Results 4,661-4,680 of 8,016 for speaker:Peter Burke

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: 204. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will advise those operating small pods in sports clubs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41032/20]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: My Department has engaged extensively with representatives of the local government sector and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform over recent months concerning the financial challenges facing local authorities as a consequence of the pandemic. €600m was allocated by Government to fund the cost of a six-month waiver of rates from 27 March to 27 September 2020, which took...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: 376. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will give advice to those who are working in the artistic education field (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41033/20]

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: I will read out a technical response to the amendments first and then I will comment on a few of the issues that were raised. I genuinely appreciate the engagement of the House and Senators' connection with this Bill. I know many of the issues raised are genuine and Senators are well-meaning. I fully understand that. I will address amendments Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, as they have been...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: It is at the discretion of the local authority to either hold an online meeting or a public meeting or both. They have to do one. That is sufficient. There is no implicit action that a local authority is trying to prevent the public from getting involved. That does not happen in the local authority system. Local authorities want the public involved.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: I will read out a technical response first and then respond to each of the issues that have been raised. I will first address amendment No. 6 as jointly tabled by Senators Higgins, Ruane and Black. While I recognise that this amendment is well intentioned, I cannot accept it. Planning authorities routinely conduct public consultation exercises, inviting submissions from the public across a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan again for raising this issue and for the points he clearly makes regarding it. I share his frustration in respect of the providers and the issue of access to information as well as genuine customer service, which is a major frustration with people. I do not want to put a tooth in it: that is fully reflective of the situation on the ground. I believe the joint...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan for consistently raising issues in respect of the national broadband plan on behalf of his constituents. 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 the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Environmental Protection Agency (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and providing an opportunity to comment on the EPA's latest report, "Ireland's Environment 2020". This important statement on the condition of our national environment brings together key data and assessment from right across the spectrum of the EPA's work. This report includes an assessment of the water quality of our rivers, lakes, canals,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Environmental Protection Agency (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Alan Farrell again for his comments and for his genuine interest in the issue of improving our water quality, which is a huge issue facing us all as citizens. The report marks a concerning change in direction in our water quality trends and it identifies the need to amplify and co-ordinate efforts across all sectors. In particular we must increase efforts to address both...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: The use of the Part V mechanism to allow local authorities to acquire units in a private development, which are then allocated to social housing tenants, is important for a number of reasons. It makes a crucial contribution to supply of the overall stock available for social housing purposes and it supports the objective of social integration. As a matter of policy, it has been directed...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy. AHB tenancies are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board and governed by residential tenancies legislation. AHBs are currently subject to a voluntary regulation code and they will shortly come under the remit of the new approved housing bodies regulatory authority, which is in the process of being established. The Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Data (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, at the following link: . However, the data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning authority but are not broken down by reason for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 (the Act) introduced new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for strategic housing developments (SHDs) of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála (the Board) for determination....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commencement of Legislation (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 was passed by the Oireachtas and enacted in July 2019. Key elements of the act include: - A modernisation of rates legislation and practice, including variation of rates payment arrangements; - The pro-rata levying of rates on occupiers based on period in occupation within a year; - The application of interest payments on unpaid rates;...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: The Planning system primarily deals with considering the appropriate location, impact on the wider environment, form and phasing of development. The purpose of the Building Regulations is primarily to protect the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. While both codes deal with the built environment, they have interrelated but separate roles. New buildings and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: Further to finalisation of three Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies between June 2019 and January 2020, review of City and County Development Plans has commenced in many local authorities, overseen for the first time by the Office of the Planning Regulator. The process of alignment between plans will continue into 2021 and when complete, will be the first time that there is an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Census of Population (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: The most recent Census of Population in Ireland was undertaken by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in April 2016, with preliminary results available in July 2016 and full results available from mid- 2017. This coincided with the preparation of the National Planning Framework (NPF), which was finalised and published in early 2018. Work undertaken for the NPF to project estimates of future...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mayoral Election (1 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: I refer to question 122 of 24 November 2020 which outlines the steps I intend to take in relation to the drafting of legislation to allow for the establishment of the office of directly elected Mayor in Limerick and the holding of a mayoral election in 2021. It is my intention to publish the report of the Implementation Advisory Group (IAG) for the directly elected mayor with executive...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue and providing me with the opportunity to address the matter. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at a national, regional and local level. As part of budget 2021, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage secured funding of over...