Results 2,141-2,160 of 8,167 for speaker:Peter Burke

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure that each local authority has a sufficient number of biodiversity officers and heritage officers among their staff complement. The role of a biodiversity officer is prescribed at local level by the employing local authority. Biodiversity officers are the public face of biodiversity-related activities within the local authority,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar planning exemptions set out in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity. This review is now complete. Included in the exemptions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: One year after the introduction of the Section 28 Guidelines measure, my Department has undertaken a review of the planning measures introduced. In summary by 18 May 2022, this condition had been applied to a combined total of 15,883 residential units.  This included a total of 7,988 house and duplex units across 23 Strategic Housing Development planning permissions approved by An Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: The identification and implementation of greenbelts and green spaces at a regional and city scale is a matter for regional assemblies and local authorities, through the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (including Metropolitan Area Spatial Plans) and City/County Development Plans.  Guidance in relation to provision and design of open space at the local level is set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 37 and 79 together. Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gaeltacht Policy (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: My Department convened a working group in May 2021 of last year to examine various aspects of the planning process in all Gaeltacht areas. Membership of this group is made up of representatives from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the eight relevant local authorities. The Group’s Terms of Reference specify...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: Addressing vacancy and dereliction, and maximising the use of the existing housing stock, is a priority objective of the Government, as evidenced by the recently published Housing for All - A New Housing Plan for Ireland where one of the four pathways in the plan is specifically dedicated to this area. My Department continues to liaise with local authorities on the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pleanáil Teanga (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: Táthar ag leanúint leis an obair idir mo Roinnse, an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán agus Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir le cúrsaí pleanála i gceantair Ghaeltachta. Mar chuid den obair atá déanta go dtí seo bhí grúpa oibre a thabhairt le chéile i mBealtaine 2021 chun...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: The Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future', commits to bringing forward LPT reforms including providing for all money collected locally to be retained within the county. The Government has signalled its intention that the move to 100% local retention of LPT will be introduced over the 2023 and 2024 budgetary cycles. It is expected that the LPT yield will change following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.  The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority during the annual budget process. Rates income data are published by local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (23 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. My Department reviewed the operation of the pilot Caravan Loan Scheme and recently received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to extend the pilot phase nationwide to all local authorities until the end of 2022. A circular will issue shortly outlining details of the extended pilot phase of the Caravan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (22 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: In December 2020, I established a Working Group to examine the provision of a changing places toilet in certain buildings to promote community participation and social inclusion of people. The Working Group recommended the types and sizes of buildings where a changing places toilet should be required, along with the technical requirements (equipment, room size and layout) of a changing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for, when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (22 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 61 together. My Department understand that in 2021 there were in the region of 3 full-time and 34 part-time vacant homes officers working in local authorities. In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that it is increasing the funding made available since 2018 from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites (22 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: The table below contains the information requested regarding the operation of the derelict sites levy, as per the most recent returns from local authorities relating to the year 2020. Figures for 2021 are not yet available. My Department recently issued Circular Letter PL 05/2022 requesting the submission of returns on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act in 2021. My Department continues...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: Senator Higgins's opposition to section 17 concerns technical drafting amendments with respect to remedial environmental impact statements as a result of the substantive changes in the Bill. I cannot accept the opposition to these sections. They comprise technical amendments necessary as a result of the repeal of section 177D and ancillary provisions relating to the decision of the board...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: Senator Higgins has detailed the reasons for her opposition to section 18. The section contains technical amendments with respect to remedial environmental impact statements as a result of the substantive changes to the Bill. I note the concerns raised by the Senator. However, the removal of the leave-to-apply process when applying for substitute consent is one of the core elements of the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: We note Senator Higgins's opposition to section 19 of the Bill and the technical amendments with respect to the remedial environmental impact statements. We cannot accept the proposed opposition. These sections comprise technical amendments necessary as a result of the repeal of section 177D and ancillary provisions relating to the decision of the board on whether to grant leave to apply...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2022)

Peter Burke: I will address amendment No. 12, as tabled by Senator Higgins, which seeks to insert a new section 21 into the Bill relating to the thresholds of substitute consent. The amendment seeks to insert a provision whereby the provisions of this Bill, including the right to apply for substitute consent, shall not be applicable in respect of projects that have an estimated commercial value of...