Results 3,781-3,800 of 4,881 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I concur with Senator Fitzpatrick in her praise for Ms Foley and the work on Moore St. It has been fantastic to get to that point and it has been tenacious, painstaking work. It is great that the Senator has acknowledged that. On bringing this legislation forward, I just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Many people have put much work into this over a long period and it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with the Senator wholeheartedly. The Bill certainly outlines critical key roles for local authorities across many areas, including inventories etc. I might ask Mr. Kirwan to come in specifically on those. Certainly, from our list of consultees thus far, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been part of that process. Again, if the committee here decides or sees...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: This stresses the need to expand. There is a similar need in respect of other disciplines within heritage services in local authorities. To me, it certainly augurs the case to expand the network of archaeologists employed by local authorities. It is critical because many heritage officers come from different disciplines and backgrounds. Some of them come from an archaeological background;...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I ask Mr. Carpenter to respond on that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will ask Mr. Carpenter to respond on those points.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the committee members for a very engaging session. There were fantastic questions and certainly a lot of food for thought for us. The point made about the provision of records and the compiling of records in the course of licensed activities is critical. Archiving that material and making it publicly available is something the National Monuments Service has done very well,...

Youth Mental Health: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I acknowledge the trauma and hurt of the young people and their families impacted by appalling failings of CAMHS in south County Kerry. They have been badly let down and harmed by a service in which they should have felt safe and that was trusted by the families. It is unacceptable that such failures of clinical governance failed young people so badly. I was involved in a collaborative...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator for bringing this matter forward as a Commencement matter. I addressed it previously, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, also has addressed it previously. It is an unfortunate incident and unacceptable, that must be said. In regard to an update, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, met the managing director of Irish Water, as well as the chief executives of both...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The point is well made about the further 35% of smaller water treatment plants that serve Irish Water customers. I will take that point back. It is important that there be a full audit of all water treatment plants because there is the potential for further incidents. There is potential for that in those smaller plants. Since the formation of this Government, one thing we have done is put...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland is operationally independent in regard to its management of the inland waterways under its remit, therefore I do not have any function in this regard. However, I am informed that Waterways Ireland would welcome the opportunity to engage directly with the person(s), organisation or community group to gain a greater understanding of the nature and extent of this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Culls (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Like the Deputy, I wholeheartedly support the sustainable management of the deer population in this country. It is critically important and we have made significant strides in that regard in recent years with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, in terms of resources and approving the licensing regime for the hunting of deer. I assume the Deputy's Topical Issue was prompted by...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Culls (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: For clarity, district conservation officers make a call in terms of the management of numbers in national parks. The Deputy is talking about deer populations outside of our nature reserves and national parks. Last year, we managed to significantly improve the provision of section 42 deer hunting licences. I have met the Irish Deer Commission. We need good training for people who are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Services (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I absolutely will. It is very important that we do. Another important point is related to Covid-19. The pandemic has presented challenges to the fire services in the delivery of services. Our Department has monitored regular reports from the fire services on the impact of the pandemic on staffing levels and business continuity. In recent weeks, in line with trends among the general...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Services (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Deputy has certainly put forward a very strong case for this type of co-operation. It is important, particularly as we have come through the Covid-19 crisis, which has highlighted significant challenges in rural areas. I am very familiar with that part of the country. To begin, I should clarify that the provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment...

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Derelict Sites (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta arís. Deputy Griffin is making an important point and his suggestion is worthy of consideration. As I said, a suite of measures is already in place and we are pursuing them. The Croí Cónaithe initiative will deliver. It is an important measure to support local authorities in providing serviced sites for housing, to attract people to...

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Derelict Sites (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Deputies asked quite a number of questions. On the last point made by Deputy Bruton, between 2017 and 2021, the repair and leasing scheme brought 273 units into use. On the point made by Deputy Phelan and other Deputies on one-off houses, the Department launched a vernacular strategy a number of weeks ago. These houses are important from a rural perspective and the pattern of rural...

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Derelict Sites (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Deputy Griffin has raised this on numerous occasions, particularly with regard to County Kerry. Housing for All published in September 2021 provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations with economic, social and environmental...

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Housing Provision (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will make a general point, rather than one on specific road projects. Critically, one thing that Housing for All is clear on is that housing delivery has to be connected to lots of infrastructure, including public transport and sustainable modes of transport. On the issue the Deputy raised, namely, that housing may not be delivered because a specific road project may not proceed, the...

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Housing Provision (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: To answer the specific question asked by Deputy Stanton, he is correct in stating that the issue around rail links and public transport is critically important. This is something that we are clearly committed to under Housing for All. I am not privy to the decision of TII in respect of that specific road project. However, looking at the sustainable delivery of housing units and building...

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Housing Provision (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: In specific response to that, the housing delivery plan is working in tandem with local authorities to ensure that the targets set for local authorities will be met county by county. I will give the specific example of my county, Kilkenny. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I have visited a number of projects that have opened there in recent months. The local authority there is...