Results 1,941-1,960 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (22 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department monitors the population trends of and status of wild bird species, in accordance with the requirements of Article 12 of the Birds Directive. This monitoring programme does not specifically monitor the effects of climate change on bird nesting habits. No adjustments to hedge-cutting obligations under the Wildlife Act are being considered at present.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am happy to address those issues. I will ask members of my team to come in on any specific items I cannot respond to. I agree wholeheartedly with the first point the Deputy made regarding communication. It is essential that there are good communication channels. We have good networks of local volunteer organisations, NGOs and public participation networks throughout the country that are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Correct. Any further developments, or if decisions are to be made around the use of those buildings on a more permanent nature, will require planning permission, as per normal. My officials may come in on that. Again, I will take back the points the Deputy raised regarding people with leave to remain. It is important that we try to move the 26% of people the Deputy said are in direct...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I accept that a letter is a cold means of communication. It would be far preferable that it is more personal, and that someone could call in to speak to families and take questions. That is a very valid point. We accept that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: That would be the case. If there is a need to extend that period that would have to come back again to the Houses of the Oireachtas. We are hearing loud and clear the points raised in respect of communication and information. That is really important. It is challenging to do well, and it is important that we do it well and get the correct and accurate information out to communities in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy McAuliffe. I agree wholeheartedly and welcome the positive comments generally. It is very encouraging we agree. There is no doubt this is an unprecedented crisis. We have responded incredibly well at local community level and with all arms of the State as well. I take the point about communications from the HSE and the Department of Education. If we could correct the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome the Deputy's comments and assure him we are taking a whole-of-government approach. Indeed, it is also a whole-of-local-government approach and a whole-of-society approach. That will stand to us well and we can be proud of our response. Even if communities have genuine concerns, people are very quick to bat down any far-right elements that try to latch on to those genuine concerns...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The State intervenes through grant schemes. On meeting with the insurance action group, it was clear that does not in any way mitigate the challenges faced in insurance. However, the grants are in recognition of the fact that the owners of these properties are custodians of these houses, importantly, on behalf of the State. They are a heritage asset of the State. That is why we are keen...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy. I will come in on a couple of points and then I will ask Mr. Sinnott to come in on the specifics around the figures. Deputy Devlin mentioned the figure of 2,000 which is an estimate. As I said, the survey is ongoing. I also referenced thatch-under-tin which can be seen all over the country where there is a galvanised roof with thatch underneath. When I heard that...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: What is critical is that we are acting with urgency now. There have been significant efforts down the years to try to resolve this issue. It is hugely challenging and the catalyst in our Department was the development of the vernacular strategy and ensuring we have, as Minister of State, Deputy Fleming said, a whole-of-government approach to it. In terms of reassurance to owners of...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will ask Mr. Sinnott to come in. As I mentioned, the two grant schemes we have are a recognition of the significant maintenance duties of the owners of thatched properties.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will ask Mr. Sinnott to come in on that and specifically on the question of varying those grants, which we are reviewing at the moment.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for her comments. I agree with her. This is a very powerful committee because it is very democratic. From our perspective, when we engage with the Department of Finance, it is very open in its responses. We welcome the amount of work that the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, and his team have put into this. As I said in response to the Cathaoirleach's question, from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (29 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Cormorant is native to Ireland and is monitored at a number of sites during its breeding and non-breeding seasons, in accordance with Article 12 of the EU Birds Directive. It is largely a coastal breeding bird but a portion of the Irish population nests inland in freshwater environments. A breeding survey, including Ireland’s inland waterways system, was conducted in recent years....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (29 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: A site-specific conservation objectives document was published for River Boyne and River Blackwater SAC (site code 002299) in December 2021. It is available at the following link: www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/protected-sites/conservation _objectives/CO002299.pdf. This document contains a conservation objective for each of the habitats and species listed in the Habitats Directive for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (29 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Sites designated under the Habitats Directive must be managed, conserved and protected in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Directive. Article 6.1 of the Directive requires Member States to establish the necessary conservation measure.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (30 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I know MS Ireland has been campaigning on it for a long time. I apologise for the misprint in the date on the written version of my reply that has been circulated. The implementation framework for the neuro-rehabilitation strategy was launched in February 2019. It provides guidance for the development of specialist neuro-rehabilitation services...