Results 61-80 of 4,343 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Compensation Schemes (30 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. With respect to 36 raised bog natural heritage area sites, the qualifying criteria for the scheme are that: - The applicant must have had a legal interest (ownership or a turbary right (right to cut turf))...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Environmental Policy (30 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 was launched by the European Commission on 20 May 2020. It proposes ambitious EU actions and commitments to halt the biodiversity loss that is taking place at an alarming rate in Europe and worldwide. The new Strategy tackles the key drivers of biodiversity loss: unsustainable use of land and sea, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Regulations (30 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together. I refer the Deputy to the recent Topical Issues debate on this matter. The position is unchanged in the matter of days since that issue was discussed in the House. The Deputy will recall that the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) was developed under the UN Convention on Migratory...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Issues (30 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 410 and 411 together. Waterways Ireland have provided the following information: County 2018 2019 2020 Dublin 1 1 4 Leitrim 2 1 Kildare 1 Meath 1 These relate to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Local Authority Assets (30 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The project referenced in details supplied is being managed and delivered by Kerry County Council. Any queries in relation to it are a matter for the local authority.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natural Heritage Areas (30 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The role for the my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service in this matter is to continue to provide expert support to the EPA and the Forest Service in delivering their statutory functions in relation to woodlands, and to consider the designation of Toon Wood as an NHA to protect the remaining woodland and woodland areas on the site that can be recovered in the future. it is...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natural Heritage Areas (30 Jul 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: There are 630 proposed natural heritage areas, including the site referred to in the Deputy's Question. While a review of these sites is foreseen, the current focus of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland’s obligations under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives and the designation of Natura 2000 sites i.e. special areas of conservation and special protection areas. Although...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (10 Sep 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan for raising this matter and the issue of Belgooly. It certainly is a concern locally but a concern to us all nationally also. The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of Carrigrennan wastewater treatment plant is a matter for Irish Water. In turn, the Environmental Protection Agency ,EPA , as the environmental regulator, is responsible for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (10 Sep 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Deputy for his comments. It is agreed that Irish Water will need years and significant investment to address deficiencies in our water and wastewater infrastructure. Irish Water’s primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat wastewater and return it safely to the environment. In providing these critical services...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation (10 Sep 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for making his point so well. Resolving homelessness is a priority of this Government and the programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has established a high-level homelessness task force, including chief executives of a...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (15 Sep 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I am informed that the estimated full year payroll cost, which includes associated employer's PRSI costs, of employing 10 additional full-time staff, five at Wildlife Inspector Grade 1 and five at Wildlife Inspector Grade 2 would be in the order of €790,000.  This estimate is based on mid-points of the relevant personal pension contribution salary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (15 Sep 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: 554. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the exclusion of students of Carlow College, the second oldest higher education institution in Ireland, from his Department’s recently announced laptop scheme and additional mental health services; and his views on same. [23726/20]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Housing Regeneration (29 Sep 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Andrews for raising this question and speaking so eloquently on it. The regular management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is a matter for each relevant local authority and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to its housing stock from within its own resources. However, my Department also supports local authorities in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Housing Regeneration (29 Sep 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree with the Deputy wholeheartedly. The community development and regeneration aspects have to go hand in hand with redevelopment projects. The Department is working closely with all local authorities on increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports. It is fully committed to working with Dublin City Council on progressing the regeneration...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations (1 Oct 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for presenting such a poignant case in relation to Sophia and her family. As the matter stands, new buildings and extensions of material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards set out in the building regulations of 1997 to 2019. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment)...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations (1 Oct 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: The Deputy has our commitment that we will look at setting up a departmental working group for this matter, which I think is the next logical step. I agree with the Deputy. There are 187 such facilities in Scotland, as far as I am aware, and 1,300 across the UK. As the Deputy mentioned, there are more mandatory guidelines in place in those jurisdictions. The accompanying technical...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (6 Oct 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) completed and published detailed site-specific conservation objectives for the Gearagh SAC (000108) in September 2016. A management plan scoping exercise was undertaken by ESB International on behalf of the ESB (who are the main landowner) in 2016/2017. The NPWS took part in the stakeholder group that contributed to the report...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Horticulture Sector (7 Oct 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: It is a great privilege to make my first address to Seanad Éireann in reply to Senator Boyhan. He and I go back a long way in politics. I congratulate Senator Mark Daly on his election as Cathaoirleach. It is a great honour for the Senator and his family and recognises his long and dedicated work in Seanad Éireann. I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue, on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: EU Regulations (8 Oct 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Carthy for bringing this matter up today. He is correct in saying that this issue was discussed as a Topical Issue matter on 16 July, when Deputies Carthy and Clarke raised this subject. It is good for us to be able to discuss it again today. I will update the House on the background to this issue. As I indicated in July, the Agreement on the Conservation of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: EU Regulations (8 Oct 2020)

Malcolm Noonan: As the Deputy said, I met representatives of the NARGC. It was after the vote on 3 September. I had a constructive meeting with them. There were difficulties but it was constructive. I recognise the conservation efforts and work that council members do around the country, including on grey partridge and other projects. They do fantastic work in that regard. As a general principle, I...