Results 4,681-4,700 of 8,016 for speaker:Peter Burke

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

Peter Burke: I thank Senator Conway again for raising this issue and for working on behalf of the residents in Doolin, Broadford, Cooraclare and Carrigaholt. It is important we respond to the challenges because we are clear in this country that private investment will be weak over the next number of months because of the coronavirus. That gives a key opportunity for the State to step in with public...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Rates (26 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 was passed by the Oireachtas and enacted on 11 July 2019. Key elements of the Act include a modernisation of rates legislation and practice including variation of rates payment arrangements, the pro ratalevying of rates on occupiers based on period in occupation within a year, the application of interest payments on unpaid rates, minimum...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Rates (26 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I met the president of the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and his team yesterday and committed to holding quarterly meetings with them. Part of this relates to the engagement with councillors to provide core support to them in order that they will be aware of all the issues they can respond to in the chamber, which are very extensive at this time. The Office of the Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (26 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: The table below sets out the for allocation and expenditure in respect of Traveller accommodation for Cavan, Monaghan, Meath, Louth, Longford and Westmeath county councils in 2018 and 2019 and 2020 year to date up to and including November 24. In 2020, to facilitate ease of access to funding my Department is not allocating specific budgets to individual local authorities. Instead, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Impact Assessments (26 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: In planning matters, the requirements for carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are set out at Part X of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Under section 172 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, an applicant for consent to carry out proposed development requiring EIA must submit an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) to the planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (25 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: In recognising the difficulties faced by businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Programme for Government – “Our Shared Future”, in the area of “Reigniting and Renewing the Economy,” committed to set out how commercial rates will be treated for the remainder of 2020. One of the earliest priorities of both Minister O’Brien and I was to secure...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (25 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: The proposed Dublin Array project is one of several projects that have been designated as a Relevant Project. These are offshore wind projects that either applied for or were granted a lease under the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, or offshore wind projects that are eligible to be processed to receive a valid grid connection offer. These transition projects can continue to work and update a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (25 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: The original 2020 Estimate provision of €787.377m in my Department’s Vote under Programme C – Local Government, included €600m provided under the Government’s July Stimulus package to fund the cost of a waiver of commercial rates for six months for eligible businesses. However, further to a Supplementary Estimate and the waiver extension announced in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (25 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: Three members were appointed to the board of the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in September 2020: Ms Margaret Lane, Mr Brian Cawley and Mr Niall Quinn. Information about the membership of the board is available on the NOAC website at .

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (25 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. A revised General Scheme for the LDA Bill was approved by Government in October for priority...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: We can examine that within the Department and revert back to the Deputy. Of the five LIHAF projects at the end of October, Sallins in County Kildare is one that has been progressed, so there is good news. In terms of the sticking points, we will get back to the Deputy on the site in question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I fully accept the well-made points of each of the three Deputies who have highlighted their concerns in this area. We all face these issues at our clinics every week. They involve people who are on the margins. We see people missing out on the housing list because of income that potentially should be disregarded. That can be most frustrating. I wish to set out the position of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputies for their well-made points. The sole focus of this Department is to ensure that we provide secure accommodation that all our citizens can access equally. We should always instil hope in people because there is hope. People who are on the margins can take consolation from the significant budget we have secured for the Department for 2021. As I have said, the Housing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: The local infrastructure housing activation fund was designed to support housing supply by relieving critical infrastructure blockages. A total of 30 projects were approved with an overall budget of €195.7 million while €146.8 million was Exchequer funded and the remainder was funded by local authorities. Full details of the approvals are available on the Rebuilding Ireland...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I note that the Deputy has other proposals for the site but it is important to state our aim and primary focus is to deliver the 2,074 quality affordable housing units on it. We can only be accountable for what is under our jurisdiction in the Department. I have advised the Deputy that the planning application is expected to be lodged by the end of this year. There is a lead time of 16...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I fully appreciate that many of these sites, no more than the one in my constituency, have a significant emotional history attached to them. I am sure the LDA will liaise with the local authority in respect of that. With regard to the application, I have given the Deputy a clear timeline, referring to the end of the year. Once the application is submitted, there will be a 16-week...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 64 and 95 together. 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 Regulations 2011, as amended. The 2011 regulations prescribe maximum net income...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Deputy for the question. The LDA was established on an interim basis in September 2018 by way of an establishment order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971 , pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. The LDA is currently working on a HSE-owned 14.5-acre...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: I am fully committed to ensuring that accessible social homes are available to persons with disabilities. Budget 2021 has made available €3.3 billion towards a wide range of housing programmes that will deliver 12,750 new social homes for next year. A record 9,500 of these homes will be new build homes, designed and planned using guidelines, build standards and planning regulations...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Peter Burke: As I said, the committee will meet before the end of the year to review the process. I remind the Deputy we have increased funding for adaptation grants consistently over recent years. There was a 19% increase from 2019 to 2020 and it has been increased again for next year. It will be €75 million in 2021. Money has been put behind this. If local authorities are short of money for...