Results 5,681-5,700 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Níl.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Údarás na Gaeltachta is doing work in conjunction with it. Thankfully, we are seeing, as Deputy Ó Snodaigh stated earlier, an increase of investment in jobs in Gaeltacht areas. That is happening because of the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta in conjunction with our local authorities. As I said, the economic strategy is central to any development plan. We will add the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Sorry, it is amendments Nos. 430 and 431. As I said, for clarification and to correct the record, both amendments relate to the publication of notices relating to development plans. That is provided for under section 10 of the Official Languages Act, but I will see if we can do anything additional on Report Stage. We just need to look into it a little more. That is all.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: That amendment relates to the same issue. These subgroups are informal.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Amendment No. 390 is listed in this overall group. It is something we will look at. It relates to discussions on the priority area plans we had earlier. Amendments Nos. 430 and 431 are slightly different.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I give a commitment that I will look at that in advance of Report Stage.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: A range of matters has been discussed, many of which were discussed earlier. It is my firm belief that the priority area plans are the way to go. Let us remember that our Gaeltacht areas are within county administrative areas. Deputy Ó Broin made a point about equality of access, particularly to social housing. We know of cases where local authorities, in granting planning permission...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy did but I am not going to confirm it. I have discussed this to see how to do it. I know the Deputy was just giving examples but assigning a medical-type priority is problematic. We have to operate within EU law. There is a way of doing this by focusing development where we need it. A clear desire I have is to make sure we have legislative underpinning that will help...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Priority area plans are to ensure that the local authority gives priority to the planning of that Gaeltacht area. We are not talking about priority around social housing allocation. I know the Deputy knows that but at this moment in time, a development plan takes place - I do not know if the Deputy met Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, for argument's sake.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: He understands the issues it has. If you are on Toraigh or Árainn Mhór, you are treated, effectively, like the rest of County Donegal. That is the issue. The unique nature and characteristics of that area are not taken into account. I want to make sure there are specific plans for those areas for the first time. There is a lot of potential in that because you are working with...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: To be helpful, and I will conclude on this, these plans will be plans for those areas. They will be part of the development plan, with a specific focus on them. I cannot think of anything better than that, actually, to be able to drive the needed development.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Mine will be better so I am not accepting this one. There are only so many ways in which I can say "Ní féidir liom an leasú seo a ghlacadh".

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will list the amendments for members' information. We are proposing to deal with amendments. Nos. 319, 322, 325, 326, 332, 341, 347, 352, 386, 387, 388, 423, 425 and 428. Those amendments were tabled by Deputies Ó Broin, Gould and Ó Snodaigh. Amendment No. 343 was tabled by Deputies O'Callaghan, Ó Cathasaigh, Ó Broin, Gould and Ó Snodaigh. The last two in this...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Bhíomar ag plé na ceiste ginearálta roimh an sos. We debated the general point here just before the break. Suffice it to say that paragraphs 46(2)(b) and 46(2)(c) well cover what is at stake. We should not be too prescriptive when referring to cultural spaces, facilities and other such things. I genuinely believe we are well covered. All the strategies are integrated as...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Ar an gcéad dul síos, beidh straitéis eacnamaíochta i bplean forbartha gach contae ar aon nós. An economic strategy will be part of every county’s development plan as it is, which would encompass our Gaeltacht areas as well. I am more than satisfied that is covered as is stated in the Bill. I think it was Deputy Ó Snodaigh who mentioned that priority...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There are just two amendments fágtha. They are amendments Nos. 430 and 432, which were tabled by Deputies Ó Broin, Gould and Ó Snodaigh and which relate to the publication of notices relating to development plans, which is a matter that may be provided for under section 10 of the Official Languages Act. I get the point, and I have asked my officials to review this matter...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We have had a good discussion here and, in fairness, I think people can see that there is no easy way to approach some elements of this on the housing side. We had an issue a few years ago in one of the Gaeltachtaí whereby a family moved in and there was a Gaelscoil, a scoil lán-Ghaeilge, and they had no Irish. A case was taken to court to insist that the child spoke English, and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciate what Deputy O'Callaghan has said. We will come back to the matter on Report Stage.