Results 6,421-6,440 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (4 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (4 Oct 2016)

Damien English: The concept of Universal Design centres on achieving a built environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size or disability. All new buildings, including social housing units must comply with the legally enforceable minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2014. In this context,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities Provision (4 Oct 2016)

Damien English: Addressing the needs of persons with a disability is already well established in housing policies. The commitment in the provides a platform to consolidate and build on the significant work undertaken to date, and will ensure that momentum is sustained in future housing policy development. The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016, published jointly by my...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Tax Code (4 Oct 2016)

Damien English: I am here to represent the Minister for Finance, who sends his apologies as he cannot be present. The second issue raised by the Senator is one that was raised in the House last week and it is under constant review. I made it clear to the Senator's colleague that we will take on board suggestions. However, with regard to schemes that have a low drawdown, we cannot force people to take part...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Tax Code (4 Oct 2016)

Damien English: There are many causes of homelessness, including financial problems, illness and family issues. The help-to-buy scheme we are proposing in the budget will not be the only solution. The action plan for housing sets out 84 actions.As many as 84 actions have been set out. The Minister and I are confident that with the implementation of the 84 actions and a spend of €5.5 billion, which...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Trade Union Agreements (4 Oct 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising the issue and for his three questions. I am here to speak on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. He was invited to attend but could not make it. I cannot answer for the Minister for Health but I do not think he was invited. Perhaps there is some issue there. I will set out the scene in respect of the issue...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Trade Union Agreements (4 Oct 2016)

Damien English: We all know Senator Craughwell will push the boundaries in all cases, which is welcome in most cases and I am happy enough to respond.

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Trade Union Agreements (4 Oct 2016)

Damien English: It might make our job harder. It is quite clear both the Departments involved desire an outcome which solves this. The Senator raised the issue of fairness. We must be fair to everybody involved in the Lansdowne Road agreement and in terms of public sector pay. There is flexibility in the agreement but it is within the agreement that solutions must be found. A process was identified by...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Building Control Management System (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: As the Deputy rightly signalled, the issue of cost in the deliver and supply of housing is of grave concern to us all. There are numerous commitments and a broad range of measures to tackle the cost of same and to make it easier to increase supply. Some 84 actions are set out in the action plan. Most aim to increase activity and supply while making housing more affordable. There have...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Building Control Management System (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: We are probably achieving the same thing. Our Department is analysing this cost and has done much preliminary work over the past couple of months. It will now engage with the various sectors to progress that analysis and see how we can affect these costs. There are numerous reports out there already. The report from 2015 compares costs in other countries and it is worthy of studying. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Building Control Management System (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: I am not saying the committee should meet again to formulate new recommendations. I am saying if the Deputy really believes in this, it would be worth the committee's time to analyse the certification costs, as those figures are being thrown out there. I am not convinced they are reasonable costs. The Department is examining the costs and we will publish the findings. That is not an...

Other Questions: Library Services (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: My Department is working with local authorities to extend the initial pilot phase of the open library service, an initiative under Opportunities for All, A Strategy for Public Libraries 2013-2017. As part of the "My Open Library" service, participating branches will open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days per week. Regular staffed hours will be complemented by unstaffed hours, thereby...

Other Questions: Library Services (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: Here we go again with the scaremongering. I heard this last week. This pilot scheme has run in three locations. There have been no difficulties or concerns. It is typical of Sinn Féin to try to raise red flags where there are no problems. This is a positive development. I understand what the Deputy says about people with disabilities wanting to access this. This is a start to...

Other Questions: Library Services (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: It is apt to say that our libraries are great assets and that we want to increase their use. This is a common approach across the world to extend their opening hours. In an ideal world, and if we had the resources, we would provide more staff if they were required, but is it not better to have the libraries usable at night time, weekends, Christmas, Easter and bank holidays when they were...

Other Questions: Building Regulations (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 43 together. 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 on the problems that have emerged in affected homes in Donegal and Mayo. The accusation made by Deputy McConalogue that it is dragging its feet...

Other Questions: Building Regulations (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: In terms of my meetings, I met the Mica Action Group in Donegal as well as the home owners in Mayo. They made it clear to me that they understood the importance of the expert panel doing its work correctly and producing a report we can use that outlines the causes and possible remedies for this problem. I cannot stress that enough. I do not know what information the Deputy has in terms of...

Other Questions: Building Regulations (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: It was in Donegal in May. The panel members have had numerous meetings all summer. They are meeting again on 17 October. I believe they are doing their work. We have asked them about it. They have the resources to do the work as quickly as possible, but many home owners want to meet them. They visited the home owners in their houses in both Donegal and Mayo. They met local authority...

Other Questions: Building Regulations (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: The people the Deputy represents recognise that we have to wait for the report before we can come up with the best way forward. There was a process to be followed. I have seen the process in action in other situations and it has worked quite well. When I engage with people directly, they understand and are clear on what has to happen. I am not sure what the Deputy's difficulty is with...

Other Questions: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: The Deputy has a magic pen.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (5 Oct 2016)

Damien English: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme 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 full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme, which is...