Results 4,321-4,340 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

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

Malcolm Noonan: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 670 on 24 March 2021. None of the archaeological monuments in the vicinity of the Hill of Allen are in my Department's ownership or guardianship. Under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, the Department has established and maintains a Record of Monuments and Places (RMP), which affords legal protection to all recorded...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Durkan for the question. The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in society and this is reflected in the programme for Government. More than €3.3 billion has been made available in 2021 for housing, the largest budget in the history of the State. This year alone, we are providing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Water (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien and I met with SOS Dublin Bay last week to discuss some of these issues. We will get a response from Irish Water on that. To reassure Deputy Stanton, the investment by this Government will be significant over its lifetime and that is reflected in the 2021 allocation and the €87 million that was invested in Irish Water through the July stimulus...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Water (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke and I are committed to working with Irish Water over the lifetime of this Government to deliver this project. As I stated already, the removal of projects from the EPA remedial action list is a key priority of Irish Water. We are happy to take up the Deputy's request to meet with Irish Water on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: As the Deputy will be aware, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic required a whole of Government approach that was flexible, adaptive and responsive to the changing situation. My Department responded to the COVID-19 pandemic using a range of targeted mechanisms. Funding was distributed through a number of stakeholders, primarily the 31 local authorities. The most significant cost was in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I have no role in relation to the sites in question, which are managed by an independent group. As they are not in state ownership, I would not be in a position to comment in relation to them. Heritage sites and general outdoor spaces at our National Monuments and historic sites in state ownership, as well as our wonderful National Parks, are generally open, in line with the latest...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Communications (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department and the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for managing and maintaining the national monument at Nos. 14 -17 Moore Street, engages with the adjoining landowner as necessary in relation to common boundary issues. The formal consent of the Minister is required under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 in relation to any proposed interference with a national...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government contains a broad range of electoral reforms including a commitment to establish an independent, statutory Electoral Commission by the end of 2021. The Programme also contains a specific commitment to "Examine the Scottish experience of reducing the voting age to 17, in order to draw conclusions" within the lifetime of the current Dáil. In December 2020, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I have neither statutory nor Ministerial responsibility for the harvesting of peat for use in horticulture. However, to assist in addressing the question of horticultural peat extraction, in particular, for use within the horticultural sector in Ireland, I established a working group under an independent chairman, Dr. Munoo Prasad, to examine the issues which had been identified during the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review Report has 32 recommendations which can be broken down into 4 categories which are aimed at: 1. addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used; 2. removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery; 3. increasing resources and delivery capacity; and 4. strengthening governance...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department, are presently undertaking immediate work to assess the initial impacts of the fire. NPWS staff are currently reviewing satellite data to map and assess the area burnt. Conservation rangers are mapping the entire boundary of the fire on the ground and are undertaking internal mapping of the area burnt, conducting preliminary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Sporting Rights (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: A revised Declaration 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 . The declaration provides for the control of wood pigeon to prevent serious damage to crops.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners. My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Hill of Tara is one of Ireland’s premier national monuments and is of international prominence and importance. In recent years, it has been subject to extensive research by the Discovery Programme, funded by my Department, through which our knowledge and understanding of the site has been greatly increased. Against a general background of increasing visitor numbers, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Service provision at Waterways Ireland moorings on Lough Derg is not disrupted. All services have been reconnected in advance of the boating season which in the context of the current Covid 19 Pandemic, will re-open fully on 10 May 2021. At that time navigation on the Shannon will resume and all service blocks will be open to boaters and visitors. Waterways Ireland continues to work...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cultural Objects (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The acquisition of objects of cultural heritage interest is primarily a matter for the National Museum of Ireland, and the museum sector, which are under the aegis of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. I have no function in the matter and any movement on repatriating objects in areas such as those mentioned by the Deputy, would need to be considered in its...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The NPWS review is underway with three distinct strands being undertaken concurrently. - Strand one is focusing on stakeholder engagement (internal and external) - Strand two is focusing on reviewing the capacity and resources of the NPWS. - Strand three consists of a comparative desktop analysis of resources/structures of similar organisations in other jurisdictions and an overview of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Ulster Canal Restoration Phases Phase 1 of the Ulster Canal restoration project is complete. This involved the restoration of a 2.5 km stretch of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson near Belturbet in Co. Cavan. The navigation channel on the River Finn up to Castle Saunderson is now open to waterway users, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The cause of the fire in Killarney is still being investigated and the full impacts will take some time to ascertain. Staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are presently conducting work to assess the initial impacts of the fire. Staff are currently mapping the entire boundary of the fire and using satellite data to assess the area burnt. Conservation Rangers are undertaking...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Postal voting at elections, including bye-elections, is provided for in electoral law in respect of a number of categories of electors, including: - - Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, - whole-time members of the Defence Forces, - members of An Garda Síochána, - electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical...