration process and the regulation of online political advertising...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rural Recreation Policy (24 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I have noted the issues outlined by the association in question including the reference to a statement by An Garda Siochana in the matter.My Department has no function in granting exemptions from compliance with public health regulations made in the context of COVID -19.