Results 4,061-4,080 of 4,810 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Schemes (14 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senator again for his comments. I reiterate the Government's commitment to providing income supports to the most vulnerable, in particular in the context of the fuel allowance. This was demonstrated in last Tuesday's budget with rate increases for both the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance as well as extended eligibility for the fuel allowance for certain cohorts of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (14 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As part of the National Peatlands Strategy, a Review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry was published in September 2020. On foot of a recommendation in the Review, I established a working group, which includes representatives from relevant Government Departments and State Agencies, Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and industry stakeholders to examine the issues...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (14 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland commenced planning and design preparation work on Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal restoration project (Clones to Clonfad) in County Monaghan during 2021. Construction on site is planned to commence in the summer of 2022, subject to completion of land acquisition. Substantial completion of the main infrastructure works is expected in Q2 of 2023. This phase will include the...

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

Malcolm Noonan: My Department is responsible for the implementation of a range of legislation and policy relating to biodiversity and nature in Ireland; this does not include the employment of biodiversity officers, which falls under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, within the remit of each Local Authority. Currently, there are five biodiversity officers employed in the following local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (12 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senator Wall for raising this issue and providing me with an opportunity to give an update on the matter on behalf of the Department. The Department provides funding to local authorities under the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs and also to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (12 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Following the stock response that we have given the Senator, as well as the specific issues the Senator has raised here, the Department needs to come back with a specific set of answers. The workshop that was held with local authorities was useful in teasing out these issues. A new set of challenges has come about as we emerge from the pandemic. Building costs are surging. There is...

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

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 159, 167 and 168 together. ‘Liscartan’ Castle is a Recorded Monument (RMP Ref- ME025-009), a Tower House protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014. The structure is not in the ownership or care of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and is therefore not managed or maintained by the OPW. This is...

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

Malcolm Noonan: Article 16 of the Constitution sets out clearly and distinctly the overarching requirements that apply to the membership of Dáil Éireann. In addition, and complementary to the constitutional provisions of Article 16.2 in particular, Part II of the Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides for a constituency review following each Census of Population and establishes, among other...

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

Malcolm Noonan: Galway County Council, as the planning authority for the area concerned, is responsible for regulating the activities mentioned in the complaint as having an adverse impact on the freshwater pearl mussel. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has conveyed its concerns around the issues raised in the complaint to the Council and is monitoring the situation, particularly...

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

Malcolm Noonan: There is no national monument in State care at Tailteann. Should any private owner of a national monument wish to carry out work to conserve a monument or to provide on-site interpretation material, they would be advised to consult with Local Authority Heritage officials regarding funding possibilities for conservation projects under various heritage grant schemes, including the Community...

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

Malcolm Noonan: In accordance with Circular 40/2002, issued by the Department of Finance, my Department completes an annual return in respect of contracts above a €25,000 threshold which have been awarded without a competitive process (negotiated procedure without prior publication). These returns are submitted annually to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General as part of the Appropriation...

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

Malcolm Noonan: The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department. The timing and scheduling of the Assembly will depend on the outcome of these discussions and on a number of external factors which need to be considered before the scope and terms of the Assembly are framed.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (7 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: It is expected that significant changes will be made to the scheme. Progress has been made to date through the group and issues such as removing upfront costs for assessing the scheme have been agreed with homeowners, as have other issues, including rent costs for those who have had to move out of their homes. Planning permission exemptions have been agreed for like-for-like developments,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (7 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. The story he has told is replicating itself with thousands of families across the country. I hope I can provide, by way of background, where we are now and assure the Deputy that the Government is working tirelessly to try to resolve this matter on behalf of families. The Department is not familiar with the specific details of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (7 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The request by the Chair of the working group for an extension to the end-of-September timeline for submission of the Report referred to by the Deputy was first brought to my attention on the morning of 29 September. The Chair indicated that a brief additional period of time would be required in order to take account of technical meetings conducted by the group on the different strands of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Forestry Sector (7 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) officials of my Department monitor designated sites and, in conjunction, with other public authorities, as appropriate, investigate incidents within these sites in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. The re-fencing of Uragh Wood Nature Reserve is intended...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tourism Industry (6 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In March 2021, €121,285,388 was allocated to Dublin City Council in respect of the North Inner City Concept Area 1 under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. The North Inner City project involves the regeneration and redevelopment of several areas of the north inner city that have experienced a degree of decline and dereliction over a number of years resulting in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (6 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department. The timing and scheduling of the Assembly will depend on the outcome of these discussions and on a number of external factors which need to be considered before the scope and terms of the Assembly are framed.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (6 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Under electoral law, Returning Officers are responsible for the selection and provision of polling stations at polling places. Section 94 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended by section 3 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1996, provides that Returning Officers must, where practicable, select buildings for polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users. A Working Group on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (5 Oct 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Both species of seal in Irish waters - the Harbour or Common Seal and the more numerous Grey Seal - are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and Ireland is obliged to maintain their populations at favourable conservation status. We are also required to monitor these species and report to the European Commission on their conservation status. A standardised monitoring programme has been...