Results 221-240 of 4,810 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Planning and Development (An Taisce) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Yes, leis an Teachta Steven Matthews. Tógfaidh mé seacht nóiméad. Go raibh maith agat. I will respond briefly to some of the points raised by Deputies. I thank them for all the contributions. A lot of points were raised about depopulation, bánú, including by Deputy Connolly. As regards the whole issue of our towns and villages being hollowed out and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Details of funding paid for bird surveys commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service from 2022 to the present date are provided below. Some of these contracts are multifaceted and additional elements of conservation management work – e.g. wardening, data analysis, etc. – may be included as components. Contract Service Provider 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS) is the national programme for monitoring population trends of wintering waterbirds and the habitats they use. The survey has been running for over 25 years, covering around 250 sites and 750 subsites per annum across the country. The I-WeBS surveys are completed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), by professional staff of the survey...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Biodiversity Officers have been appointed by 28 local authorities. Funding from my Department, administered by the Heritage Council, provides a part subvention for 27 of these through the Heritage Council Biodiversity Officer Programme. Expenditure on salary and expenses by the Heritage Council for these Biodiversity Officers is expected to be €1.5 million by year end. In addition, 22...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Schemes (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 116 together. My Department, through the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), provides direct financial assistance for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has established two new National Parks in the time period specified Brú na Bóinne National Park, Co. Meath in 2023 Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí in 2024.The aggregate cost involved, primarily in land purchase costs, was of the order of €23m.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I will come back on some of the points that have been raised since I took over duty for the debate. Many of the points that have been raised did not relate to the content of the Bill. Deputy Michael Collins raised issues about rural housing, rural planning infrastructure and the Bantry floods. The Government notes the concerns of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wildlife Act (1976-2024) regulates the hunting of protected birds and mammals in Ireland. The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) system for assessing conservation status and extinction risk is intended to provide an explicit, objective framework for the classification of the broadest range of species according to their extinction risk. This system, commonly known as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Fallow, sika and red deer are all widespread and abundant in Ireland. Muntjac, which was illegally introduced into the wild in Ireland, is present in very low numbers in a limited number of counties. Deer are hunted with rifle in accordance with S.I. No. 239/1977 (Wildlife Act, 1976 (Firearms and Ammunition) Regulations, 1977). The table below sets out the number of Fallow, Sika, Red...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hare Coursing (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234, 235, 236, 237 and 241 together. All hares that are captured under licence are captured and tagged by the Irish Coursing Club in advance of any regulated coursing event. Data in relation to the number of hares captured along with tag numbers are submitted to the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and this information is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The vast majority of licences issued under Section 23(6) are for activities relating to surveying and assessment of species, and thus are better categorised as capture and release. These activities include population counts, identification surveys, research and other such studies, but also works such as translocation of species in order to protect it from potential works such as flood relief...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The number of licences issued under Section 22 of the Wildlife Act 1976 for each of the past five years is set out in the table below. In total, 190 licences have issued since 2020 up to and including 30 September 2024. These licences, referring to Section 22 & 34 of the Act, allow the licence holder to capture protected wild birds with the use of certain traps and snares. Table 2...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is entering into a research agreement with a University for the undertaking of research on a number of topics. These include research into the estimation and mitigation of bird damage to crops and stock. The recruitment process is underway to fill the post-doctorate position and it is anticipated that this will conclude in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The detailed information requested in relation to external resources contracted by Waterways Ireland is not held in my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (3 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: As Minister, I have no function in relation to famine graveyards. However, the National Monuments Service of my Department administers the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) through the local authorities and there may be eligible monuments in or near famine graveyards. The CMF invests in our valuable archaeological heritage and helps the owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: Our built, natural, architectural and cultural heritages are an intrinsic part of who we are. They provided our lifeline during the Covid pandemic. This Government has invested like never before, making the greatest investment in the history of the State. We have had another record budget this year, which underscores our commitment. Our core heritage funding has increased by almost...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (2 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 129, 130 and 131 together. Article 12 of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC) requires Member States to report on the implementation of national provisions taken under the Directive, including specific reporting on status and trends of bird species. Ireland’s Article 12 reporting is informed by data, analyses, reports and publications from a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (2 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The current focus of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland’s obligations under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in the context of existing Natura 2000 sites, i.e. Special Areas Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Whilst I welcome any measures that contribute to an improved condition of and habitat for Annexed species, at present there are no plans to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: While my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for legislation and policy around invasive alien species in Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has the statutory responsibility for the protection, development, and management of Ireland’s rivers and streams together with 128,000 lake hectares. Pike has been present in Ireland for hundreds of years...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I have committed, in line with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Strategic Action Plan 2022-2024, to establishing a Stakeholder Forum which will meet in the coming months and which will include stakeholders with an interest in the policy areas under the remit of the NPWS. The Forum will adhere to the consultation principles set out in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP...