Results 6,001-6,020 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: Am I correct to say that if you apply the standard right from the design and construction stage then no extra cost is involved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I am trying to understand. I know that we would hear something different from other witnesses and politicians often hear varying views about the same matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: The design will last for 80 years and have inter-generational use.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: That is a good point. I am out of time but I will ask a second round of questions later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: That is clear. Standardisation is what works in all organisations when trying to apply something like that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I will come back to Mr. Dolan in a moment. To clarify, is a review of the housing adaptation grants ongoing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: Is it ongoing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: There was a suggestion we should revisit the costs. Obviously, building costs are increasing all the time, so that limit is significant. Revisiting the costs would be a recommendation of the committee as well. Ms Murphy referred to the fair deal scheme. Will she clarify what she was saying about it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I do not know whether the latest suggestion, whereby 40% would go towards the HSE's costs, has been introduced. The committee had a meeting about the fair deal scheme but I was not here that day. Age Action's suggestion is that 0% go to the HSE and 100% be retained by the homeowner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I think that point was raised at the previous meeting of the committee. I might bring Mr. Dolan back in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I agree. Too often when we talk about houses, we talk about units and price costs and forget they are homes. That is what they should be, for everybody. To return to something we touched on earlier, Mr. Dolan described the ability to enjoy the amenity of your home without having to move stuff around, whereby it has been designed with purpose, but people do not spend all their time in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I have seen some photographs on Twitter where all the tables and chairs are out and there is a tiny space for pedestrians to pass through. In addition, there is quite an issue of the privatisation of what was once public space. We have to get that balance right. That is something from this session that we might recommend as well because we recently extended those licensing and planning...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: We see adaptation in the cycling network as well being rolled out. I saw from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown a sort of adaptable cycling thing. A girl in an automated wheelchair was able to use it and her dad was able to adapt it. Simple things such as that are important. Dr. Hartney wishes to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: Road Safety Authority representatives were in with us and transport committee as well, and they brought up the issue of parking on kerbs and footpaths. There is often this belief motorists have that they need to keep the carriageway free for other cars, so they park on the footpath. I say block the other cars and then it is car against car. I wish to raise one other issue. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: Yes. I cannot remember exactly the discussion, but the situation is different if, say, someone is to refurbish second and third storeys. If it is an infill site – a complete clearance of a site – then it is a new build and it has to meet that universal design standard or universal plus or whatever it might be. However, for example, the refurbishment might be a former...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: The Deputy will be very welcome there, as will everyone else.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: We will be producing a list of recommendations. We will be preparing a report on this issue. As regards the work done by Wicklow County Council, with the provision of a Changing Places facility at the new public library in Wicklow, and in Avondale House as well, which has been developed, we are slowly starting to see it. I go back to the point made by Ms Lally, however. It should not be a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I ask Dr. Hartney to phrase that in such a way that the committee can include it as a recommendation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I ask Dr. Hartney to send that information to the committee when the NDA receives it. We can then follow it up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: This has been a very helpful meeting. The committee will produce a report with recommendations to send to the Minister. I have noted the points made but we will go back through the transcript of the meeting and compile a list that can be agreed by the committee. We will send our guests a copy of our recommendations arising from the meeting. There are a couple of issues on which I want...