Results 141-160 of 2,457 for speaker:John Cummins

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: The timeline is to report in quarter 1 of next year. I would like to put on record the significant work being done by officials in the Department, by all of the actual task force itself and by the chair, Jim Breslin. I understand they are doing significant work across four thematic areas and I look forward to receiving that report in quarter 1 of next year.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: On the exempted development piece, it would not be like the Deputy to be cheeky on a question like that. My intention is to bring forward the exemptions on the slurry-storage piece imminently. There is significant importance to that in terms of the nitrates piece. We intend to group the exemptions going forward from there, because there is a significant body of work for the officials...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: It may be slightly different from what the public consultation was but it would make sense that the domestic exemptions will come together as a package and the infrastructure exemptions perhaps as a package. We are still working through that, as the Deputy will appreciate. There were over 900 submissions.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: The intention is for it to be this year.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: I gave figures to Deputy Butterly earlier of 8,000 approvals and the 12,000 applications. The quarter 2 outturn figures show 14,000 applications have been made, with 10,000 approvals. There are 156 in Longford, with a good few more applications on hand. This is a very successful scheme. The Cathaoirleach referred to the repair and leasing scheme, which has been used to very good effect in...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: I take the point. We will absolutely keep this under review and ask our officials to look at that. I agree that there is a need for more timber. Approximately 70% of the accelerated delivery programme uses timber framing. I am aware the points the Deputy is making are not about two-storey buildings, but going beyond that. We obviously have to ensure there is correct certification-----

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: -----with the NSAI. As the Minister stated, if we are going into this space, we must ensure that we go in with our eyes wide open and that all the correct procedures and certifications are in place.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: This is something I am passionate about myself, as I know the Deputy is. I am focusing on it very significantly when I am going around to local authorities and meeting them. We are trying to place an increased focus and emphasis on vacancy and dereliction in general. For local authorities to have the authority to be able to be strict in imposing the likes of CPOs, they have to be efficient...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 Oct 2025)

John Cummins: The control of development under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) is a matter for the relevant planning authority and An Coimisiún Pleanála. This includes the regularisation of unauthorised development through the consideration of applications for retention permission to planning authorities under section 34 of the Act and appeals to the Coimisiún in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: That is no problem. I certainly welcome our guests, especially if they are from Waterford as guests of the Minister of State.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: They are more than welcome to the Chamber. I thank Senator Kyne for outlining the position as he sees it regarding funding for Galway City Council.I know the Senator is a strong advocate for his area and that he will continue to fight for increased funding. It is important for me to clarify at the outset that the characterisation of Galway City Council as a tier 5 local authority refers...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: It is one factor.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: The review of the baselines looked at a number of factors and population was just one of them. Other factors included local income, deprivation and achieving national policy priorities.It is important to say that Galway City Council has benefited and will benefit into next year. It will receive an additional €1 million from an increase in the LPT baseline, while €1.1 million...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536, 557, 559 and 596 together. The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024 and is in the process of being commenced. In the meantime, the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (Regulations of 2001) remain in force until...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), which has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, as amended, contains provisions relating to local authority boundary alterations, including procedures in relation to proposals for such alteration; provision for the establishment of a boundary committee to review boundaries; and power for the Minister, subject to specified conditions, to alter boundaries by order. There are currently no proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities. They provide in excess of 1,000 services on behalf of over 30 public bodies. Accordingly, the funding system for local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: I am aware of the concerns raised in relation to the sewerage system in the housing estate named in the details supplied. However, under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Coimisiún Pleanala may be concerned. The statutory process for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Any development which is classed as exempted development does not require planning permission and no fees are payable to the relevant planning authority. Section 4 of the Act of 2000 and Schedule 2 of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mayoral Election (30 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: The Programme for Government commits to supporting the office of the Directly Elected Mayor of Limerick and considering further plebiscites in Dublin and other cities. Part 6 of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 makes provision for a local authority to hold a plebiscite on the question of whether to have a directly elected Mayor with executive...