Results 4,401-4,420 of 4,810 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

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....

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...