Results 2,721-2,740 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: They are not available.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Of course there is.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It is a busy time towards the end of the year.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator. I agree with everything he said with regard to the modal shift. Trying to move people out of private cars and onto public transport is a critically important policy from a climate perspective but also from a development and balanced regional development perspective. As the Senator may be aware, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator in terms of the aspiration. A step-and-stage process has to be adhered to regardless of whether it is pre or post Covid. Certainly, there has been a sea change. The reduction in fares by 20%, and 50% for young people, has encouraged and put far more people back on to our public transport network. It is critically important that we as a Government...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Welfare (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome the young people to the Gallery. It is great to have them here. I probably saw them in the Dáil earlier. I am sure they are all looking forward to Santa. The countdown is well and truly on. In line with the commitment in the programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare through a robust traceability system, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine carried out...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Welfare (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator has summed it up very well. I will pass on that information. I agree with him that the Minister has provided an excellent piece of additional information. It shows that the Department is dealing with the matter very well. It is an important area. As the Senator said, this is an important industry in Ireland, not just in my county but across the country. It is worth...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for raising this important question. I highlight that it is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to prepare the reports on emissions and removals associated with land use activities on an annual basis to the EU and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC. However, there are many projects, as the Senator said, and work...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I take on board all the points the Senator is making. Certainly, the research is ongoing and establishing baselines is critically important. As I said in my opening remarks, that work is very much being addressed. There are other issues I think are of value, such as looking at the value of semi-natural grasslands which, in many cases, I do not think have been given enough consideration....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy O'Dowd. The vacant property tax is the responsibility of the Department of Finance and it is kept under review. I take note of the points the Deputy made. The Housing Agency is overseeing CPOs. It is down to individual local authorities to be proactive. Some, as I said, are better than others. It is critically important there is a uniform approach...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Absolutely. The measures are in place and we are very supportive.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Nearly 500.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 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 in our cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight, as was said, of vacant properties which, if brought back to use, could add to the vibrancy and provide accommodation in those areas. A suite of measures under pathway 4 to address vacancy and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There are several questions to address. Regarding the vacant homes officers, this is a dedicated position in local authorities and is critically important. It is critically important local authorities use that resource wisely. It is important, too, that every local authority should have a conservation officer. We are talking here about a lot of 18th century or 19th century properties and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department, under Housing for All, has set social housing targets for all local authorities. Cork County Council has a target delivery of 3,198 units over the period 2022 to 2026. The council's approved housing delivery action plan is published on its website, along with details of social housing needs for each settlement in the county. In 2022, Cork County Council has supported an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I reiterate that Cork County Council is the lead authority when it comes to the provision of social housing for County Cork, including the islands. I looked at some of the Central Statistics Office data on population change on the islands. There is quite a wide fluctuation between Bear Island, which has seen a reduction in its population, Long Island, which has experienced an increase, and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I reiterate that opportunities exist. Our Department will support any proposals that come in from the local authority. The west Cork islands integrated development strategy contains objectives for economic regeneration and the opportunity, in particular, to repurpose houses. There is certainly discouragement of building second or other individual homes at some points. There are also other...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There has been a notable increase in the number of judicial review cases taken against decisions of An Bord Pleanála (the Board) over the last number of years, many of which have related to Strategic Housing Development (SHD) cases of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more. The sole mechanism for appealing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architectural Heritage (1 Dec 2022)

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