Results 4,381-4,400 of 4,810 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Water and Wastewater Treatment Services: Motion [Private Members] (19 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Acting Chairman and I wish her all the best in her role. It is great to see a constituency colleague taking the Chair. I will address some of the issues raised since I took over this part of the debate. Deputies Sherlock, Whitmore and Cairns commented regarding specific deficits in Mitchelstown, Arklow and Kinsale. Those points are noted. Deputies Connolly and Bríd...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Council (19 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 110 and 115 together. The National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) is a programme established by the Heritage Council in 2006 and operated under a contract between the Council and a private company subsidiary of a UK entity. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department, including the Heritage Council, to facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Citizens' Assembly (19 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department, and is a matter in the first instance for that Department. These discussions primarily relate to the scope and timing of the assembly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Biodiversity Plan (19 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The collection of data relating to biodiversity and nature underpins much of the work of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, particularly its Scientific Unit. This work is formally set out in Objective 2 of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017 - 2021: to strengthen the knowledge base for conservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity. The interim review...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (19 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Local authorities across the country carry out vital work in promoting, safeguarding and restoring biodiversity. However, monitoring, reporting and management of data on this work in individual local authority areas is a matter for each Council. The Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department provides funding to assist local...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (18 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Tá.

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (18 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all Deputies for their contributions. I thank Deputy Ó Broin and Sinn Féin for tabling the motion. Deputy Ó Broin continues to bring constructive ideas to the housing debate. This evening's discussion has been useful. I will start by addressing some of the points I have listened to since I took over on this side of the debate. Deputy Verona Murphy and others...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Commercial Rates (18 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Like the Senator, I strongly believe in strong and well-funded local government, having spent 16 years of my public life as a member of a local authority. The issue he has raised is important. As he will be aware, local authorities are legally obliged to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes. Indeed, commercial rates are the single greatest source of income for local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Commercial Rates (18 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator has our commitment that we will bring forward the Local Government Rates and other Matters Act 2019, recognising the need for change. I reiterate that not all local authorities are as reliant on rates revenue as others. In Fingal, for instance, it accounts for 51%, whereas in a county such as Leitrim, it is about 16%, so there is considerable disparity. It is important that we...

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

Malcolm Noonan: The final meetings of the inter-departmental group to review the draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan took place last week. A number of revisions are now being made to the draft Plan to reflect the outcome of discussions at these meetings. Once the final draft Plan has been revised, and agreed by the group, a publication date will be decided on.

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

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 77 on 5 May 2021. My Department has provided the administrative and logistical supports required to facilitate the operation and deliberations of the Moore Street Advisory Group and its predecessor. My Department has engaged as necessary with relevant parties in that context and also in the course of its role in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (18 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...

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...