Results 6,981-7,000 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (23 May 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 289 together. Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings.  Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities, who have extensive powers of inspection...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (23 May 2017)

Damien English: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.  My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (24 May 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board, with support from the Housing Agency. The pyrite remediation scheme is a remedial works scheme of “last resort” and is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Animal Breeding Regulations (24 May 2017)

Damien English: The regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010. Each local authority must maintain for public inspection a register of dog breeding establishments in its functional area, which must include the name and address of the applicant seeking entry onto the register, the address of the dog breeding...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: My Department engages on a continuous basis with local authorities in regard to the advancement of all social housing construction projects.  That is done at both a Departmental and Ministerial level. Deputy Casey has attended meetings at which we tried to engage with officials and local authority members to impress upon them the urgency of moving these projects toward completion...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: The most recent version of the status report on social housing construction projects was published last week. The report, which represents the construction pipeline picture at the end of quarter 1 of 2017, sets out the position on each individual project, which is possible because of the project-by-project tracking that the Department does with the local authorities. The...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: I accept that the blame game went on for many years. It is not currently being played. In some local authorities, there was a concern as to whether funding would be available if a local authority were to pursue strongly a social housing project it was asked to develop by the Department. All Members of the House support what is being done in regard to social housing, at a minimum, and are...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: I did not get to answer the second half of the earlier question. A single-stage process already exists. The local authorities chose not to use it. That process allows for a certain number of houses and it was agreed in the programme for Government to increase that. It is not being used. Only one application has come forward on that.

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: It is not disingenuous. Deputy Casey referred to projects of ten units and 20 units. There is a single-stage process available for those projects. I have encouraged local authorities to use it. Many choose not to use it. I have asked our Department and the local authorities to consider the way that the same method is being used to deliver schools under the devolved grant scheme. That...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: The question I was asked is different to the one I am being asked now. I will give the answer I have and try to address the other matter raised as well.

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: I thought that the question related to Part V. I will answer and then I will give the information that I have. My Department recently published an updated status report on social housing construction projects, containing details of all approved social housing construction projects, including in the Galway City Council area. It outlines locations and details for ten projects in Galway...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: I am not being awkward with Deputy Connolly. I understood her question to specifically relate to Part V housing. She referred to the Urban Regeneration and Housing Acts. I apologise that I do not have the exact figures the Deputy has requested but I have answered the question she asked. On other social housing, on the construction front Galway City Council currently have two local...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: We are not trying to be awkward, as I am sure the Deputy understands. The end of her question read "under the Urban Regeneration and Housing Acts."

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (25 May 2017)

Damien English: It did not appear to be additional in the question we had. We answered that question. I have no problem getting all the information the Deputy wants. The question we had, which we answered, was in respect of Part V. It is a demand-led scheme and we could not give exact figures for it. If it is of help to the Deputy, I can tell her what projects are due for delivery in 2017 with approved...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 May 2017)

Damien English: My Department’s new multi-annual rural water programme 2016 to 2018 was developed through a working group of key stakeholders involving local authorities, the water services transition office, Irish Water, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, as well as my Department. The programme provides for the funding of demonstration group sewerage schemes through measure 4(d), where...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 May 2017)

Damien English: I would probably agree with the Deputy. The scheme is being reviewed and we should see if we can modify it. A number of Deputies have brought forward different projects and solutions. There is often a question mark over the costing rather than the funding of such projects. Different suggestions have much lower costs associated with them in terms of estimates and so on. That is something...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 May 2017)

Damien English: The commitment I can give is that we are already looking at the different mechanisms for doing that outside the formal review. The funding is locked in for the next year and a half. I have been doing ongoing work with officials looking at different solutions.

Other Questions: Animal Breeding Regulations (25 May 2017)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for her question. I am not sure why it was not grouped with Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's question. I do not know if that is up to us or somebody else. I will check that. I have acknowledged Deputy O'Sullivan's work in this area on many occasions. I have had some debates with her here on it as well. I appreciate Deputy Daly mentioning that and recognise the work of...

Other Questions: Animal Breeding Regulations (25 May 2017)

Damien English: Again, I wish to confirm that the review will happen. I agree with Deputy Daly for all the reasons she outlined. Often, there is confusion between the Departments with regard to which Department is in control. In the case of this review our Department is leading it. I can certainly commit to it as part of my work in the coming months as well. The report is not on my desk yet. It will...

Other Questions: Animal Breeding Regulations (25 May 2017)

Damien English: I am glad to commit to that as well. I have not read all the submissions but I will do that as part of the process of the report coming to my desk. I always read submissions and I try to ensure we take them all on board inasmuch as we possibly can. There is no reason we cannot have a discussion in the House and at committee level as well to tease through that. I agree with Deputy Daly....