Results 1,601-1,620 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (26 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the older Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. Having regard to the continued priority which the Government attaches to these schemes and following an...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am aware of the problem caused by the non-removal of cable ties following elections and referenda. My Department held a public consultation in autumn 2008 regarding the control of postering for elections and referenda. There were 117 submissions made, containing a variety of recommendations, including measures to tackle the cable tie issue. On foot of this consultation, a number of local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: The recent decision by Sligo Borough Council not to include any specific objective for a critical new access link to the east of Sligo in their draft development plan, in line with current and previous development plans, will impact on the potential to provide a new compact and sustainable model of development for Sligo, including the future regeneration of the Cranmore area. My Department is...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together. My Department's involvement with the new Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. These schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupments available from my...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment and approval of individual applications and the payment of grants to householders, is...

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service, including the provision of fire fighting and emergency equipment, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981 and 2003. The Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendment No. 1 proposes the deletion of a definition of the core strategy. However, the evidence-based core strategy is a cornerstone of the Bill as it ensures a sound development plan, which is a key to ensuring good planning at local level, and a central plank to zoning reform. Decisions taken at the development planning stage affect all other planning decisions. This amendment was...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendments Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, are related to the issue of the higher two thirds majority as opposed to a simple majority which was discussed at length last week. I found the Committee Stage debate on this issue very constructive and I have reflected further on the issues raised. As I have clarified, it was intended to ensure that any further changes proposed by Members to amendments to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is no harm to say something a second time even though I thought I made my position clear a few moments ago. Amendments Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, refer to a higher two thirds majority as opposed to a simple majority. We discussed this at length last week. The debate on Committee Stage on this matter was very constructive and I reflected further on the issues raised. It was intended that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: The proposal to raise the mandatory population threshold for preparing local area plans from 2,000 to 5,000 persons provoked some good discussion. I recognise the issues raised as to the possibility of no new local area plans being put forward in some instances because the population may fall below the threshold, even though a local area plan would have been prepared previously for an area....

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendments Nos. 8, 9 and 10 are not acceptable for the reasons outlined already. Regional planning guidelines are the linchpin between the national spatial strategy, which sets the broader strategic planning framework at central Government level, and local planning, which sets the local context for development planning and management. The amendments provide for regional authorities to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendment No. 11 proposes to delete the proposed amendments to section 28 of the principal Act in respect of strengthening the requirements for the planning authorities to adhere to rather than merely have regard to key statutory guidelines issued by the Minister under the section. The amendments relate to the inclusion of more specific information in development plans and how a plan would...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendment No. 12 proposes the deletion of the proposed new subsection 31(12) which would remove the selection criteria for the inspector to be appointed by the Minister to report to him or her on the draft direction. There must be an over-arching criteria which would determine if a person is experienced and qualified to act as an inspector for the purpose of reporting to the Minister on...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: The inspector will be appointed by the Minister of the day. Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand," put and declared carried.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: While the new section does not provide for a specific timeframe within which a final direction must be put on public display, I am considering a generic wording which would allow planning authorities to display directions in as timely a fashion as possible. I will introduce any such amended wording on Committee Stage in the Dáil.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: This issue has been raised and debated in the Seanad and I am responding in that context. If there is a need to amend the wording, it will be done on Committee Stage in the Dáil. Senators will appreciate that we are obliged to engage with the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General on matters of this nature. It is not always possible to have matters adjudicated upon...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: As regards amendment No. 15, the current position allows a planning authority to take account of any information concerning a development carried out by a person to whom the section applies pursuant to the granting of planning permission when deciding whether to refuse permission to a developer on the basis of past performance. To insert the word "connected" would mean that the planning...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: I reject totally the suggestion that I am treating this House with contempt as Senator Coffey indicates. I have given the view of Parliamentary Counsel on three of the four amendments with which we are dealing. That is a fair achievement since last Wednesday. Any changes or amendments made in the Dáil will have to come back to this House because the Bill originated here. In response to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: Section 21 amends section 37H(2)(c) of the principal Act providing for the extension of cost recovery to pre-application scoping requests for environmental impact assessment for strategic infrastructure development cases under the Seventh Schedule of the principal Act. This is in addition to cost recovery which is already in place for the strategic infrastructure cases that proceed to a full...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Michael Finneran: Section 23 replaces section 42 of the principal Act. The section provides for the extension of permission for a period not exceeding five years in circumstances where substantial works have not been carried out but where there were commercial, economic or technical reasons beyond the control of the applicant which substantially mitigate against either the commencement or the development of...