Results 141-160 of 1,864 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. There is a legislative framework in place for dealing with invasive alien species, including Japanese Knotweed. Public bodies,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Regulations (28 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 330 together. The General Wild Bird Declaration allows for the control of crows where there is a threat to public health & safety and vector in the spread of animal diseases; to prevent serious damage to livestock; and also in the protection of fauna, notably the nests and young of game birds. The control method that can be used for all of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (28 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I can confirm that my Department has not received an application for funding for the site in question under the Community Monuments Fund for 2024. However, as that fund was just launched on 16 November 2023, with the closing date for applications being 14 February 2024, it is possible that an application may yet be received. The Community Monuments Fund (CMF) invests in our valuable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Projects (21 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Barrow Blueway Project is a significant initiative which will support communities and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives. Kildare County Council is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for the overall project delivery. The project is funded under the Rural Regeneration and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Pollution (16 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Algal blooms (phytoplankton over-growth) in lakes are a natural phenomenon that can be exacerbated by excess nutrients and warm settled weather. Algal blooms are not specifically monitored for in the national water-monitoring programme, as, by their nature, they can be relatively short-lived events. My Department is currently preparing Ireland’s third-cycle River Basin Management...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is an executive agency within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility for, inter alia, the management of our National Parks. The NPWS does not employ staff as qualified arborists and does not have such a grade or title of position. While there may be staff who have such qualifications it is not an essential...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I refer to the reply to Dáil Question No. 692 on 7 November which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I understand NPWS staff met on site with the individual last month in relation to the proposed activity, and that an application for an Activity Requiring Consentis now being processed. This is required because the proposed activity occurs within a Special Area of Conservation. The NPWS team will contact the applicant again directly and provide them with an update on progress.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The general scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill was published in December 2022. Following the scrutiny of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, my Department has been working in close collaboration with parliamentary drafters over the past several months to develop the Bill and I anticipate that it will be ready for publication early in 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: Sea fishing boat licensing and registration is a function of the Sea Fisheries Administration Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Questions in relation to the permitting or licensing of such vessels and their fishing activities are a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The 2021 Review of the Mortgage to Rent Scheme was published on the 24th January 2022. From Quarter 1 of 2022 to the end of Quarter 3 of 2023, a total of 576 Mortgage to Rent applications have been completed. A further 521 applications are currently being actively progressed. Both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commit to strengthening the Mortgage to Rent scheme and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, using Exchequer funding, is delivering improvements to water services, including waste water, in areas of rural Ireland where Uisce Éireann water services are not available. The aim of the multi-annual programme is, through various funding measures, to provide robust and resilient water services, that are value for money and are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department and the Department of Transport (DoT) jointly established a working group in December 2021 under ‘Housing for All’ to consider opportunities for Transport Orientated Development (TOD) in major urban centres. The group comprises membership from my Department, DoT, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Land Development Agency (LDA). Transport Orientated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses is primarily a built heritage scheme, intended to support the conservation of an important and historically neglected part of our traditional building stock. I am pleased to note that it may also make a contribution to our broader efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction. Owners of traditional farmhouses often...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I recently announced my Department’s agreement to purchase the Dowth Hall Demesne in Co. Meath. This 552 acre site contains valuable elements of natural, archaeological and architectural heritage and will be managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department as a new National Park to ensure the preservation of these features for the people of Ireland. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the implementation of a suite of National and EU legislation in relation to invasive alien species in Ireland. Funding was provided by NPWS in 2012 for a scheme administered by the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) for a bounty on mink as part of a wider effort to protect ground nesting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Agriculture Schemes (8 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 together. The National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme was first launched in 2006 to support landowners to:deliver actions that benefit habitats and species in Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, known collectively as Natura 2000 sites,to support farmland biodiversity more...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (7 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future includes a commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the flagship cross-border Ulster Canal project. My Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland co-operate effectively and communicate regularly to progress the various work programmes involved in the project, with the aim of providing a safe...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (7 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Barrow Blueway Project is a significant initiative which will support communities and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives. Kildare County Council is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for the overall project delivery. Waterways Ireland is responsible for the delivery of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (7 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Noonan: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aims to regulate and monitor the international trade in certain species of animals and plants, and to ensure that trade does not threaten their survival in the wild. Ireland became a CITES Party in 2002 with the NPWS of my Department being the CITES Management Authority in Ireland. The CITES...