Results 1-20 of 1,321 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Ciarán Cuffe

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (18 Jan 2011)

Ciarán Cuffe: I am aware of the success of the Dublin Bike Scheme and would welcome its further expansion, both in Dublin, and as similar schemes in other urban areas. Dublin City Council was responsible for the introduction of the Dublin Bike Scheme and introduction of similar schemes in other areas would be a matter for the local authorities concerned.

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (18 Jan 2011)

Ciarán Cuffe: Both Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport Future and the National Cycle Policy Framework set out Government policy for cycling, with the overall objective of developing a culture of cycling in Ireland to the extent that by 2020, 10% of all trips will be by bike. The most recent census data available indicated a 2% national modal share for cycling in 2006. Dublin City Council's May...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (18 Jan 2011)

Ciarán Cuffe: My Department has allocated funding of some €22.5m projects relating to cycle routes, some of which are development projects relating for example to scoping studies. Expenditure in 2010 was €5.9 million compared with the €13.5 m originally estimated. The underspend was due to unavoidable delays on a number of major routes, and financial provision for such projects has been carried...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Developments: Retail Sector Developments (12 Jan 2011)

Ciarán Cuffe: My Department is currently reviewing the Retail Planning Guidelines which were originally published in 2001 and updated in 2005. Among the principles guiding the review are the following: · competition to the benefit of the consumer should be maintained and enhanced in accordance with proper planning and sustainable development; · existing retail development-type definitions and...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: No decision has yet been announced regarding the outcome of the Smarter Travel Areas Competition. The future of this Programme will be considered in the context of the recently announced budget for 2011 and the National Recovery Plan.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (16 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together. The North Fringe Framework Development Plan, which was prepared by Dublin City Council in 2000, sets out the objectives for the area, the site context and the urban design framework. I understand that planning permissions in the North Fringe have been granted in line with the Framework Plan. Specific responsibility for the planning and...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (14 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 17 of 25 November 2010. My Department is currently reviewing the Retail Planning Guidelines which were originally published in 2001 and updated in 2005. An Issues Paper, which set out high-level and strategic issues for retail planning, was published in June 2010 to provide an opportunity for stakeholders and interested parties to assist in identifying...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: The convening of oral hearings is a matter for An Bord Pleanála. I understand that the Board normally arranges for oral hearings to take place in the local authority area where a railway order or planning permission is sought. In the case of certain large scale road and rail projects, it may be the case that the proposed development involves works within the functional area of more than one...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that, on application, the duration of a planning permission (normally 5 years) shall be extended, subject to certain requirements being complied with, including that substantial works have been carried out before the expiration of the original permission. Section 23 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 has amended...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (2 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 contains a number of substantial amendments to the 2000 Act, including: provision for a new "substitute consent" procedure to allow projects that would have required environmental impact assessment to be retrospectively regularized in exceptional and very limited circumstances by way of a "substitute consent" procedure; the incorporation of...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: My Department enjoys a close working relationship with Northern Ireland's Department of Regional Development on cross-border areas of common interest, including in particular on joint initiatives which can help to inform and frame development and investment opportunities within a broader spatial planning context which can benefit the economies and citizens of both jurisdictions. For example,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (30 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together. Article 80(1)(k) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 states that any development other than those specified in paragraphs (a) to (j), the estimated cost of which exceeds €126,000 and which development does not consist of the laying underground of sewers, mains, pipes or other apparatus, is deemed to be prescribed as...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (30 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Under section 7(2)(tt) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended by section 7 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, a local authority is required to enter in the register particulars of any development referred to in section 179(4)(b) which relates to the decision whether to carry out development under Part 8, either as recommended in the manager's...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (25 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: My Department is currently reviewing the Retail Planning Guidelines which were originally published in 2001 and updated in 2005. An Issues Paper, which set out high-level and strategic issues for retail planning, was published in June 2010 to provide an opportunity for stakeholders and interested parties to assist in identifying key issues to be considered in the context of preparing and...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (25 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I propose to take Question Nos. 37 and 44 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 5 on today's Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (25 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 45 and 50 together. Sections 34(4)(g) and 180(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide respectively that a planning authority may attach conditions to a planning permission requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of a proposed development and, if a development is not subsequently completed satisfactorily,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (25 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 126 of 24 November 2010 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (24 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Developers and owners of sites are required to ensure that their sites are left in a safe and secure condition. The National Housing Development Survey database provides, inter alia, figures on the overall number of dwellings in unfinished housing developments on a county by county basis and the number of such dwellings that are completed and vacant. It establishes a sound basis for...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (24 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: The responsibility for zoning lands for specific purposes is a matter for planning authorities through their development plans and local area plans. Under the Planning Acts, the making, reviewing and varying of a development plan or local area plan is a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority for the area. In January 2009, to inform the review of the Regional...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (23 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Under planning legislation, the decision as to whether to grant a planning application, with or without conditions, is a matter for the relevant planning authority in the first instance or for An Bord Pleanála on appeal. In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to...