Results 1-20 of 2,240 for speaker:John Cummins

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Council (2 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I thank Senator Noonan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan. I acknowledge the Senator's contribution to the sector during his time as Minister of State with responsibility for nature, heritage and electoral reform. The Department is of course aware of the important commitment in the programme for Government to undertake a review...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Council (2 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I thank Senator Noonan. Again, I acknowledge his work in this area. Notwithstanding that the council has been able to discharge its responsibilities very effectively in recent years, I agree, as I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan does, that the Heritage Act, and particularly the definition the Senator referenced on what heritage is, should be reviewed to bring its provisions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: The zoning of land is an exercise undertaken by planning authorities as part of their development plan process. The making of a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members of each planning authority who are required by legislation to be consistent with the established statutory national and regional planning policy and legislation, including, as identified in the national...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: It is the requirement of local authorities and the reserved function of members to decide what locations and what specific zoning objectives they determine for each land bank. They are required to include mandatory objectives regarding regeneration and to provide zoning for residential, commercial, employment and enterprise, industrial and other uses to such extent as the proper planning and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I appreciate the comments the Deputy made. It is not just for residential purposes; it is for industrial and commercial. While we do not instruct local authorities on specific areas, it is obviously a requirement to forward planning teams to look at the overall picture within a local authority area and determine where they feel residential, commercial, industrial zoning is appropriate and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I have no doubt that the Deputy will continue to use this Chamber to be a strong advocate for north Kildare and the county as a whole. The Deputy is right about the LPT; there is a recognition in the Government of the increased pressures on areas like Kildare. That is why we are saying as a Government, in line with the decisions that have been made by the Cabinet and the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Planning Framework (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, as he has done previously. As I do, the Deputy recognises the importance of translating what we have approved in this House in the national planning framework into getting it implemented by local authorities in their development plans as early as possible. That is why the Minister, Deputy Browne, has written to local authorities telling them to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Planning Framework (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I can assure the Deputy that there will be headroom in the housing growth requirements. Obviously, there will be the base, in line with what is in the national planing framework, which is to provide about 54,000 homes per annum. This is a significant increase compared with the 33,000 previously. There is a requirement in the base for a significant additional zoning requirement. As we know...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Planning Framework (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I thank both Deputies. Increasing housing supply in all parts of the country is critical. The variation process in terms of the county development plans is a very important part of this. That is why such extensive work has been done in the Department to ensure that the housing growth requirements are aligned with the NPF and that they also allow for additional headroom in terms of zoning...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I thank Deputy Neville for raising this matter, as he regularly does in this Chamber . His advocacy for Kildare is certainly well noted. As he will be aware, I was in Kildare last Thursday, when I visited the local authority and engaged with the executive team. Much of what the Deputy has raised here in his question was the subject of the discussion we had. The system of funding of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: It is the case that, through a decision made in Cabinet today on the LPT model, there will be a significant increase in LPT for Kildare County Council as part of its 2026 figures. That will be made up from an increase in the baseline figures but also from the retention element moving from 22.5% to 31%. It means that Kildare County Council will have an additional €4.9 million in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: As I said, the Government has put in place a number of schemes to empower local authorities on the exact thing the Deputy just mentioned. There is a revolving fund through URDF call 3 for the compulsory purchase of properties. It is true that some local authorities are doing better than others. We want to mainstream best practice across all local authorities. There are also other schemes...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which he consistently does. The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site as defined in the Act. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (1 Jul 2025)

John Cummins: The Deputy does not have to shout in order to make his points. We can all make valid points without shouting across the Chamber at one another. It is true to say that dereliction is a really important issue. It is not one that local authorities or Government are ignoring. The Deputy knows full well because we both sat on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and...

Legislative and Structural Reforms to Accelerate Housing Delivery: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2025)

John Cummins: There is no arrogance.

Legislative and Structural Reforms to Accelerate Housing Delivery: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2025)

John Cummins: There is no arrogance on my behalf.

Legislative and Structural Reforms to Accelerate Housing Delivery: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2025)

John Cummins: Stop using lines like that.

Legislative and Structural Reforms to Accelerate Housing Delivery: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2025)

John Cummins: I have no arrogance.

Legislative and Structural Reforms to Accelerate Housing Delivery: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2025)

John Cummins: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that: — Housing for All sets out an ambitious multi-annual programme that seeks to deliver more than 300,000 new homes by 2030; — record levels of investment are being provided for the delivery of housing in 2025, with overall capital funding now available...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (18 Jun 2025)

John Cummins: Why not?