Results 7,081-7,100 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Damien English: No. That is it. We are saying up to 2021 under the Rebuilding Ireland action plan. I cannot say what some future Government will do but that is not our intention. Amendments are not necessary on Committee Stage. We discussed them in the Dáil already. Senator Ó Clochartaigh asked would this allow someone put in the foundation, then sit back and do nothing. That is not the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Jul 2017)

Damien English: I will try to answer most of the questions posed. I missed Senator Humphreys' question earlier. The delay in the provision of affordable units in Dublin is not due to a lack of relevant legislation. Senator Humphreys raised the issue last week and I know he hoped to discuss it again this week. I am happy to debate the issue but the delay is not due to lack of legislation. Many such sites...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: The area in question appears to be State Owned Foreshore. However, there is no record of consent being granted to carry out any reclamation works.  It has been used and occupied for many years without consent and without the payment of rent which, except in exceptional circumstances, foreshore leases or licences attract.  My Department is in on-going...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: The Expert Panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo. The panel had the following terms of reference: (i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: The Higher Education Authority published the Report on Student Accommodation: Demand & Supply in 2015 which indicated that the demand for student accommodation currently exceeded supply in certain parts of the country. The report included extensive discussions with Higher Education Institutes and other stakeholders and found that the shortages of available accommodation are high...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: Under the Foreshore Act 1933, the removal of beach material, including seaweed, is prohibited without the consent of the Minister. The named company has applied for a licence to harvest wild seaweed. During the course of assessing this and a number of other similar applications, it became clear that certain rights to harvest seaweed exist....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 ECJ Court ruling in the Flemish Decree case, a working group comprising representatives from my Department and planning authorities was established to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing with a view to ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: New buildings and extensions or material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2017.  In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: The taking-in-charge of residential developments is the responsibility of local authorities.  My Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016 to support and accelerate overall national action on the taking-in-charge process, including estates with developer provided water services infrastructure. The NTICI was intended to develop better...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Costs (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: My Department has a team of Technical Advisers who monitor, on an ongoing basis, construction projects for which we are the sanctioning authority.  The last 18 months has seen much increased activity in this area with many project tender returns assisting towards the development of a reliable database in respect of housing construction projects in which my Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: While I am aware of the project referred to, my Department is not directly involved in it. Government policy acknowledges the benefits of more compact development at urban locations proximate to public transport and other local services, as outlined under statutory Guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas Guidelines issued by the Minister in 2009 under Section 28...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (11 Sep 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2040 to 2042, inclusive, together. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The process of Agrément certification applies to those products and processes which do not fall within the scope of existing construction standards, either because they are...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tithíochta), 2017: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Sep 2017)

Damien English: I am grateful for the chance to answer some of the questions in the debate and to add a few thoughts. I thank all the Deputies who contributed. I had a chance to listen to some of the debate when in my office going through submissions in regard to Rebuilding Ireland and housing. I wish to add to the speech of the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and share thoughts on this issue. I have...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tithíochta), 2017: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Sep 2017)

Damien English: I did not interrupt the Deputy.

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tithíochta), 2017: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Sep 2017)

Damien English: Could the Deputy calm down for a couple of minutes?

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tithíochta), 2017: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Sep 2017)

Damien English: I am going to speak for only nine minutes and I speak quickly. The Deputy is just looking for something to be campaigning about. That is grand if that is the way he wants to operate but we are solution focused.

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tithíochta), 2017: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Sep 2017)

Damien English: It might help. Let me return to the question of ideology and the comments of Deputy Ó Broin and many others. This debate has mainly been very reasonable. Most want to get back to building 10,000 social houses per year. We are committed to that. Those who support the Government are also committed to it. We recognise, however, that one cannot just do it overnight. One cannot just...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (20 Sep 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 751 and 752 together. The taking-in-charge of housing estates is a matter for the relevant local authority.    Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides that in the case of an unfinished estate, where the planning authority has commenced enforcement proceedings within seven years of the expiry of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Data (20 Sep 2017)

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 Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme.  The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (20 Sep 2017)

Damien English: A five-year Fire Services Capital Programme is currently underway within my Department. This has an allocation of €40 million, based on the current annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to...