Results 3,161-3,180 of 6,905 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

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

Cian O'Callaghan: Okay. That is very important, because one of the things about street furniture is that not only are there benefits for the local economy and businesses, but it actually improves the public realm full stop. It gets more people out on the street, and that helps to curb issues around antisocial behaviour, or people not feeling safe. All of those are positives, and the transformation around...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: I have one final question around the concerns which, sometimes, people with disabilities or visual impairments have. I know earlier the Minister of State said it is for the local authorities to address that on the ground and there are different circumstances. Is there any oversight or independent analysis being done on these measures, and whether local authorities are taking those concerns...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I have a few questions. Regarding the temporary weather radar station, I do not have any questions or issues with that. To me, that is very straightforward. I have a few questions about the small gas infrastructure. I can see the benefits of this for the utility and gas networks in Ireland in terms of the efficiencies but also for the planning authorities by not having all of these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank Mr. Gleeson for that. It is small infrastructure but it is not necessarily the stuff people want right on their doorstep and they can have concerns around it. On the gas vent stacks and the fact that they will not be fitted within a 5 m proximity to residential buildings, 5 m is not a huge distance. Certainly, plenty of householders would not be terribly happy with something like...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am asking if this limit was arrived at by the Department or the Minister of State himself? If it was arrived at by Gas Networks Ireland suggesting it, that would be useful to know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State for that. There is a big difference between the curtilage, where people have it, and in some higher density housing where there is no curtilage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: It could be just 5 m from a front door or a front window. There are also differences between actual safety, people's perceptions and people feeling comfortable in their home and not having something obtrusive outside.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I mention one final thing. There is a 5 m requirement for the gas vent stacks but there is no metre requirement in terms of the gas pressure regulating stations. There is no distance required for those in terms of the exempted development regulations? Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: And why is there not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Anything from 1 m to 3 m is what would be required but in terms of the exempted development, there is no distance required. Is that the case in the regulations? Why not have a limit? This is for the gas pressure regulation station. I am taking my information from the opening statement, where 5 m is referred to for the gas vent stacks but there is no minimum distance for the gas regulation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I appreciate that answer, but I am just trying to get clarification as to why the Department looked for a 5 m minimum distance for gas vent stacks but why it did not look for any minimum distance in the context of gas pressure regulation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I appreciate that, but there is a visual intrusion and effect on the aesthetics. Most people would not want that right outside their homes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Why put in a minimum distance in terms of exempted development regulations then? Anything else would have to go through the planning process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I appreciate those answers. My view is that there should be a minimum distance for the exempted development for gas pressure regulation stations the same as there is for gas vent stacks. That would be a good approach.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes, on the basis that if the regulations go through, this could go up right outside someone's front door without the need for planning. It is fair to have a minimum distance if it is going to be exempted development. Otherwise, it could go through the planning process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the reconfiguration report for three schools (details supplied) will be available to parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22312/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (11 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 199. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are any safeguards or protections in place to ensure that when residential properties with very serious fire safety defects are sold, the prospective buyers are made aware of these defects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22251/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Acting Chairman should extend the time.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 11. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [21382/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 May 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Since the Government took office, rents, house prices and the number of people who are homeless and living in emergency homeless accommodation - almost 12,000 people - have reached record levels. At the same time, almost €1 billion that was allocated to be spent on housing has not been used for the purpose of building social and affordable homes. This year, spending on housing is...