Results 5,521-5,540 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: I am out of time so I have one very quick question to put to both of the councils. If there was more funding available for bringing voids back into use, do the councils have voids on their books that they can bring into use?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: I did not start the clock so the Deputy is on his honour here. It is about Cork so I will let him away with it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: We have 12 minutes left if Deputy Ó Broin and Deputy Gould want to share that between them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Gould for finishing on that positive note. Just to clarify, there are a number of requests for further information. If Mr. Ó Donnabháin is still there, there was a question about the affordability figure and how the demand for affordability was configured. There is a question on notices-to-quit, in relation to housing assistance payment, HAP, figures; and a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: We will have a number of sessions on the review of the planning system so if there are areas within planning that Mr. McGrath thinks should be brought to the attention of the committee, we would welcome that engagement from him and the other witnesses, who are front-line practitioners in planning and work on it every day of the week.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: What I sense is that it is the amount of time it takes to get the direction rather than to carry a direction because a project is in proximity to very sensitive area that is the problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: I understand but we are in a crisis in terms of biodiversity, species loss and environmental degradation so it is good that these environmental impact assessments are carried out. If the timelines were correct, would that satisfy Mr. McGrath's needs?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: Four of these meetings have been set up with the four Dublin local authorities and the four other cities. We propose to put together a report and will probably engage further with other local authorities. It is up to the members to decide on that. The engagement with the witnesses who are working on these issues is very helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Doherty and all her staff for their attendance and also to Mr. McGrath and his staff that attended online. I thank the witnesses for the work they are doing and for their attendance at the committee today.

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Ukraine War (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: 102. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons from Ukraine who are being housed in private properties in which the owner is in receipt of the recognition payment; if he will provide an update on the number of pledged properties which have been deemed suitable for the placement of a person or family from Ukraine; the number of such...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Food Poverty (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: 59. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps that her Department is taking to tackle the issue of food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50429/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: 131. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to bring forward the completed anti-racism strategy soon; the way in which he envisages that the strategy will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50214/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: 193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that he will take to ensure that local authorities are adequately funding to address new noise mitigation requirements associated with road noise; if an action plan that identifies key locations that need to be addressed is already available at council level; if funding will be forthcoming to support same; and if he will make...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: 231. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding changes to the cost rental equity loan scheme; if the total level of funding available from his Department that has been increased to account for these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50818/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: 270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider supporting funding for travel passes to be used on all public transport services for staff of special schools, only to be used while travelling with their students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50962/22]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: I welcome everyone to the meeting, including the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, and his officials. This meeting has been convened to consider Committee Stage of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2022, with which we will now proceed.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: Amendment No. 1, in the name of Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, and amendment No. 4, in the name of Deputy Ó Broin, are related and are to be discussed together. Does Deputy Ó Broin wish to go first? I do not know whether Deputy Cian O'Callaghan is online. Maybe he will join us shortly.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Oct 2022)

Steven Matthews: Confusion over the digitisation of maps was raised with me also. The establishment of a new agency provides us with an opportunity to address these issues for those who encounter the difficulties described.