Results 3,621-3,640 of 4,810 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Lough Funshinagh was selected as an a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) taking account of the more drawn-out pattern of drainage than the typical annual rise and fall of other turlough lakes. On that basis, there is no scientific case to remove the site from the SAC list. My Department has no plans at this time to review the SAC designation of the site. 

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Diseases (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Since 2019, in total, 38 cases of RHD2 in rabbits and 9 cases of RHD2 in hares have been notified to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department from across seven counties: Clare, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow. The NPWS has not been notified of any cases since July 2021. 

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natural Resources (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Hedgerows are an integral part of landscapes in Ireland and play a key role in habitat connectivity as well as being important habitats in their own right. They support a variety of invertebrate, bird and mammal species, and are refuges for biodiversity in landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture. Teagasc has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and while no comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natural Resources (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department does not have overall responsibility for hedgerow surveys. Teagasc, however, has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and while no comprehensive national survey has been carried out to date, a number of Local Authorities have commissioned hedgerow surveys at county level. According to the Teagasc website, in 2020, there were an estimated 689,000 kms of hedgerow...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architectural Heritage (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I can confirm that work is underway to address issues with the roof of the building referred to.  These issues are generally leakage and gutter issues and were identified following a recent survey and investigation of the site.  I am satisfied that there is no damage to the building itself. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is now working closely with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (8 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department maintains ongoing contact with OPW in regard to its obligations under the Wildlife Acts including obligations under the Wildlife and Birds and Habitats legislation in relation to the important hibernation and breeding roost at Emo Court. However, I should clarify there is no formal NPWS report into works carried out at Emo Court....

Committee Report on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community: Statements (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, as he cannot attend. Gabhaim buíochas leis an gcomhchoiste as an tuarascáil thábhachtach. I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, on the important report on key issues affecting the Traveller community. I thank the committee...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for her questions. I will address the last question first. Specifically on this World Wildlife Day 2022, we will be announcing some measures in the partnerships that we have with Fáilte Ireland in the management of our nature reserves. Throughout the Covid-19 period we have seen a very significant demand from the public to be out in nature. That has created...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: We can certainly provide the Deputy with a specific response to that which I believe we have done previously in parliamentary questions. This is something that we have been working consistently hard on in respect of specific conservation measures for those sites. We can provide a response to the Deputy on that particular site.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan 2021 take account of our climate action targets to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment though the following policies: working with industry stakeholders to increase the use of low-carbon materials and technologies in the construction and renovation of buildings in Ireland, informed by evolving EU standards and by best practice in other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It might be worth pursuing this report at the Oireachtas joint committee. It is really important. I wholeheartedly support what the Deputy is bringing forward. There is also the sustainable products initiative, which will widen the scope of the eco-design directive to all products. It will introduce requirements relating to durability, reusability, hazardous chemicals, energy and resource...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree wholeheartedly. I refer to some of the elements that are already under way in our Department, such as the targets we have set in respect of vacant and derelict properties in the coming years and targets for local authorities, as well as the work my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, is doing around Town Centre First, which are bringing a significant amount of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It is fantastic to get a question on nature today as it is World Wildlife Day. We do not usually get them on oral questions. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Lough Hyne is a designated special area of conservation which is selected for three habitats listed in the habitats directive, as the Deputy is aware. These are large shallow inlets and bays, reefs and submerged or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wastewater Treatment (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The programme for Government commits to funding Irish Water's capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. The National Development Plan 2021-2030 commits to almost €6 billion in capital investment by Irish Water in the period 2021-2025, of which more than €4.5 billion will be Voted Exchequer funding for domestic water services. As...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wastewater Treatment (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I wish to reassure the Deputy in respect of Mitchelstown and Carrigtohill. It is important. The investment the Government has put in has been significant. We are working with Irish Water to achieve those connections. The CRU has published the information note on self-lay, which is an important step forward in getting competent and certified third-party contractors to work with Irish Water...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wastewater Treatment (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I wholeheartedly agree. These towns are certainly under pressure from the growth of Cork itself. It is critically important that our ambitions for housing delivery, as set out in Housing for All, are met and that these communities can grow and these important towns can develop and prosper. The investment we are making as a Government is a significant proportion of that effort and,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The current protections for tenants where a landlord terminates a tenancy because he or she needs vacant possession to substantially refurbish or renovate the rented property are sufficiently robust. The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2021 provide that where a landlord terminates a tenancy because he or she needs vacant possession to substantially refurbish or renovate the rented...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: On the specific question of rent increases, since 2019 there have been exemptions around rent pressure zones for certain types of works. These might include a tenancy not existing in respect of the dwelling in the two years immediately prior to the current tenancy beginning. Such works might include a permanent alteration to the internal layout, adapting it for a person with a disability, a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Deputy mentioned the information available on the RTB website. It is quite clear that if vacant possession is sought for substantial works to the property, that property must be offered back to the tenant.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (3 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I would appreciate it if the Deputy could provide examples to us as the property must be offered back. As we referenced, there are penalties in place if that is not the case. I referenced separately the point relating to substantial works around rent pressure zone areas. It is important to provide specific examples because it would be really useful from our perspective to see what...