Results 2,781-2,800 of 4,810 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus le Seanadóir Crowe as an gceist seo. The Housing for All strategy delivers on the programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system. Delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: With all due respect, the priorities around housing delivery in Galway City Council and Galway County Council are a matter for Galway City Council and Galway County Council. Our Government sets the policy agenda through Housing for All, but it is down to the local authority to strike the balance in respect of social and affordable housing delivery. That is a matter for the elected members...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist sin. As for checktheregister.ie, we meet and have met with the NCBI on a number of occasions, primarily to do with accessibility around polling stations and ballot papers. I was not aware of the issue the Senator raises.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Certainly, if there is an issue we need to correct, I will talk to officials in franchise to try to correct it because there has been fantastic uptake on checktheregister.ie.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The last thing we want is to exclude anyone from the ability to register to vote.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: If anything, it is quite the opposite, so again, I thank the Senator for raising that with me. I thank the Senator for raising this issue also. I am aware of the demand for wastewater infrastructure in villages where there is no access to public infrastructure, including Galway, Clare and other areas around the country. The Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: We will come back with a timeline on that. Now that the validation and the applications are being processed, as the Senator indicated, the first quarter of 2023 would be reasonable in the context of the Minister submitting them. These projects will end up with Irish Water in order to be brought into operation. This is extremely important for tourism, local economic development and local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architectural Heritage (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 245 together. My Department provides financial support 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 Investment Scheme (BHIS). The HSF is for conservation and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Correspondence (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I can confirm that officials from the National Monuments Service of my Department are aware of the issues raised by this letter and have acknowledged same and are currently investigating the matters within.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There are a variety of protections in Ireland which apply to marine habitats and species.  Regarding marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in particular, a large number of SAC sites with a marine component are designated in Irish law. Some of these sites are entirely marine, and some have a marine element, but also take in terrestrial area. All SAC sites with a marine component...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The last meeting that I and officials of the National Parks & Wildlife Service held with FACE was on 10th February 2022. All requests for meetings from stakeholders are dealt with on an individual basis and facilitated as efficiently as my diary permits.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The organisation referred to is an environmental non-governmental organisation and my Department does not fund or review its operational costs. It would not be appropriate for my Department to comment on the report of the Charity Regulator.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Strategies (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Under Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan, there is an action to advance the implementation of the National Landscape Strategy and complete a National Landscape Character Assessment. My Department is undertaking a workforce planning exercise currently and a proposal has been submitted for increased staffing resources to deliver this strategy and related priorities. It...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Projects (6 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Project referred to in the Question is a very significant initiative. It will support communities, and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives. Waterways Ireland obtained planning permission for the Project including the canal side works and the roadside works from Lowtown to Athy.  Kildare County Council is...

Report on Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment: Motion [Private Members] (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It was a very interesting debate. Before Deputy Martin Kenny leaves the Chamber, I want to say I am a huge supporter of hemp as a material. Certainly, if we look back at some of the points raised by Deputies on public procurement and it being a constraint or that we have not advanced enough, there is sufficient flexibility to incorporate sustainable materials in public procurement...

Report on Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment: Motion [Private Members] (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It is important to have a strategy on the use of such materials. It is a very sustainable material. I thank all the Deputies and I commend the Oireachtas joint committee. It is a fantastic committee which has done invaluable work, including this report. I thank Deputy Duffy for proposing the report this evening. Some very interesting points have been raised around operational versus...

Report on Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment: Motion [Private Members] (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Duffy and the committee for bringing forward this very important Private Members’ motion. In particular, Deputy Duffy has a lot of skin in the game as an architect and he has been very vocal on this issue for some time. I want to begin by acknowledging that this report, Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment, is the result of excellent work by the committee and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Projects (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There is no doubt that the Iveagh Markets are important architecturally but also socially for the community around the Liberties. It is an impressive building in its wider context on the street but also as a heritage building. There has been a great deal of concern expressed about it of late and down the years. I will outline a couple of points. My functions as Minister of State with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Projects (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I agree with everything the Deputy said. As a culchie who moved up to Dublin in the last couple of years, I cannot but be impressed by the architectural heritage of the city, particularly the older parts of the city such as the Liberties. The Iveagh Markets are intrinsic to that and an important asset for the people of Dublin and the country as well. Although deemed to be of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (1 Dec 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I am familiar with the matter from many of my Traveller friends in my home town, whom I have seen in conditions that have been completely inadequate. I have also seen great strides being made. There is no doubt that Government is committed to ensuring that the actions the Deputies spoke about will be met in terms of resourcing. It is important, particularly in the depths of winter, that...