Results 161-180 of 2,461 for speaker:John Cummins

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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: They are more than £4,500 in the North.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: Is Sinn Féin cutting them up there?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (25 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: I thank Senator Ryan for raising this important issue on the boil water notice for the Macroom public water supply in County Cork which has been in place since 12 September. I recognise the inconvenience placed on those who have a boil water notice on their water supply. As the Senator rightly pointed out, the inconvenience for householders and businesses is very significant. I have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (25 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: I thank the Senator. If she has a suggestion on what needs to be done between now and summer of next year, I am all ears. She is more than welcome to feed that back to me. That investment is under way and will have a positive impact. We acknowledge the effect it has in the area in terms of those boil water notices. They are put there as a safety precaution by the HSE. Obviously Uisce...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (25 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: I thank Senators Conway and Ryan for their question, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health. I also thank Senator Conway for his kind words, which are much appreciated. On the topic at hand, the final report of the review of urgent and emergency care in the mid-west region is due to be submitted to the Minister for Health by HIQA very shortly and published soon thereafter....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (25 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: I thank both Senators for raising this important matter. I can assure them on the investment flow that has gone into University Hospital Limerick. There is a significant focus. I know the importance of the review informing future investment. I come from Waterford in the south-east region where a hospital serving a population catchment of over 600,000 has had zero trolleys for the last...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: The legislative process for the taking in charge of housing estates by local authorities is set out in section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The prescribed process in this regard applies to residential developments consisting of two or more dwellings that have been granted planning permission under section 34 of the Act. There is no automatic requirement for local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (25 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: I refer to my reply to Question No. 1241 of 8 September 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (23 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to maintain a Derelict Sites Register, indicating any land which, in the opinion of the local authority, is a derelict site. A property can be placed on the Derelict Site Register where it is deemed by a local authority to satisfy the criteria under section 3 of the Act i.e. (i) it is in a dangerous or ruinous condition; (ii)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by Tailte Éireann under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020. Tailte Éireann has responsibility for valuation matters, including the revaluation of properties. Tailte Éireann is independent in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: An Coimisiún Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (23 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: The Government’s ‘Town Centre First’ (TCF) Policy Approach was launched by my Department and the then Department of Rural and Community Development in 2022, and since then, a range of supports and measures to encourage more people to live, do business and visit our town centres have been introduced. To drive the delivery of TCF, a number of national structures were...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Local Authorities (18 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: Development contributions allow local authorities to recoup some of the public costs of servicing land for private development. They provide a mechanism by which developers can contribute to the cost of providing public infrastructure and facilities that benefit development in the area and are expended on public infrastructure defined under the Planning Acts. These include the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Housing Provision (18 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276, 277 and 278 together. The Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2025 were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000). Section 28 provides that planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Planning Issues (18 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: Rural Housing Guidelines were last issued in 2005 as Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. These Guidelines provide that people who are an intrinsic part of the rural community, on the basis of an economic or social need, should be facilitated in all rural areas. In areas under strong urban influence, the policy is to direct urban generated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Planning Issues (18 Sep 2025)

John Cummins: The Action Plan on Competitiveness & Productivity acknowledges the significant reform of planning legislation which has been undertaken since 2021, culminating in the enactment of the Planning and Development Act 2024, commencement of which is underway. The 2024 Act will result in significant improvements in terms of increased clarity, consistency and certainty for all stakeholders in...