Results 4,041-4,060 of 8,342 for speaker:Peter Burke

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Architectural Heritage (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: It is very clear there are differences in timeframes to reflect both the stages of the development plan process and the different nature of the development plan as opposed to a process solely focused on the listing of protected structures. These difference do not mean, however, that there is a conflict between them. They simply mean that there are different contexts in which the important...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this matter and I will specifically raise it with the Minister for Education. Summercove National School is a Catholic co-educational primary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Cork and Ross. In September 2020, the school had an enrolment of 223 pupils with a staffing of a principal, eight mainstream class teachers and three special education...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator again for raising this important issue on behalf of the community in Kinsale. I will raise it with the Minister for Education and outline to her the key priorities the community has in order to try to get this school progressed as quickly as possible. The Senator has put forward a strong case in connection with it and we need to ensure we have a good, strong and new...

Seanad: Peat Harvesting: Statements (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach for this opportunity to speak to the House today on peat harvesting. As someone from a large rural constituency, I absolutely understand the critical importance of the horticultural industry and its value to the wider economy. I have and will continue to work side by side with the industry to facilitate peat extraction. I have done this as a back bench Deputy and...

Seanad: Peat Harvesting: Statements (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I am not contesting it.

Seanad: Peat Harvesting: Statements (13 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: I did not say that I had no problem with that. The Senator has misquoted me.

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...