Results 381-400 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Rowe. Before I go to members, could he outline what the next stage in this process is? Waterways Ireland has published the draft by-laws. What is the next stage? Does it go to the Minister to be adopted? What is the process there, for the information of members and for us all?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: I am going to go to members for eight-minute slots. That is eight minutes for the questions and answers. I call Deputy Joe Flaherty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Rowe. Can he come back to the question as to how many boats are moored illegally? I guess that is a hard question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: We will put that proposal to the committee to be agreed here-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: -----but I give a commitment to Deputy Flaherty that we will put that question for consideration by the committee at our next private meeting. I call Deputy Buckley. He is very welcome to the meeting today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: Can Mr. Rowe clarify that in the case Deputy Buckley referred to about alleged unauthorised developments being within the seven-year statute-barred period, I believe Mr. Rowe said a lot of these even predate Waterways Ireland and therefore, there is limited scope within the planning system to address this. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: I could not possibly advise in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: I just wanted Mr. Rowe to clarify that. Therefore, Waterways Ireland must pursue a different mechanism to rectify the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Buckley. I call Deputy Creed next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: We all agree that management of the waterways is important and a big part of that is having clear by-laws to improve them and assist in their management. It is an environmentally sensitive issue that also relates to people's homes. We get a lot of visitors. For people living along the canals, there is obviously concern when something about their living arrangements is going to change. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: What is that registration fee used for? I will have a follow-on question about the provision of infrastructure and services. Is the fee directly to fund the provision of services?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: I am sure the witnesses have heard, because committee members have heard it a lot, that the pump stations are not working or people have to travel quite some distance to pump out or to get water and basic services. If these by-laws were to be introduced, what would be the timeline to install the infrastructure that is not in existence at the moment and to bring up to standard the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: Okay. Thank you for that. I also have a question on electricity charges. To clarify, what is the current charge per kilowatt hour for somebody availing of those electricity charges?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: On long-term living arrangements along the canals, there are probably different requirements for different levels of services. A destination marina, for example, where somebody is going on holidays, will need a shower and some other facilities like that. Waterways Ireland has separate proposals for people who are living long term along the canals, however, including those basic water, waste...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: It is proposed that the winter mooring charge will be €300, according to what I read. Under that mooring charge, is there provision of or access to those services all year round?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: To clarify what was said earlier, it was referenced that boat movements were captured by lock activations, but that quite a number of movements do not go through locks. They just use a section of a waterway. Do such boats load in, use it and then load out, or are they there temporarily, permanently, illegally, or whatever you want to call it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: Mr. Rowe referenced the table in appendix 1. Is that in a published document or was that just-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: Is that available to the general public or was it just sent to members? I think that would be helpful-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: It would be helpful just for that clarification.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waterways Ireland: Discussion. (9 Jul 2024)

Steven Matthews: I was going to say something similar. It is something we will consider.