Results 3,361-3,380 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Lawlor. Unfortunately, that time slot has run out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: Absolutely. The Fine Gael slot is next. I call Deputy Higgins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: My first question to the witnesses is for the OPR. Is the current NPF working? Has enough analysis and auditing been done to show whether it is working?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: Will Ms O'Connor narrow it down to the compact growth requirement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I understand that was also noted by the CCAC.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: To me, compact growth is about densification, but not just that; it is also about having access to transport and services and there being walkability, permeability and good public places, which encompasses the 15-minute city and ten-minute town concepts. Is there enough guidance out there for planners, architects, designers, urban planners, etc. to be able to create good compact growth, or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: To go further with my questioning, I know the witnesses understand what compact growth is and what it should look like in a well-designed city. I am sure the NTA knows transport-orientated development inside out. The CCAC knows exactly what we need to do. The OPR tries to regulate our local authorities to ensure they deliver that in their plans. We all know what needs to be done....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I would suggest it is change rather than losing, so it is just a different way of doing things and not necessarily a loss.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am out of time. We will engage with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, on that because they fall to him. I call Senator Boyhan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I believe there was a question to the IPI on infrastructure following development. Am I right in that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: We will now have the second Sinn Féin slot, followed by the second Fine Gael slot, and then we will go to the third round of questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I call Deputy Ó Broin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will take the second Green Party slot. This question is to the OPR. Its submission states: More than a fifth of all new homes are made up of individual houses in areas dependant on the private car. This makes achieving our transport targets very challenging. Does Ms O'Connor put that down to local policies within county development plans, or where does she see the root cause of that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: There is also the social impact. Elderly people living in those areas may not be able to rely on a car anymore and they become stranded. I know people in that position. My second question is on district heating. If a local authority in a local area or county development plan wanted to put in an objective that a site should be served by district heating systems, do they have sufficient...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay, so one recommendation could be that if a local authority wants to start putting in objectives for district heating systems in certain zones or areas, it will need better national guidance on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I was told we do not have district heating. There are examples, but they are communal heating systems and not necessarily district heating systems. There is a very big difference. I attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action to hear about the Danish example of district heating. I have a question for the NTA. We have talked before about whether a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is around permeability and trying to increase walkability or cyclability. There might be two housing estates that are back to back and the kids never see each other because they must walk out onto the main road and around, which is dangerous because the road is busy. They are also driven to school, etc.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: I kind of agree with Mr. Creegan. If we went from door to door saying we are going to cut carbon emissions by doing this, we probably would not get very far, but recent surveys have shown that climate registers quite highly with people. It might be something to do, apart from telling people they can walk, cycle, etc., because there are loads of people who are so wedded to their car that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of National Planning Framework and Climate Targets: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Steven Matthews: Does the CCAC have a comment to make?