Results 1,721-1,740 of 7,983 for speaker:Peter Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Chairman and members. It is good to be back before the committee this week with another very important reforming intervention. The two sets of regulations consist of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development)(No. 3) Regulations 2022 and the Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022, both of which concern planning exemptions for solar...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: There is a significant amount of negotiation through the consultation process with the Irish Aviation Authority and other safety actors. It was decided at that juncture that we would have ten 5 km buffer zones and around 33 3 km buffer zones. The 5 km ones were around major airports and aerodromes and obviously the smaller ones were around emergency helipads, barracks and some emergency...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: Absolutely. There are also a number of significant ones beside airports but they went through the planning phase. They can get due diligence and greater certainty in terms of the application process and the robustness that gives. When it comes exempt development, it is necessary to be a bit more careful in what is done. On the timeline, I expect to sign the regulations next week, all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: There is a condition in the statutory instrument that, once they do not materially affect the character of the building, they are exempt. For clarity, these are for the roofs of the buildings. They will not be at the back of them. They are for the roof.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I expect it will be once it does not materially affect the building. I do not see any issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I am not actually aware that they are excluded but I will double-check that and get back to the Deputy on that issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I understand that the second phase of the scheme commenced on 22 September 2022, so I expect that they are covered but we will revert back to the Deputy to check as to the extension of the scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: We will get back to Deputy Higgins on that point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The first thing I will say is that anything that does not necessitate a planning application will make it cheaper to deliver on the roofs or tops of buildings. If one takes the commercial sector, in the majority of areas 98% of the country potentially can have such panels fitted as big as they may want on their roofs without a planning application, up to 300 sq. m. That is a very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: There is a registration process with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, for contractors and with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. There are safeguards there to watch over the process to ensure these works are done correctly. It is very important that operators are registered and that work is carried out effectively. The SEAI is obviously driven to do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The robust part of what we do in government now where one is trying to change things, which would really open your eyes, is that exemptions like these go through a strong process in respect of appropriate assessment and strategic environmental assessment. One thing about that is when you are assessing changes to exempt development, you have to look at both the positive and negative impacts....

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General: Financial Resolution (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on budget 2023, which is a significant package with an €11 billion intervention to try to help families, support pensioners who are worried about heating their homes, support families with the weekly shop and, critically, keep vulnerable jobs so we have a record level of employment in the economy. I will move on to areas that are my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: We are working hard to support local authorities for 2023, which will be a difficult year. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has secured an unprecedented increase in housing for the homeless, with over €250 million, which will be a significant asset for Dublin City Council and other councils, protecting the most vulnerable. It is important for the State to do so. In the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The Deputy is correct about the trajectory that Dublin City Council has taken. It has forgone almost €12.3 million by decreasing the local property tax. Timing is an issue for the Revenue Commissioners. It needs advance notice to inform citizens what the rate will be, hence the budgetary meeting has to be in September to adjudicate on the rate. I was in the Seanad earlier. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Hourigan for the question. My Department is cognisant of the current financial environment in which local authorities, including Dublin City Council, are operating, and the pressures facing them in respect of general inflation and higher energy costs in particular. These challenges are common across the sector - indeed, across the State - and I will set out how support from...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue. I wish to be associated with his comments on John McKeon. I spoke to him yesterday and he is out of hospital after seven months. That is a huge achievement for him in terms of getting through his illness. He is a credit to the local authority in Longford. I am sure he will be back at work shortly. I look forward to engaging with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I acknowledge the contribution of the Senator. As I assured the chief executive and his team, we have not been found wanting in delivering the allocation for Longford in the two years since I have been in the Department. This is the third year that we have secured that allocation. When the previous cathaoirleach was seeking to be part of significant capital decisions on purchasing land in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Prices (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: This question relates to Budget 2023, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Deputy will be aware that the Budget Statement was announced yesterday.  This set out how the Government propose to assist with the rise in energy costs and will provide some assistance to all energy users, including the cohorts mentioned...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. Guidance on the noise aspect is currently being finalised by my Department in conjunction with the Department of...