Results 6,501-6,520 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Traveller Accommodation (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 32 together. The Deputy's question is mainly about getting the money spent but on the funding issue the funding has gone back up, and rightly so. In recent years approximately €5 million or €6 million has been spent on capital projects. Next year the figure will go up by 69%. The funding is increasing but ensuring that it is spent is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Traveller Accommodation (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: We accept that the resources in this area were reduced, as they were in every other area. No area was singled out. Resources across the board were reduced. The aim of the Minister, the Department and myself is to try to drive that spend up. There are issues with regard to this money being spent in certain areas. Some local authorities excel in that regard and some do not. We are trying...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Traveller Accommodation (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: Some of the issues raised are matters for the Department of Justice and Equality, not for our Department.

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, who was not able to stay for the debate. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding the site in question near Naas, County Kildare. As the Deputy said, we have had a few discussions on sites in the area. I am familiar with the cranes he mentioned. The spatial planning...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I, too, hope that common ground is identified and a satisfactory resolution for all involved is reached. This has been going on a while. Our aim, as a Government, is to do exactly what the Deputy said, that is, to make the obvious and the necessary possible. As politicians and as a Government, that is our job. We want to see towns such as Naas and others in the greater Dublin area and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Services (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 95 together. As the Deputy will be aware from previous PQ replies, the National Taking in Charge Initiative (NTICI) for residential estates, with pilot scheme funding of €10m, was launched in April 2016 to accelerate the taking-in-charge process of housing estates by developing new working methods. Further information on the NTICI can be found...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: It is important that the public sector continues to show leadership in the areas of energy efficiency, water efficiency and environmental sustainability, including in the provision of social housing. My Department has published best practice design guidelines, Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities, which promote environmental sustainability and resource efficiency in new housing,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 28, 31 and 74 together. 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 Report of the Pyrite Panel (June 2012) provided the overarching framework for the pyrite remediation scheme and its eligibility criteria are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 79 and 83 together. From the outset, I want to make it clear to the Deputies that there will be no reduction in staffing levels or staffed hours. A professional and skilled library staff is vital for a successful library service and my Department is working with local authorities to enhance staffing resources and extend staffed library hours. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 87 together. Seven local authorities were allocated funding under Measure 2 of the National Taking in Charge Initiative (NTICI). To date, all of those local authorities, with the exception of Cork County Council, have drawn down 50% of their allocated monies, amounting to a total of €892,982. A breakdown of the funding drawn down to date across...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: A review of the (S.I. No. 9 of 2014), following its first 12 months in operation, was announced on 2 April 2015. While the review examined the impact of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 on single dwellings and domestic extensions, it was not restricted nor confined to those specific issues; it constituted a full review of the operation of the regulations, which was open to all construction professionals,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: The specific matters in relation to the Longboat Quay development are currently before the Courts and, as a consequence, aresub judice. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter at this time. In response to the many building failures that have emerged over the past decade, my Department introduced the , which provide for greater accountability in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: The Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, sets out the ambitious priority attached t o urban regeneration by the Government, incorporating a series of specific actions, aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres, many of which have been adversely impacted by our recent economic difficulties. The Government’s Action Plan for Housing and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: The latest figures available from the Pyrite Resolution Board indicate that 1,409 applications have been received under the , of which 1,064 have been approved for inclusion in the scheme as follows: 271 are at remedial works planning stage, 41 are at tender/tender analysis, 35 are at tender decision, 241 are under remediation, and 476 are complete. The Pyrite Resolution Board have indicated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 160 together. Under the , the Government is committed to a broad range of measures to tackle, among other things, some of the costs associated with the provision of housing in the interests of reducing construction overheads. This includes undertaking a detailed analysis, in conjunction with the construction sector, to benchmark housing delivery input...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (17 Nov 2016)

Damien English: The Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, sets out the ambitious priority attached to urban regeneration by the Government, incorporating a series of specific actions aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres, many of which have been adversely impacted by our recent economic difficulties. The Government’s Action Plan for Housing and...

Local Government Reform (Amendment) (Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:"the Bill be deemed to be read a Second Time on 30 June, 2017, to allow for implementation of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to consider directly elected mayors in cities as part of wider potential local government reform measures. The Programme provides that, having consulted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (22 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 259, inclusive, together. The latest figures available from the Pyrite Resolution Board indicate that 1,409 applications have been received under the pyrite remediation scheme, of which 1,064 have been approved for inclusion in the scheme as follows: - 271 are at remedial works planning stage, - 41 are at tender-tender analysis, - 35 are at tender...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (22 Nov 2016)

Damien English: The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for making and overseeing the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the , the Board is independent in the performance of its functions, and as Minister, I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme. The Board may be...

Local Government (Mayor and Regional Authority of Dublin) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Nov 2016)

Damien English: I thank speakers from all sides who participated in this very constructive debate. I reiterate the Government position of engaging with all interested parties in advancing this important issue. I thank the Green Party and Deputy Lahart of the Fianna Fáil Party for proposing Private Members' Bills on this issue last night and tonight. The Government is proposing an appropriate...