Results 1,901-1,920 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Housing for All: Statements (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: -----headlines and criticism. None of that has ever produced a house. None of them has ever produced a house. The target we need to produce is large but doable. It also creates another problem in that it leads to significant carbon emissions if these are all to be new builds, which I do not believe they will be. Concrete production is an enormous carbon emitter. If we take the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 93. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is satisfied with the current allocation of resources and staffing levels in planning departments at a local authority level; if his attention has been drawn to the extra demands that will be put on these departments with regard to the requirements under the large scale residential development Bill, the Maritime Area...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: I want to ask the Minister of State about the current level of resources and staffing at local authority level in planning services, especially in light of the extra pressures that will be put on them by the planning and development (amendment) (LSRD) Bill, the Maritime Area Planning Bill and the new draft development plan guidelines, which call for extra monitoring and measuring on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: I put the question in the context of the huge amount of work that is done at local authority level, of which the Minister of State will be aware. Our planning services are very professional and offer very professional services to everybody who engages with them, whether that is through the development plan process or other areas. Development plans are getting more and more complex and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: It is reassuring to hear that the e-planning system is progressing so well. That will bring many efficiencies to the entire planning system and cut down on those masses of paperwork that are involved in a planning application. That is, therefore, a positive move. I agree with the Minister of State about the range of services that are required now in planning. I talk about things like...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 157. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the Departmental working group set up to investigate potential amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied) in suitable public buildings; the number of times the group has met; if he plans to meet with the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46211/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 258. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons currently on the waiting list for the standard driver test in test centres in County Wicklow; the mechanisms being put in place to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46341/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 323. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of times between January 2017 to August 2020 that the board of An Bord Pleanála overruled the recommendation of case inspectors with regards to decisions on planning applications and appeals in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47135/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 19. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the delay in processing passport applications, in particular first-time passports for children and new citizens; the steps his Department is taking to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46209/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pesticide Use (29 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the use of chemical pesticide weed killers to clear rail tracks; if he will investigate this policy and consider the use of alternative methods of weed removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47108/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (29 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 118. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way in which a local authority can apply for funding to employ a full-time biodiversity officer; the number of officers that he proposes to be employed nationally; and the local authorities that currently employ a biodiversity officer, in tabular form. [47107/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Ó Coigligh for going through the briefing on the heads of Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: Head 5, dealing with shares, at (f) states: The ... [Ministers] may, in respect of the shares in Irish Water for the time being held by either of them, exercise all or any of the rights and powers from time to time exercisable by the holder of such shares. Will Mr. Ó Coigligh kindly explain to me what rights and powers the holders of such shares might exercise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Groarke for the clarification. On head 12, and heads 10 to 13, inclusive, relate to transfer, just to reiterate and it has been stated already, there is no provision in this general scheme relating to transfer of local authority staff. This is purely Irish Water staff and Irish Water being separated from Ervia’s current set-up. Can that point be clarified again for me,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: My last question deals with where Ervia consists of Irish Water and Gas Networks Ireland. When Irish Water is separated out, will Ervia continue to exist in any form or will it be required?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: These will then be stand-alone public utilities, nationally owned. I thank Mr. Ó Coigligh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: Deputy O'Callaghan has raised an important point. In a lot of documentation we see, there is a failure to use gender-inclusive language. This instance relates to just one Department, whereas this should be applied across all legislation and heads of Bills. As a committee, we will write to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Is that the office responsible for such drafting?

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (30 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 65. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to cases of Afghan citizens who had been long-term residents of Ireland and have a large support network here but who do not hold Irish EU visas and who are currently stuck in Kabul; if advice will be provided to anyone in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46210/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (30 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: 184. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the time limit for serving as a member of the board of An Bord Pleanála; the approximate date of expected vacancies that will likely be filled before February 2025; and the way board members are selected. [47270/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

Steven Matthews: The purpose of this meeting is pre-legislative scrutiny of the water services separation Bill 2021. We are joined by Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh, assistant secretary, water division, Ms Shirley Groarke, principal officer and Ms Karen Flynn, assistant principal of water services governance, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Members have been circulated with the briefing,...