Results 2,881-2,900 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (25 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: 640. To ask the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to move the HSE adult optical scheme authorisation process online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53076/22]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Our Department has made huge strides in working with SOS Dublin Bay on the monitoring issue. Separately, on days when there is severe rainfall, the general advice is not to swim for a few days afterwards. That is good advice. I spoke to Deputy Bacik this morning. We would be happy to provide a briefing to Deputies on progress that has been made. Significant progress has been made on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It is interesting that on a day of excessive rainfall and orange rainfall warnings, we see that many of the areas that are prone to flooding across the country are such because of bad planning. I reject outright the use of the term “interference” in respect of the OPR. The office plays a critical role in our planning system. It exists to guide and support the work of local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for his question and I also thank Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended gives the OPR a statutory basis to carry out three main functions. One core function of the OPR is the independent assessment of all local authority and regional assembly statutory plan making processes. This includes county and city development plans,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Diseases (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Due to the current presence of avian influenza in Ireland and wider western Europe, in the event of unexplained death/illness of high risk waterbirds, before handling any sick, injured or dead birds, NPWS must first contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to ensure avian influenza is ruled out. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has responsibility for avian...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (18 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: All farmers are encouraged to make applications for the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme. However, as with any scheme, numbers will be limited and it is not possible to guarantee every applicant will be accepted. Applications from farmers with designated lands, including Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas, are prioritised for consideration. It is my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (18 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The provisions in Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 were formally notified in draft form to the European Commission in accordance with the requirements of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (18 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will arrange for my officials to provide the briefing note given to me in respect of the 2022-2023 General State-wide Wild Birds Declaration that I signed on 6 July 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Diseases (18 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 to 355, inclusive, together. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is not the lead organisation in relation to matters raised. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has responsibly for avian influenza testing in Ireland and the NPWS will always contact them when it becomes aware of such issues. The situation is being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rail Network (13 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: As this is a live planning case, I am precluded from comment thereon.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Risk Management (13 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department continues to liaise with the Office of Public Works, as appropriate, in relation to this matter. The question of legislative change does not arise in this context.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Bodies (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Boyhan for his comments on the necessity of An Bord Pleanála. He and I interact regularly on the issue of public participation in our planning system. He feels it is vitally important that we have a robust planning system in which members of the public can have confidence and in which they have a right to participate on the basis of parity. I commend the Senator on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Bodies (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for his positive contribution and that is certainly something I can take to the Minister. We have to hugely value the role of any expertise many former elected members have brought to local government over many years. They have expertise in formulating development plans and setting the agenda at local level for how our communities are planned. While An Bord...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The duration of a planning permission is generally set at five years, but the planning authority may grant shorter or longer durations with a maximum duration of ten years available for residential development, for example. Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act enables a planning authority to extend the initial duration of a planning permission, providing certain conditions are met....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: They are from Stepaside. It is great to have them here. I thank the Senator. My response probably did not give him much comfort in relation to the individuals he represents. I urge them to engage, on a case-by-case basis, with their local authority planners. That is the point of contact. The Department does not have plans to introduce further legislation to extend planning permission....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The number of valid applications made to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme in each of the Years 2017 to 2022, inclusive, as well as the number of applications that were not selected for plan development is included in the table below. The NPWS prioritises the selection of lands that are in designated sites, including Special Areas of Conservation, Special...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Section 13 of the Wildlife Act 1976 provided for the establishment of the Wildlife Advisory Council to advise the Minister on policy, objectives, and programmes relating to the conservation of wildlife. This section was repealed by Section 4 of the Heritage Act 1995, in effect ceasing the Wildlife Advisory Council Order (S.I No.79 of 1978). The Heritage Act 1995 established the Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (12 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has responsibly for avian influenza testing in Ireland. I can confirm that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has contacted DAFM and made them aware of the issue referred to. Avian Influenza has to be ruled out in the first instance and DAFM always need to be contacted in such cases so they can have records and enact their...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy Carthy in the sense that there is a cost to the Exchequer. It is an outlay and an investment by the Exchequer in the provision of social housing. The Government has committed to and is front-loading record investment in social, affordable and cost-rental housing, more than any Government has provided in the history of the State. The Minister is deeply...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta as an gceist seo. The overarching principle of social housing support is to provide adequate housing support to those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. Applications for such supports are assessed by local authorities in accordance with eligibility and need criteria as set down in the Housing...