Results 141-160 of 4,797 for at speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I can do that. As a committee chair, one looks at areas. If the Senator has recommendations to make on particular areas, I ask him to make them. I deal with the issue in practice. It comes down to what letter shows the utter requirement for a service. If people are coming to you, they typically have a need. The Senator's point is taken and I will carry it back. If the committee has a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The national guidelines for the assessment and allocation process for social housing provision for people with disabilities come from my Department and the Senator is probably familiar with them. The guidelines state that the allocation of housing should come first. It is all about joined-up thinking. When I came into the Department there was a housing strategy and a lot of work had been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy. As always, he gets to the heart of the matter. I will address the three issues he raised. We are very conscious in the review to ensure people who have a disability or a need are catered for in the household. We take the point being made about looking at the people themselves. Second, we have looked at the costs involved in construction. We have a review completed and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We take the points on board in sharing that the local authorities give 20% at the moment. We provide 80%. We are conscious of that. These are all matters we are keeping under consideration.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: First, under the existing scheme local authorities are asked to prioritise people coming home from hospital. The Deputy is probably aware of that. Second, we looked at this as part of a qualitative and quantitative review. The quantitative is funding and the qualitative is the scheme's operation. The schemes that work well are those that are more straightforward. It is something we want...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: ...housing lists. If 95% is granted, the AHB can continue. Typically, in the main, they are virtually nearly all 100%. Regarding the support services, the steering group should be working on that. I hope our implementation plan will drive that because what we are looking at is two quarters already where we get an indication from every local authority as to the actions they have and have...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am scheduled to cover from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, will take over at 3 p.m.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Ó Broin kind of answered the question at the end. It is the exact same process. At the moment, a development plan goes to public consultation. There are a large number of public submissions. The OPR then engages and, depending on the outcome of its deliberations with the local authority, it may make a draft direction to me as Minister. I will then consider what it has sent....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We indicated at the time that we were going to consider that for Report Stage.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: ...a report on submissions received and furnish it to the elected members. Typically, the manager's report will have a summary of the submissions but the submissions are public documents. Ultimately, the Minister is provided with a recommendation from the OPR. The OPR does not just provide the Minister with documents. Mr. Niall Cussens sends a recommendation, which he compiles based on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: ...; Broin referred to the resource issue. We have commenced discussions with the OPR. If additional resources are required, we will provide them. It is an ongoing discussion. The Deputy will appreciate the legislation is working its way through at the moment. On prescribed bodies, what we have given here is by way of example. The Minister will by way of regulation provide a...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I should have gone further down. Section 490(4)(h) states, "following of best practice to be adopted in relation to the functions of the Office including the procedures for the provision of observations ... in accordance with this Act in relation to the preparation, making and revision of regional spatial [plans] ..." I agree with the Deputy’s core point. At the end of the day, that...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am just saying that anyone in any office would be looking to do their job to the best of their ability. It is not a process in isolation but, ultimately, the Minister has to make the decision on the basis of the advice he or she receives. I do not think you can get away from the fact that the OPR is making a recommendation to the Minister. It is not just providing a bulk of documents but...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: If the Deputy looks at section 98, he will see it relates to any decision. Section 110 relates to time limits for the determination of appeals by the commission, the board.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is put in as a plaster measure because the regional assemblies are required to do much more work. I have looked at it. I want to have another look before Report Stage in the context of whether we can put a defined timeline in place. It is done with practical purpose with respect to the additionality of work that is involved for the regional assemblies. We will have another look at it...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: When the officials were reviewing the legislation, it was noted that it is provided for under the existing development Act. We are doing it for the sake of consistency. A situation may arise at planning level. If you were dealing with planning in the past, you might have been looking for a voluntary extension of time or whatever. There may be circumstances, in terms of good planning...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: If the Deputy looks at section 34 of the existing planning Bill, and I want to read it out-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: ...the applicant for a permission under this section gives to the planning authority in writing his or her consent to the extension of the period for making a decision". There are two aspects to that on which I want to get a proper note. First, if the planning authority is amenable to further time, the applicant must give consent for that time. If the planning authority deems that the...