Results 7,061-7,080 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: There are three very strong messages coming forward in much of that, which are relate to communication, collaboration and leadership. Those themes would encompass much of what has just been recommended. It is my slot for questions now. Mr. Donovan gave the example of the Merwede district in Utrecht and said they planned that cycling infrastructure with several decades of investment....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Dr. D'Arcy raised her hand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I have another question on road space allocation or creating those kind of safer walking routes that require the taking away of car parking spaces. It is always contentious when this is discussed at council level. Local businesses always say they will lose business because people cannot park outside the business they want to go to. I know TU Dublin has done a study on Blackrock and from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Does a trial over 12 months, for example, give people a certain amount of comfort that the measure may not be permanent and could be reversed? When they see the results, people may want more of it. That has been my experience of the process in most cases, although in some cases the plan has not gone perfectly well. Is the trial a good "method" to put before a council?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: That is a clear and concise answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: There are many people who wish to contribute but I cannot see who they are. I will move to the next slot and we will have time to come back to this. There are 40 minutes left for another round of questioning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I was going to call you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Does Ms Harvey wish to come in on that question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I will call Deputy Gould. We will have time for a fourth round so members can raise their hands again. Deputy Ó Broin is indicating and I am indicating. If anybody else wishes to speak, we might be able to have five-minute slots.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: You have seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Ms Harvey has her hand up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: If Ms Harvey can take the question, I ask her to be brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: We have questions from Deputy Ó Broin, me and Deputy Leddin. There are 20 minutes remaining. If we stick strictly to seven minutes per slot we will be able to get it done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Does anybody wish to comment on the important points raised by Deputy Ó Broin, especially directly elected mayors and local powers to be able to carry out certain functions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Donovan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Dr. FitzGerald. It is importance to have the leadership, vision and ability to communicate why we are doing something and what we expect the good result to be. Ms Harvey has consistently referred to this aspect as well, namely, the collaboration that is required to ensure a plan is not seen as being solely that of the Government, the council or the planners, but rather as a town's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Cahill. For everyone's information, the chair-designate of the LDA will be in with the committee next Thursday at 5.30 p.m., so we will probably be able to follow up on some of these questions then as well. Regarding planning, I refer to situations where we seek to develop the derelict upper, second-floor and third-floor levels of buildings where people once lived over shops....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Harvey. I am out of time for my questions. I wanted to get into master planning in this context and at the lower level of local areas, but I will move on to the last member to pose questions. I call Deputy Leddin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: To whom is that question directed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Steven Matthews: Mr. Donovan had his hand up first, so I will bring him in.