Results 2,441-2,460 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to present to him and the committee today these three sets of proposed planning regulations. The three sets of regulations consist of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) Regulations 2023, the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. X) Regulations 2023, and the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees)...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator. The officials might come in on the BusConnects issue. The Senator's first question was about street furniture. I thank her for welcoming the measures. They are very positive, and the progress we are making with the circular economy is also fantastic. The financial impact on local authorities is minimal. It is spread across all 31 local authorities. The fees...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator's third question was on the reverse vending machines. Typically, these will be located in or close to retail outlets, at sports clubs and in public spaces. There is generally a specification around covering them, ensuring that they are not going to create noise and that they are not a nuisance due to people depositing materials around, as happens at bottle banks. There is no...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I think they are provided by specific outlets.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Countries where these schemes are in place typically have recycling rates around 90%. That is the target we are aiming for. We are very good at recycling here and have good rates, but this will bring us up to the next level.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for his questions. On the first question, I am not sure about the insurance issue and might ask one of the officials to come back to him on it. Obviously, it is public liability insurance. On the issues around people with disabilities, my reply is "Absolutely". The Department can issue further circulars and we do that regularly to local authorities anyway. Licensing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: That is a fair point. It is something local authorities could and should be proactive on, in terms of issuing guidance to licence applicants on a case-by-case basis. That is really important. You have to assess these things. There are different street widths and footpath widths. In each case, the local authority will work with the premises owner to ensure that safety is given...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I think all of those were consulted on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I am not sure about that. I think that typically, disability organisations would be consulted with on this but I can come back to the Deputy on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: We are requesting that circulars and guidance to local authorities are adhered to. We are requesting that universal design guidelines are adhered to. Local authorities are very good at doing that. I have not replied on insurance. It is public liability.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for her positive comments on the regulations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Yes, it would require planning permission.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: There no changes to it. It is the same.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: As far as I know, regarding the street furniture, the local authority can be prescriptive about specific advertising, be it for drink products or whatever. Generally, the advertising has to be restricted to advertising the premises, but that is not always the case. Sometimes the coverings or the surrounds are supplied by drinks companies, and I know there are issues there with drinks...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Advertising is not permitted.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: As far as I am aware.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly, and where we have positioned the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, funding and other funding to support local authorities to make that big change in public spaces is critically important. We have all had the experience that came out of Covid-19 where maybe there is resistance at a local level to reverting to traffic themes which were in there in the past....