Results 3,721-3,740 of 8,016 for speaker:Peter Burke

Seanad: Peat Harvesting: Statements (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I never said that I did not have a problem with the importation of peat.

Seanad: Peat Harvesting: Statements (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I will be brief because Members have put their views on this issue on the record. I, as Minister with responsibility for planning, am guardian of the planning system. That system, by its nature, is neutral. It acts on policy. We need policy to work with the system in order to provide a solution. We can go around the houses and discuss how we got here. It has been a difficult process....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: In recognition of the impacts of COVID 19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government put in place a commercial rates waiver for the first nine months of 2021. The waiver was more targeted in 2021 than in 2020 and applied only to businesses most seriously affected by restrictions. Automatic eligibility extending to retail, hospitality, including hotels, pubs and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Insurance Coverage (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: 238. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the insurance indemnity schemes that are applicable to signed and looped walkways here (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49983/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I wish members a good morning and thank them for the opportunity to address the joint committees on the matter of the Traveller expert group report and review of Traveller accommodation. I am joined by two officials from my Department, Mr. Paul Benson, principal officer, and Ms Ann Gill, assistant principal officer. The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: The Programme for Government has committed to achieving 5GW capacity in offshore wind by 2030 off Ireland’s Eastern and Southern coasts and commits production of a longer term plan setting out how we will harness the potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our deeper waters in the Atlantic. This level of ambition and pace of development is vital to achieve a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: In recognition of the impacts of COVID 19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government put in place a targeted commercial rates waiver for the first nine months of 2021. It applied to businesses most seriously affected by the restrictions. Automatic eligibility extended to hospitality including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment, personal services such as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regional Development (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: The three Regional Assemblies were established further to the Local Government Reform Act 2014 and comprise representation from the constituent local authorities in the Eastern and Midland (Dublin, the Mid-East and Midlands), Northern and Western (North-West, West and Border) and Southern (Mid-West, South-West and South-East) regions. These Regional Assemblies play a critical role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: Under the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing 2005, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, planning authorities are required to frame the planning policies in their development plans in a balanced and measured way that ensures the housing needs of rural communities are met, while avoiding excessive urban-generated housing....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for her questions. Regarding the expert report, and the 32 recommendations contained within it, one of the biggest challenges that I and the Department have faced is the absence of clear and salient data on the number of Traveller families in our country and the types of housing accommodation they require to meet their needs. That is why, through our expert...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. I contend that the energy is there in this regard. I argued in my opening statement that the required actions are being taken. I was appointed to this role in July and I was given responsibility in November for the area of Traveller accommodation. Subsequent to my appointment, I established a programme board to drive the reforms set out in the 32...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator very much. We are committed to implementing each of the recommendations and the NTACC is responding to me on each of the them. I attend every second meeting of the committee, which is driving the reforms. It has held about five meetings already this year. Its independent chair has a strong track record in this area. We met representatives of the Ombudsman for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: The Senator can look at the trajectory of increasing funds in budgets in recent years. In budget 2022, we have a capital budget of approximately €18 million, whereas in 2020 we had €14.5 million. That is borne out by the commitment from me and from the Government as a whole to responding to the challenges in this area, and we are committed to doing that. The Office of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for his contribution, which I appreciate is a very genuine one, on the challenges we face in this area. The programme board was established towards the end of March, so we are talking about a six-month period. I have told the board I would like to see timelines in respect of each of the actions it has taken off for their first round of implementation, which is about 56%...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I welcome absolutely what the Senator says. As stated earlier, I would welcome the improvement of data in order that the committee and its members can critically evaluate my work. That is very important. We need to be in possession of improved data. As for Senator O'Reilly's engagement with the Traveller groups and members of the Traveller community, nothing I have seen has shocked me...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Collins for her questions and acknowledge the work that she is doing on the ground with the Traveller community. On Labre Park, we engaged directly with the community as did the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. One of the first things I did when I got responsibility for Traveller accommodation in November was write to Senator Eileen Flynn to try to forge relationships and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: One of my frustrations has been the lack of data. That is why one recommendation in the report was to have a specific Traveller identifier contained within social housing application forms. That would give us a better handle on what the requirements are from the Traveller community. A number of reports carried out, one of which was independently evaluated in County Mayo, suggest that not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Gould for his kind and good wishes at the outset. I will be clear; I wish to be honest and open with the Cathaoirleach and members of the committee in that I do not have all the answers to this complex issue, but I assure them that I will do my best. I appreciate the guidance from the committee and feedback on the structures I have established. When I took on the role in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: To make it clear, the Government, through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has stated that funding is not an obstacle on this matter. I assure Deputy Gould about that if he is going to speak to his constituents. Funding is not an obstacle.