Results 4,181-4,200 of 8,016 for speaker:Peter Burke

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senators for a debate I genuinely value. Much good content has recurred throughout the different themes. Before I address the amendments, regarding what Senators Casey and Boyhan said about the section 183 process and the LDA, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is working hard to try to resolve that issue. As the Minister of State with responsibility for local authorities, I...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Senators for their contributions on this matter. They are correct on the importance of language in legislation. This is not an issue of principle but a legal issue in terms of the direction given on the Planning and Development Acts. I agree to take another look at the amendment. I propose to accept amendment No. 12, which was touched on by Senator Higgins, to show our commitment...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Peter Burke: We are accepting this amendment and I hope that reflects the broad thrust of the day. We have accepted amendments and we have given commitments to come back on others because we genuinely value the contributions made by Senators.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Peter Burke: This has been a very good debate with extremely valuable contributions. I almost do not know where to start in view of the range of issues that were raised. I very much agree with the amendment. I support the thrust of it. The amendment relates to housing authorities proactively planning for the delivery of affordable dwellings for purchase and for cost-rental. Local authorities are...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Senators Ruane and Higgins for their amendment. It proposes to add another subsection, presumably (7), to section 6 which is the provision of dwellings by housing authorities. Affordable dwellings will be provided by housing authorities with assistance from the Department, including from the serviced sites fund where a clear need has been identified for such. The process sees...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (27 May 2021)

Peter Burke: My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the number of planning enforcement officers...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (27 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 163 together. The Programme for Government - Our Shared Futureincludes the specific action to strengthen the regulatory and enforcement mechanisms with regard to short-term letting, and the ongoing approach in this regard is currently being considered. However, as some elements of potential regulation of the short-term letting market fall outside the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (27 May 2021)

Peter Burke: My Department requests extensive Short-Term Letting (STL) data returns from local authorities on a quarterly basis. Amongst the information requested is the total number of properties identified as potentially in breach of the STL regulations and therefore requiring further consideration. However, local authorities are not required to identify and report on the number of short-term lets...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (27 May 2021)

Peter Burke: My Department requests extensive Short-Term Letting (STL) data returns from local authorities on a quarterly basis. These returns include extensive statistics regarding the enforcement and implementation of the STL Regulations and feedback on the impact of Covid-19 in this regard. Amongst the issues raised in these returns are the effect that Covid-19 has had on the ability of local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (27 May 2021)

Peter Burke: My Department continues to pursue the outstanding returns from local authorities regarding the implementation and enforcement of short-term letting regulation. To date, 16 of the 22 relevant local authorities have responded, with the remainder expected in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (27 May 2021)

Peter Burke: Under the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing 2005, 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. I wish to clarify that the ‘Flemish Decree’ was a March 2009...

Independent Beef Regulator: Motion [Private Members] (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: As I open the debate on the Government side, I do so, first, as the son of a suckler farmer in the midlands who has lived the experience that many of the Deputies speaking today say they are aware of. I grew up on a family farm that supported me in life and gave me the key opportunities to realise my ambition and supported me to do that. I have also experienced the late nights and long days...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rental Sector (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this matter. I appreciate the genuine way in which he put his concerns forward. I accept that those concerns are valid. The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements on a range of matters such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rental Sector (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I again thank the Deputy. His point is very well made and his concerns are very valid; I fully accept that. As I have said, there is a target for 25%, more needs to be done and we are trying to achieve that with increased funding, albeit in very constrained circumstances due to the pandemic. My Department has increased funding. As I said, the current €10 million budget should allow...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy McNamara for raising this important matter. In keeping with UNESCO advice to review the Tentative List every ten years, my Department launched a call for applications to Ireland's Tentative List of world heritage properties in January 2019. The closing date for receipt of applications is 30 June 2021. My Department has invited all local authorities to submit applications to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I reject the Deputy's connotation that essentially there is Cabinet interference. There is absolutely no interference. This is a robust, independent process. I made clear in my speech that individuals and organisations are encouraged to make applications in collaboration with the local authority. The local authority places structure on any process. Local authorities are a key focal point...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: My Department last week issued guidelines to planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), in relation to the Restriction of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing. The guidelines define what is meant by a house or duplex unit, for the purposes of the guidance: a.A house, defined as not including a building...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together. Our towns and villages require specific policy supports to ensure that they continue to function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live and work, to raise families, to act as the service, cultural and recreational hub for the surrounding areas, and to facilitate social and community interaction. In this context,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Undefined (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: The Building Regulations 1997-2019 set out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings and works to ensure the health and safety of people in and around such buildings. They are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Peter Burke: 77. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of a broadband connection for a location (details supplied). [27964/21]