Results 4,361-4,380 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is okay. I refer to section 241, which relates to tree preservation orders, TPOs. If it appears to the planning authority that it is expedient to make a TPO, because it is often put that we do not have the resources or the finance to make TPOs, I would like the inclusion of a provision that members could, by way of resolution, request tree preservation orders. I ask the Department to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: Section 249 (5), which I raised before, relates to the correction of any error of fact or law. It was agreed that we could insert something not material to the decision. Is that still the view of the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is probably one of the most contentious sections that have come up. I refer to section 139 (10) on page 305. If one were to revoke planning permission where a development has commenced, it is important that the test for commencement aligns with the test for commencement of extensions. In other words, what we do not want in cases where there is a revocation of a planning permission, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is to include a lot of environmental impact assessments and report. It is a really good idea to have an environmental assessment portal to which people can go. I am referring to screening determinations by the board that people could request.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: Section 277 is on the making of architectural conservation areas. I am not sure whether it is defined in the Local Government Act if that is for a municipal district or a full council. They are generally done for county development plans. It would be beneficial for local councillors to be able to make a determination on that. Under section 325(2)(b), on page 579, the commission is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is Senator Boyhan keeping an eye on the clock for me?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have two minutes. That is great. Section 234(1), on page 459, refers to exceptional circumstances. I am not clear on what "exceptional circumstances" means. Will guidance be provided in that regard? We had to clarify that when we were doing substitute consent during the planning and evaluation Bill. I ask that "exceptional circumstances" be clarified. I refer to my last note. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I think Deputy Ó Broin wants to come back in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: We are out of time now. We could probably go on, but it is appropriate to take a break. I thank the witnesses for their time. I know there is a considerable amount of work by their team going into this, as there has been by the Attorney General and his team. It is very important we get it right. The witnesses' attendance today has really helped, as has their previous attendance and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have that here in my notes. We would like to hear about timelines on the urban development zones, UDZs, or the land value sharing and urban development zones Bill, because we do see that they are going to cross at some point here, and we as a committee will have to carry out the pre-legislative scrutiny on that. The transitional arrangements are critical to this as well, for example, if...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I want to ask about the roll-out of solar panels for schools, which was announced in the budget last year. It is a sensible measure to assist schools with their energy costs, to provide lighting, to power whiteboards etc and to heat meals under the expanded hot school meals programme. When I visit schools and am asked when they will get their solar panels, what should I tell the teachers...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: We are resuming our pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft planning and development Bill 2022. We are joined by Mr. Robin Mandal and Ms Pauline Cadell, Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance; Mr. Brendan Heneghan, Terenure West Residents' Association; and Ms Pauline Foster, Recorders Residents' Association. I welcome them and thank them for giving their time to assist us in getting this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Mandal and invite Mr. Heneghan to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)

Steven Matthews: As a committee, we all agree that public participation is a vital and critical part of the planning process. It would not be possible for the committee to meet representatives of every residents' association. However, in our view, given the complexities and challenges experienced by the Recorders Residents Association and Terenure West Residents Association, which is comprised of 40...