Results 6,361-6,380 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: As the Deputy will be aware, in the interests of supporting owners and residents living in developments such as the one referred to in the Question, where concerns regarding non-compliance with fire safety requirements arise, my Department announced that a review would be undertaken by an independent fire safety expert to develop a framework for general application in such situations. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this issue and I apologise for being late. As the Deputy will be aware, the housing action plan, Rebuilding Ireland, which was launched this week sets out what we are trying to do in this area. We are trying to end the type of situations highlighted by the Deputy. I understand that the Deputy wants an urgent solution to the issue he highlighted but...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: As I said, I will do what I can and I will report back to the Deputy tomorrow. I will check whether what he has proposed is an option. This issue has been flagged for some time and it should have been resolved before now. I know that Dublin City Council is trying to negotiate directly. We are still expecting a solution in that regard. I will update the Deputy in that regard tomorrow too.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: Local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Planning and Development Acts. These powers of inspection and enforcement are separate and distinct from the provisions of the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014 and in particular the Building Control Regulations 1997-2015 which put in place the administrative arrangements by which owners, designers and builders...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Constitutional Convention Recommendations (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. It is important that we discuss the implications around it. In its fifth report, the Constitutional Convention recommended that voting rights be extended in presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State. The then-Government considered this recommendation last year and decided that it would be necessary to analyse...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Constitutional Convention Recommendations (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I agree that if at all possible, we should try to get a timeframe on it. It is difficult to do. It might be a case of coming back with recommendations to do this step by step. There are easier paths to doing this. Extending it to the full option of 70 million people when we do not even know how many of them could be citizens would be an awkward process to develop. It is about coming back...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Library Services Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: Yes.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Library Services Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I like to stay when I am here.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Library Services Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. It is one I have debated several times, as there is some confusion about what lies in store for libraries. My Department has been in discussions with the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and local authorities' chief executives on the introduction of a new library management model as outlined in the report, Managing the Delivery...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Library Services Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: To be clear, the Department has constantly stated it is open to discussing with chief executives and the LGMA the changes we want to introduce in some places. These changes should not and will not affect front-line services. If members of Sligo County Council decide to close a library for a week or two owing to their existing budget, that is not something we are asking them to do. The...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Library Services Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Damien English: Yes.

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to address this motion. I support the Government's decision to appeal the Commission's ruling that Ireland provided unlawful State aid to Apple, which was not the case and is untrue. There was no proof in the ruling, yet the position taken was damaging. As such, it was imperative that the Government made its decision in a strong, considered...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (16 Sep 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 to 546, inclusive together. One of the key recommendations of the (June 2012) was the development of a protocol which would facilitate the testing and categorisation of dwellings in order to establish if there is reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material and whether it has caused pyritic heave. In response to this recommendation, I.S. 398-1:2013 -...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (16 Sep 2016)

Damien English: The independent Pyrite Panel, which was established in September 2011, undertook a desktop study, in conjunction with a stakeholder consultation, to establish certain facts in relation to the potential exposure of pyrite in dwellings. The information was gathered from a number of sources including local authorities, structural guarantee providers, representatives of homeowners, private...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (16 Sep 2016)

Damien English: The provides for the making of a by the Pyrite Resolution Board for certain dwellings affected by significant pyrite damage. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The scheme is applicable to dwellings which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established in accordance with I.S....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (16 Sep 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 618 together. The provides the statutory framework for the and while the Act provides that the scheme can be amended, replaced or revoked, this can only be done in accordance with the scope of the Act. In this regard, any proposal to revise the pyrite remediation scheme is ultimately a matter for the Pyrite Resolution Board and would require detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (16 Sep 2016)

Damien English: The latest figures available from the Pyrite Resolution Board indicate that approximately 1,315 applications have been received under the pyrite remediation scheme, of which 985 have been approved for inclusion in the scheme as follows: - 286 are at remedial works planning stage, - 209 are at tender/tender analysis, - 2 are at tender decision, - 87 are under remediation, and - 401 are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety (16 Sep 2016)

Damien English: Neither I nor my Department has any role in relation to the issuing of Fire Safety Certificates. The issue of such certificates is a matter for the relevant building control authority, which in this case is Fingal County Council. The legal position in relation to Fire Safety Certificates is set out in the Building Control Act 1990, as amended by Part 2 of the , and in regulations made...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (16 Sep 2016)

Damien English: While my Department has no direct role in reviewing the living conditions of elderly persons in private homes, the provision of social housing to meet the accommodation needs of older people, and other people with specific categories of need, is a particular focus of my Department and is funded for the most part under the Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme. Projects are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (16 Sep 2016)

Damien English: The expert panel on concrete blocks has met on four occasions since it was established in April 2016 and is continuing to receive and review the information that has been made available to it in relation to the problems that have emerged in affected homes in Donegal and Mayo. A substantial volume of information has now been provided by affected homeowners in both counties, as well as from...