Results 2,761-2,780 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (30 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: By their nature, capital projects of the scale and ambition of projects discussed here today take time to come into fruition and must adhere to the public spending code and certainly not delay part of it. However, it is important they adhere to the code. The strategic assessment report for the proposed new emergency department at Galway University Hospital is currently under review by the...

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Second Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: On behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I am happy to have the opportunity to outline before the Seanad the Tailte Éireann Bill 2022. The purpose of the Bill is to provide for the merger of the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority, PRA, and Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, through the establishment of a new body to be...

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Second Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will address points raised by Senators during the debate as well as the pre-legislative scrutiny, PLS, recommendations. I thank Senators Boyhan and Fitzpatrick, as well as other members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which is an excellent committee. Our interaction with the committee has been fantastic. There is no doubt it has been very busy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Impact of Local Emissions: Discussion (30 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Mr. Brennan and the other witnesses for the stark evidence they have given this evening. I had to dip in and out of the meeting in order to vote but I am familiar with the case. I was on the farm with the then Minister, John Gormley, and the then Deputy, Mary White, a number of years ago. I have visited many farms over recent years in my role in the Department. The one thing I...

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.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (24 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together. On the 17 November 2022, there were 29 full time ecologists working in the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s (NPWS) Scientific Advice and Research Directorate. There are no part time scientific staff in the Directorate at this time. Workforce planning and assignment of staff to specific areas of work in the Directorate are a...

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...

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

Malcolm Noonan: I am keenly aware of the challenges facing owners of thatched buildings in securing insurance for their homes and premises. I am also concerned to do all I can as Minister of State with responsibility for heritage to address the problem. Both Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan, and A Living Tradition, the new vernacular built heritage strategy, contain actions to address...

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

Malcolm Noonan: We see the report containing an initial set of recommendations in respect of the matters outlined by Mr. Sinnott, namely, practical, possibly low-cost, measures that could be taken to reduce fire risk. We will then work with the national directorate for fire and emergency management and other experts to try to develop guidance in that regard for property owners. That is probably one of the...

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

Malcolm Noonan: Like my colleague, I thank the Chair and committee members for their consideration and questions. I assure members and the representatives from the Thatch Property Insurance Action Group in the Public Gallery and those watching online that we are working collaboratively and with a sense of urgency to address these issues. As I stated, we want to ensure that we keep the houses and other...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (23 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I have been advised that there is no record of an application for compensation received by my Department from the individual mentioned in the question. Officials from my Department will make contact with the individual, at the address provided, to assist with the request to apply for compensation, and a letter will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (23 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: An application for compensation under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme administered by my Department was received on 1stof February 2022 from the individual referred to in the question. The qualification criteria for the scheme are that: - The applicant must have had a legal interest/ownership or a Turbary Right (right to cut turf) in one of the 53 Raised Bog Special Areas of...