Results 7,001-7,020 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Coleman. A point he made earlier regarding passive house standards at the Shanganagh development is of interest to me. I remember being ridiculed at a council meeting about five years ago for suggesting that local authorities should try to build to passive house standards. I was told that I lived in a parallel Green universe and that it would never happen. I am glad to see...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Thank you. I believe Mr. O'Rourke mentioned the 15-minute city principle and in the recent large-scale residential development Act, we allowed a 30% increase for the type of activity that could lead to that 15-minute city, with local commercial use, neighbourhood centres and local employment. I hope to see that in Land Development Agency schemes as well. I am just out of time in my own...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: The final slot is for Fine Gael. The Deputy has seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: These are seven-minute slots and there are about 40 seconds left. I am sure we can get Deputy Boyd Barrett written responses to some of his questions. Whoever wishes to take those questions may go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I will move on. Deputy Ó Broin is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. I am going to take this slot myself. I might have put this question to Mr. Coleman previously. I definitely asked it in the committee previously. Does he think we have more work to do to try to explain, advertise and encourage cost rental and to give a greater understanding of what it is? To my mind, it is long-term, secure tenure rental at affordable rates....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Coleman. I think all of us favour cost rental. It is going to be a game-changer if it is done right, but it will take time. It is something that will evolve, and we will deliver more of it over time. There was a question earlier on budgetary and other constraints. What would it take for the LDA to achieve more than 2,000 units per annum? At this stage we need to use every...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Coleman. It is good to hear that there is no budgetary constraint to deal with the scale of the challenge that lies ahead. It is also important to hear that putting more money into it would not speed up the delivery. I will move on the next speaker.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. O'Rourke. We are up to ten minutes on that slot now. Deputy Boyd Barrett wishes to come in again. He has seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I ask members to speak through the Chair. Mr. O’Rourke has answered the question. I will let Deputy McAuliffe come in if he wishes to ask a question but Deputy Boyd Barrett has two minutes left in his slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Thank you. I call Deputy McAuliffe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Is the Deputy okay with that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: The NESC report I mentioned also referred to the speculative nature of land deals and that speculative hoarding was also driving house prices. That is not something the LDA will be engaged in. What Mr. O'Rourke said as well is that the cost of land coming to the LDA will have a positive impact in driving down prices to make housing, and cost-rental housing, affordable. It is a good NESC report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I indicated before the Deputy. I will bring him in after I ask a question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: We will have enough time for the Deputy and I to have seven minutes each. On transport-oriented development, we had a good session last week where we examined how we could rejuvenate town centres and bring life and vibrancy back into them. Part of that discussion focused on transport-oriented development. I note that several of the projects the LDA is working on already, at Limerick...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Would that include looking at the capacity and frequency of transport services along corridors and not just the sites along them? Too often we see planning applications being submitted that refer to developments being close to public transport, but that may refer to a small and irregular bus service or something similar. It is imperative therefore that high-frequency transport is provided...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Coleman. Deputy Ó Broin has indicated, and this will be the last slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. O'Rourke. I wish him the very best of luck in his job and congratulate him on his appointment. I thank him for answering all our questions today. It was also good to see Mr. Coleman again. He is welcome to come back to the committee at any time to give us updates on the progress on delivery of units. I ask the witnesses to bear in mind the suggestion of a quarterly update or...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (19 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: 210. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); the estimated cost to return the rail line to the standard required for passenger use; his views on the benefit of rail connectivity being maintained between Dublin to Rosslare to Waterford to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63301/21]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Industrial Relations (19 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: 375. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the campaign organised by a number of trade unions seeking greater supports for those who work in the community and voluntary sectors which includes calls for pay increases and the establishment of a collective bargaining forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63437/21]