Results 3,381-3,400 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: We fund that significantly through the carbon tax and I think half the budget for retrofit is going towards warmer homes schemes and those on lower incomes.

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

Steven Matthews: The target is 7 GW, not 5 GW.

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

Steven Matthews: That is only the first round of the auctions. The figure is 3.1 GW.

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

Steven Matthews: Anyway, we will not get into offshore wind.

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

Steven Matthews: Ms O'Connor wanted to come in on that and then I will go to 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: Ms O'Connor wanted to come in on the carbon assessments.

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

Steven Matthews: You can go parochial in the fourth round.

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

Steven Matthews: I have a question for the Climate Change Advisory Council. A couple of comments today feed into the question of prioritisation of development. If there is too much zoning, how do we focus where development should take place? I think it was mentioned that, in some cases, settlement boundaries are very big. Is there a case for an inner boundary in a settlement? Instead of having compact...

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 thinking about the urban area plans and a zone within a settlement where the highest densities would be concentrated because of transport or services.

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

Steven Matthews: I had in mind that it would be done at local level because this is where the best knowledge is.

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

Steven Matthews: With regard to making the argument that it is easier and quicker to develop a greenfield site, we know this absolutely. It is a viable product now to build a three-bed semi-detached house on a greenfield site. With higher densities on a brownfield site and compact development, we start to get into price ranges where it-----

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 important to clarify the difference between housing targets and zoning. I want to come back on a number of points and I have another question. With regard to the development contribution, do the balance between community gain versus how much is spent on roads need to be addressed? I note that water is out of it at present. Does this need to be considered to improve? If it is left...

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

Steven Matthews: Or the cycling and walking infrastructure should be the main priority while the road for the car is the bolt-on rather than the other way around, which is how it normally is.

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

Steven Matthews: With regard to BusConnects, everybody obviously wants to speed up the delivery. Everybody wants it done. It is the same with DART+ and lines to Kildare, Dundalk, Wicklow, etc. If we were to be able to go to the Minister, what measures would the NTA like to put in place to speed up the delivery of this?

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 a question of resourcing. As Mr. Lawlor said, that is one of the biggest blockages we have even in terms of decision-making or construction. I have a question for the Irish Planning Institute. The housing needs demand assessment is evidence based too. Local authorities determine what the housing need is, what that type of housing should be and then the planning process determines...

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

Steven Matthews: When Mr. Lawlor refers to making it economic, what kind of measures is he talking about?

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 a lot of what Mr. Lawlor has said. If we spend public money to invest and to encourage people to build compactly within these areas served by transport to meet these climate challenges, that is not just an investment in housing to try it make it more affordable, it is an investment in climate action. I firmly believe that. We give people very good grants to put private...

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

Steven Matthews: I think the Climate Change Advisory Council wrote to the Minister back in May.

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

Steven Matthews: The biggest crises we face are climate and housing. This is where housing meets planning meets climate meets transport. All of these things need to be brought together and the Climate Change Advisory Council has not got a response yet from the Department. That perhaps shows us where the priorities lie in terms of dealing with climate and wondering why we are in the position that we are in.

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

Steven Matthews: Thank you. I have another 40 questions but I do not think it is fair to keep going. I thank the witnesses for their time. If anything occurs to them after this meeting and if they wish to furnish the committee with any thoughts or further expansion on any questions that we have asked, please do so. We will have the Minister before us next week and possibly the Environmental Protection...