Results 4,341-4,360 of 4,810 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

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

Malcolm Noonan: This meeting is noted in my official diary, and that of the Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage both of which are published on my Department’s website. As the Ministers responsible for Town Centres First, Heritage and Urban Renewal policy, Minister O’Brien and I were pleased to receive a presentation from Hammerson of its plans for the regeneration of a very...

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

Malcolm Noonan: As the Deputy will appreciate, for reasons of operational security, my Department would not usually provide specific details in respect of planned enforcement activities. In general terms, officials of my Department routinely carry out scientific research, survey work and monitor compliance with national and European law in relation to nature conservation across the country. They conduct...

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

Malcolm Noonan: My Department has already accommodated access for this individual, in so far as is practicable. The paths and fishing stands in Grantstown are designed to Universal Access Standards. The site in question is also, as far as practicable, physically accessible to all. In addition my Department has offered access to the lake via the vehicular gate on an appointment basis to this individual.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (26 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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving the Deputies the opportunity to have their say on this. It is across the parties and is coming across loud and clear. On the comparisons in relation to intervention and pyrite scheme costs, this scheme would be double that of the average pyrite scheme. The aim of the scheme is to help, insofar as is possible, to reinstate the average-sized...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I appreciate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle giving discretion to the Deputies to make their contributions, given that five Deputies brought it forward. It is very important and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is committed to meeting residents in Mayo and has met families in Donegal as well. The cracking of the external walls of dwellings in Donegal and Mayo due to crumbling of concrete...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am familiar with the Blue Towns community-led initiative to which the Deputy referred. I was a director of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership at the time it was being developed. It is a very viable prospect. I will have to double-check the programme for Government to see whether we secured inclusion of an objective of developing a similar initiative for areas not covered by the national...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I thank Deputy Farrell. The net zero by 2050 roadmap, produced by the IEA envisions that by 2050, global energy demand will be 8% smaller than it is today but will service an economy twice as big and a population with 2 billion more people, and that almost 90% of electricity generation will come from renewable sources. Energy security will evolve on the path to net zero. Electricity...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Funchion for this question. The national broadband plan contract was signed with National Broadband Ireland in November 2019 to roll out a high-speed and future-proofed broadband network within the intervention area, which covers 1.1 million people living and working in more than 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I welcome this matter and thank the Deputy for making such a valuable contribution it. It is important that we continue to debate this issue. The recent IEA report emphasises that the energy sector is the source of approximately three quarters of greenhouse gas emissions today. Reducing global CO2emissions to net zero by 2050 is consistent with efforts to limit the long-term increase in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The case was very well made by the Senator. The funding system for local authorities is complex, with authorities deriving their income from a variety of sources, including commercial rates, charges for goods and services, and funding from central Government. Local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, population distribution, public service demands,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I note the concerns of the Senator. Every local authority is facing similar challenges. We can look towards the budgetary process for 2022, whereby elected members can again give consideration to the LPT, which is a mechanism that can be used. I reiterate that the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, is committed to working with Galway County Council to try to resolve these issues,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In response to the evolving needs of Irish society and its relationship with the wider Irish diaspora, the previous Government agreed in March 2017 to accept in principle the main recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution that Irish citizens resident outside the State, including citizens resident in Northern Ireland, should have the right to vote at presidential...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Futurecommits to a broad range of electoral reforms including a commitment to the modernisation of voter registration. The modernisation includes the introduction of rolling registration; the simplification of forms and processes; the gradual roll-out of an online option for registration; a single, national database within which Local Authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The national recruitment process for conservation rangers was advertised late last year and is being managed bythe Public Appointments Service. The recruitment is at an advanced stage and candidates are currently being interviewed. Frontline conservation rangers are deployed through a regional structure and assignments are determined in light of Departmental business needs and priorities. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Waterways Ireland is the navigation authority for the Erne System. The western limit of navigation on the Erne System as managed by Waterways Ireland is at Belleek, Co. Fermanagh where there is a marina with services. There are no plans at this time to extend the navigation farther west to the Atlantic coast at the Erne estuary.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services (25 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 433. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a significant time difference between when HIQA reports (details supplied) are shared with their service providers and when they are shared with their service users; if he is satisfied with such delays; if it is possible that all relevant stakeholders of such facilities will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senators for putting so well the case about the physical infrastructure of the bridge and the symbolism of bridging two communities. Unfortunately, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, are not available, so I am taking this topic on their behalf. It is important to note there is a Government commitment jointly with the Northern Ireland...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I understand the Senators' frustration regarding progress on this issue. It is of great importance on both sides of the Border, as has been stated. There are many moving parts in achieving progress on this issue. As I mentioned in my opening statement, the development of the Newry southern relief road is proceeding well. This would have a major impact on the robustness of any business...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (24 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton. The relevant legislation that allows for the removal of abandoned vessels in Irish waters such as that referred to by the Senator is the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993, which gives effect to the International Convention on Salvage 1989, to which Ireland is...