Results 7,341-7,360 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I accept the Deputy's good faith and am not denying it. I am just saying that the information we received does not match that of the Deputy.. I am willing to have that checked out because we are clear that we wish to be able to say with confidence where we know we have a bed available for everybody. I monitor the Dublin situation closely. We are able to track the beds that are available...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment Data (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently over 30,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 20,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. An accelerated target of an additional 15,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is currently undertaking a review to determine whether the Approved Housing Body sector or part of it should be included as part of the General Government sector and whether AHBs should be classified as ‘on-balance sheet’ or ‘off-balance sheet’ for Government accounting purposes, in accordance with EU rules. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: The commitment given to the homeowners referred to was in respect of the actions being taken by my Department to implement the recommendations of the report of the expert panel established to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. My Department, in particular, is prioritising...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: Social housing projects funded by my Department, like all publicly funded construction projects, must comply with the Government’s Capital Works Management Framework, the objectives of which are to ensure greater cost certainty, better value for money and financial accountability. There are nine stages under the  Capital Works Management Framework, which my Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the Pyrite Remediation Scheme. The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme.  In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions, and as Minister, I have no role in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: The Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003, provide the primary statutory basis for fire safety in Ireland. Under Section 18(2) of the Act, the statutory responsibility for fire safety in buildings of all kinds to which the legislation applies is placed on the “person having control” of the premises.  In addition, the design and construction of buildings is regulated under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I acknowledge the anxiety and upset caused to  owners and residents when building defect issues arise. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: The National Planning Framework, Ireland 2040 – Our Plan, is intended to set a new long-term strategic planning and investment context for Ireland over the next 20 years.  It will outline a high-level, national vision for Ireland for 2040, and will provide the framework and principles to manage future population and economic growth over the next 20 years (catering for 1...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (7 Dec 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: Building Control Management System (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 261 and 263 together. The issues referred to are a matter for local Building Control Authorities, who are independent in the use of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2014. Building Control Authorities are required to keep certain information pertaining to building works that come under the Building Control Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: Under Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, housing authorities may provide assistance to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the provision and management of housing accommodation. Section 6 (6) of the Act empowers the Minister to grant approved status for this purpose.   Bodies which may be considered for approval are as follows: - Limited...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (12 Dec 2017)

Damien English: In December 2015, my Department made a call for local authorities to supply details of relevant estates that required to be taken in charge in order to draw up a national list of housing estates not taken in charge. This exercise was carried out under the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) to provide a list of estates not yet taken in charge. The list is available at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (12 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 541 together. The taking-in-charge of housing estates is a matter for the relevant local authority under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). In an attempt to enhance learning and systems development and to accelerate the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, my Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (12 Dec 2017)

Damien English: The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 assign responsibility for fire safety in premises of all kinds, other than dwellings occupied as a single dwelling, to the 'person having control' over premises to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises, and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an...

Topical Issue Debate: County Development Plans (13 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I thank Deputies Lawless and O'Rourke for giving me the opportunity to clarify matters in respect of the Leixlip and Celbridge local area plans, a matter I addressed a couple of weeks ago in a debate in this House. My role under the planning code in relation to statutory plans is simply to ensure that they are consistent with established national planning policies and that they comply...

Topical Issue Debate: County Development Plans (13 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I thank both Deputies for raising the issue. The Legislature has made provision for ministerial powers to issue statutory planning guidelines. These guidelines need to be implemented in practice, they are not something to which we should only pay lip-service. The Deputy referred to the powers being used in three of five locations but there are 300 plans ongoing and I have had to intervene...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (13 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The social housing public private partnership, PPP, programme is a critical part of the Rebuilding Ireland action programme for housing and homelessness, involving an investment with a capital value of €300 million to deliver 1,500 social housing units in three bundles. The first bundle, which comprises six PPP sites, is expected to...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (13 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I am not familiar with the exact site although I know the area quite well because I have tried to travel through it but have had to change my route on a couple of occasions due to the Deputy's good work in that area, blocking off certain routes to drivers. The site has been picked by Dublin City Council. I presume there are plans for a footpath to serve it because it has passed all of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Damien English: They are very shy. Mr. Niall Cussen and Mr. Paul Hogan are the main authors of the report. Some members might have had a chance to engage with them at other meetings. They are very happy to engage and to take questions as they are the two individuals who put a lot of work into co-ordinating the main messages and they also took all the feedback from stakeholders in the public sessions.