Results 6,041-6,060 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: 288. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the existing costs associated with maintaining a driving licence for persons over the age of 70 years; if any consideration is being given to reducing these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29724/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: 645. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29473/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: 646. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29476/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: 844. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30814/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: 940. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied) that is set to lose a teacher for the coming school year; if a further appeals mechanism is available to reflect the large increase in school numbers since the appeal submission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29004/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: 977. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the proposed closure of the special education class in a school (details supplied) for children attending a mild general learning disability class; if her officials will engage with school management regarding any appeals avenues available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29399/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: 1098. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is a disparity in the rate of social protection payments available to adult Ukrainian refugees based on age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29378/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: 1127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if sufficient funding was allocated by her Department to the national Citizens Information Board to allow for the previously agreed reopening and continued service of the Wicklow Town Citizens Information Centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30012/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I wish everyone a good afternoon and welcome them to the committee. We recommence our oversight of the review of the planning system. We are joined again by Ms Maria Graham, assistant secretary, Ms Mary Jones, principal officer, Mr. Colin Ryan, senior planning adviser and Mr. Eugene Waters, assistant principal officer, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The opening...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I call Deputy McAuliffe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: Okay. The Deputy just provided some observations and comments for the moment. Unless there is something the witnesses specifically wish to refer to, we can come back to it afterwards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I now call Senator Boyhan next because I am aware he must attend the Seanad.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Senator Boyhan. Does Ms Graham wish to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: We are out of time on that point. Our roster has gone a little askew because people are coming from the Seanad and the Dáil. I want to talk about consenting for the moment, which is mentioned in discussion paper 2. Part of the consent process is the site notice whereby a person must erect a notice at the start of his or her application. I am of the view that we need to tighten up...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: To clarify my point, the consenting process needs to be closely aligned with the development plan, regardless of who is doing it. That would be my view. It does not matter if it is the local authority or the next stage in An Bord Pleanála. We have seen a divergence there and that has created a lot of damage in communities that contributed to development plan processes. Those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: There is more alignment in the consenting process between both bodies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: Is there scope within this to come back and redesign the site notices so they relay better information to the public passing by, which they were meant to do?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: The programme for Government commits to a planning and environmental law court. There is probably an opportunity for us to look at enforcement issues through that. Is that something that would be considered in it? Am I wrong in my view that the penalties for non-compliance with planning sometimes seem to be way too low?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank the witnesses and I hope they will take those observations into consideration. Deputy Higgins was online, although I did not see her.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Steven Matthews: Deputy Cian O'Callaghan has to be in the Chamber so I will go with him.