Results 9,161-9,180 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Housing Provision: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am a public representative; I know all about it.

Other Questions: National Spatial Strategy (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is early days as the Government only has to hand the scoping document at present. However, anyone who agrees with and seeks good and proper planning would accept the concept of gateways and the idea of having regions with centres as important economic drivers of those regions as being important principles that work in all countries and which would be a basis of good planning. I do not...

Other Questions: National Spatial Strategy (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Briefly, I agree with the Deputy that there always is a danger in any country that the capital city becomes the centre and the regions are not supported adequately. I certainly share the Deputy's view that one must ensure the strategy contains strong recognition that strong regions are needed throughout the country, west, north, south and east-----

Other Questions: National Spatial Strategy (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: -----and that policies are put in place to ensure those strengths are developed.

Other Questions: Semi-State Bodies Privatisation (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are a sovereign nation.

Other Questions: National Spatial Strategy (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The 2002 national spatial strategy, NSS, was Ireland’s first national strategic spatial planning framework. It aimed to provide the spatial vision and principles to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth between regions through the co-ordinated development of nine gateway cities and towns and nine hub towns, together with...

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: That was one factor.

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: To clarify the matter, I did not say it had no result. In fact, I said it made recommendations, some of which we have already implemented and some of which we will implement in future. Therefore, it was a useful internal review. It was around practices rather than any suggestion of corruption.

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: It was around inconsistencies in practice by planning authorities and it was initiated by the then Minister, Mr. Gormley, on that basis. The review we carried out had exactly the same terms of reference as the review Mr. Gormley initiated. It was not an inquiry, it was a review, which is what Mr. Gormley initiated as well. One of the factors that arose in carrying out the external review...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My understanding is that there is no legal obstacle to local authorities establishing housing associations if they wish to do so. I agree with the Deputy's comments on the difficulties in accessing funding. I share her frustration. As Dr. Norris stated, the Housing Finance Agency has significant funding. We would all like to see that money being drawn down and used to construct houses for...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have arranged to meet the directors of services for housing in the near future. One of the issues that I want to discuss with them is the provision of housing, but also the issue of voids, which was raised in last night's debate, and how to ensure that local authorities reallocate empty houses more quickly. Some of what I heard about a particular local authority closing houses for more...

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I appointed MacCabe Durney Barnes to carry out an independent review of planning issues in respect of six of the seven planning authorities that were previously the subject of review by my Department. The planning authorities concerned are Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath county councils and Cork and Dublin...

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: It was my predecessor as Minister of State who decided to carry out an internal review, which made useful recommendations. Some have been implemented and others will be implemented in the forthcoming planning Bill, which will also implement the recommendations of the Mahon tribunal report. The reason we decided to have a further external review was essentially because of the court decision....

Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government’s housing policy statement of June 2011 acknowledged the capacity and track record of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector, and placed approved housing bodies, AHBs, at the heart of its vision for social housing provision. My Department is currently in consultation with the AHB sector regarding the development of a regulatory framework to support the expanded...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: -----and I do not wish to pre-empt what the decision will be. To clarify the matter of the Green Paper, that was approved by the Government yesterday and I presume it will be published in the near future. It is obviously a matter for the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As I indicated during the discussions on the Private Members' Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014, the Government did not oppose the Bill on Second Stage on the basis that some of the issues raised in the Bill are already under consideration. However, the Government will need to consider the outcome of the consultation processes on the revision to the 2006 wind energy development guidelines...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: To answer the Deputy's point directly, as I have stated already, the matter is addressed in the existing wind energy guidelines, which include a recommendation that development plan maps would identify key areas.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The larger ones will be going directly to An Bord Pleanála. An Bord Pleanála does have regard to the various planning laws and guidelines in terms of making decisions. With regard to the Deputy's point on the Green Paper, the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, will be publishing that shortly. On the guidelines, there is a large number of submissions and it will be quarter three of this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: First, we are proposing an improvement with regard to noise levels. Second, I will take note of the various submissions. Third, with regard to setback, they are now statutory guidelines, so we are strengthening the guidelines in that regard. We will take account of the submissions-----

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 May 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 28 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 already provides that the duration of a planning permission may be extended where substantial works have not been carried out, or where the development has not even commenced, in cases where the planning authority is satisfied that there were considerations of a commercial, economic or technical nature beyond the control of the...