Results 5,221-5,240 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Durkan. The next slot is the Independents but they may be occupied in the Seanad and the Dáil so I will move on to the next slot which is the Green Party slot and I will take that. I have questions for representatives from both of the local authorities. It is very helpful for us to engage with different local authorities from the ones we all have been used to where we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: It is not a new agency but we reconstituted it slightly last year. These things take time to settle in and bed in, as with the affordable housing schemes also. Does Mr. Lynch find that the LDA is approachable, for example with regard to that site, to say "How can we work together on this"? Is it at that stage yet in terms of how things are working?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: As an indicator to me, what would the council consider to be a large site and consider to be in LDA territory, and what would it consider a small site?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I have a similar question to Kildare County Council representatives. How does the council interact with the LDA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: That is good to hear. I have some questions on cost rental and the figures. Considering that both councils here today are two local authorities that have seen massive population growth, and what could be considered a sprawl of Dublin pressure out into Meath and Kildare over the years and associated traffic congestion problems that go with this and the long commutes, I am interested in how...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: When we get into the affordability question, does the cost per unit increase the higher one goes? Does the council see the three or four storey duplex as the ideal design?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I put the same question to Kildare County Council.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I just have one minute left to speak. I will ask the question and perhaps the witnesses will come back with the answers in the next round. On the figures for cost rental, Meath had a figure of 151 on page 3 of its submission where it spoke about cost rental. The figure for affordable provision was 151 units over the period of the housing delivery action plan. It is anticipated that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: There were quite a number of questions there, Senator, but I will still have to keep you to seven minutes. If the witnesses wish to start on the questions, we can probably get back to the rest of the answers later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Thank you, Ms Aspell. I have to interrupt you there. We are up to nine minutes on that slot now. You did well to get through all those questions. I will move on to Deputy O'Callaghan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Perhaps Ms Maguire will comment on the question about resources.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Senator Cummins and now call Deputy Guirke. He has seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I believe these questions are directed towards Meath County Council.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: The order is the last Fine Gael slot will be taken by Senator Cummins, followed by the third round of Senator Martin, myself and Deputy Gould. If members want to come back in, I can put them down for the third round.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. McGowan. I will take the next slot. The committee did a substantial report last year on urban regeneration, one of the recommendations of which was that a target be set for local authorities to deliver on the repair and lease or buy and renew schemes as part of their social housing provision. If we were to set such a target, would it provide greater impetus for local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I put the same question to the witnesses from Kildare County Council.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I have about ten question, so I will be brief. I will probably contribute again in the next round. I hear what has been said about encouragement and taking a carrot approach with building owners. We have a housing crisis and a substantial amount of vacancy and dereliction for various reasons. It is not a simple issue. Those who say it is a simple issue do not know what they are talking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: That sounds interesting. Will Ms Maguire send us a note on it? It is in the area of what we are seeking as regards urban regeneration. What rate does a vacant building In Kildare incur?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Can I clarify that? Ms Kavanagh called it a 100% vacancy relief. In other words, that is a commercial rate of zero.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: There is no rate charged for a vacant building.