Results 4,301-4,320 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (18 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. My Department's National Monuments Service co-ordinates and oversees Ireland's role and responsibilities under the World Heritage Convention, including the submission of any nominations for World Heritage status to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee. My Department is currently engaged in a review of Ireland's Tentative List...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy again for raising this matter and for the contribution he made. There are many factors involved in road safety. Vehicle standards, road conditions and, above all, road user and driver behaviour have an impact on how safe our roads are. In just over two decades we have seen a large reduction in the number of fatalities on our roads, from 472 in 1997 to a record low of 138...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Policy (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: There is no doubt that the Deputy is correct in his points. He highlighted in his opening comments a lack of transparency and public engagement around SHDs, which he described as "a tantalising prospect" for development funds and a cause of inflated rents. They have undoubtedly had a distorting impact on the housing market. I take on board the point that putting a deadline into the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Leddin for raising this matter, which I am taking of behalf of the Minister of State for Transport, Deputy Naughton. First, I take this opportunity, on behalf of both the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, to express our deepest sympathies to the family of Aoibheann Duffy, who was killed in a collision near Abbeydorney on Monday night. Any death on the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Policy (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Lahart for putting the case so strongly, well and passionately. The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced for a limited time new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for strategic housing developments of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation of 200 bed spaces or more, to be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241, 242 and 243 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 368, 369 and 370 on 11 May 2021 which clarified that, in a legal transaction and conveyancing managed by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, the freehold ownership of these buildings was acquired by the State from the previous owner in 2015. It was also clarified that the acquisition and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Nesting birds are already protected under the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended. It is an offence to wilfully destroy, injure or mutilate the nest of a protected wild bird, or to wilfully disturb a protected wild bird on or near a nest containing eggs or unflown young. It is also an offence to wilfully take or remove the nest of a protected wild bird, unless in accordance with a licence issued...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). The HSF is for conservation and enhancement to heritage structures and historic buildings, in...

Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will not be accepting any of the proposed amendments. I reiterate this is a technical Bill with a very narrow focus to transfer the remaining delegated functions to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am taking on board the points the Deputies have made about designations, notification of landowners and consultation with them. That is certainly something to which...

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

Malcolm Noonan: Ireland, like all EU Member States, Ireland is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Issues (11 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I acknowledge that this is an issue that affects my own constituency as well as 14 other local authorities in the country. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Issues (11 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As I have stated, affordability is at the heart of Government policy in the programme for Government. I also wish to confirm that the review of income thresholds has commenced. As I have outlined, no final recommendations will be made until the determination can be made on the impact of the parallel affordability initiatives. I am aware that this affects 15 local authorities in total,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Projects (11 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Planning approval for development of the Barrow Blueway from Lowtown to Athy (46km) was received in March 2019. The project objectives are to: (1) Provide upgraded and new physical infrastructure in accordance with planning permission; (2) Provision of infrastructure to achieve ‘Accredited Blueway’ status for the route; (3) Co-ordinate marketing activity to maximise the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (11 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for domestic turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to encompass turf cutters from raised bog natural heritage areas. This scheme is applicable to turf cutters who have been affected by the designation of raised bogs, encompassed by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (11 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: With regard to the Open Seasons Order, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 472 of 28 April, 2021. A revised derogation in respect of Wild Birds for the period 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022 was signed on 30 April 2021 and is posted on the website of the NPWS at . I have no proposals to amend this derogation.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (11 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 730 of 21 April 2021, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (11 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369 and 370 together. In a legal transaction and conveyancing managed by the Chief State Solicitors Office the freehold ownership of these buildings was acquired by the State from the previous owner in 2015. This acquisition and conveyance of freehold title was not subject to any encumbrance, leasehold interest or title burden. No lease of any...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Repeal of Part V Leasing) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I take this opportunity to reflect on a number of the matters touched on during the debate on the Bill. I reiterate that local authorities are not obliged to enter into agreements to deliver Part V obligations through leasing. A clear preference for housing authorities is to acquire units on site in order to comply with relevant Part V conditions. Leasing to satisfy Part V elements should...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (6 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Ireland, like all Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Nature Directives. The Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. The Directives have been transposed into national law under the European Communities (Birds...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Projects (6 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The boat was discovered during the course of dredging works by the Port of Drogheda following which my Department's National Monuments Service (NMS) carried out a full excavation in 2007 in collaboration with the National Museum of Ireland and the port authorities. The remains are of an almost fully intact 16thcentury clinker built coastal trader, including a cargo of 13 barrels....