Results 7,141-7,160 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: It could be part of the solution. We have to sweat every single asset we have to get the most of it to deliver housing. I apologise to Deputy McNamara for keeping him for so long. Members of the committee may contribute first before I can bring in non-members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Sherry. I am very tight on time and a number of people wish to speak. A question was asked on older buildings, regulations and substantial renovation and a question was asked on compulsory sales. I might have time at the end to come back to them but I must move on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: Will someone give a 30 second answer on the question on building regulations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry to interrupt Mr. Dinnigan but I must move the debate on. The next people to speak, as part of the third round and in the following order, are: Senators Cummins and Moynihan, Deputy McAuliffe, myself and Deputy Higgins. Senator Cummins has four minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I am taking speakers in order so Senator Moynihan has four minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: Is Senator Moynihan okay with that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: Does Deputy McAuliffe wish to comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: The members have been very quick and there may be time left over. It is my turn to ask questions and I will start with Professor Murphy. Is it her experience that to bring a derelict or commercial building back into residential use, the regulations are cumbersome, awkward and difficult for somebody who wishes to carry out that work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I mean somebody who wants to convert or refurbish a commercial building or residential derelict building in a town centre. It is an awkward process and one must jump through a number of hoops such as comply with the fire and building regulations. Is there something that we can do to keep the standards as high as they should be but make the process a little bit easier?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I will give each group of witnesses the opportunity to sum up. This is one of a series of three meetings. The Living City initiative is part of the second meeting at the start of January.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: Do the councils have those figures to hand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: We are almost out of time on this but we could get a written response from Waterford City & County Council if necessary. As I said at the outset, this is a series of three meetings the committee agreed to because we want to look at all the issues around vacancy, dereliction, urban regeneration and all the different schemes and objectives there are. I would like to give each of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Shakespeare, Mr. Clegg, Mr. Dinnigan and Mr. O’Hara and the members for their contributions. I am sorry if I had to cut members off but they can see the level of interest; members still have their hands up so we could go on for another few hours. We have another two meetings in this series and we will produce a report. If anything occurs to the witnesses in the meantime...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: It is always a tough act to follow Deputy Ring but I will do my best here. In my contribution I will do my best to defend the planning system, the planners and An Taisce that have all been criticised here tonight.

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I was probably finished with the Deputy well before I started this speech. I have listened to planners being criticised in council chambers and up and down the country for the decisions that they make. The planners do not plan decisions out of thin air. The planners make their decisions based on a county development plan and the objectives contained therein or on a local area plan. The...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I did not interrupt Deputy Fitzmaurice. I will discuss one-off rural housing in a minute because I notice, Ceann Comhairle, that this discussion on an amendment tabled by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan has turned into a discussion on one-off rural housing. The discussion on one-off rural housing is always just very shallow and below the surface when we talk about any planning matters in this...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: Am I out of time? Yes. Unfortunately, I am out of time. I would like to have gone on to defend An Taisce, which has an exemplary record in the planning system.

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Pringle for putting down the amendment. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on it. There is broad consensus across all parties in the House that the sooner you bring people into the planning process, the more likely you are to get a development that mostly everybody is happy with. I do not think you will ever get one everybody is happy with. We should not ever be...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: 93. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding the identification of potential State-owned properties in rural towns and villages in County Wicklow which can be used for community purposes as outlined in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60228/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Steven Matthews: 94. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to develop a pilot scheme to support the use of rural pubs and other local spaces as community hubs for local services as outlined in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60244/21]