Results 7,741-7,760 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (21 Mar 2018)

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 defects in the blockwork in the Counties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (21 Mar 2018)

Damien English: Considerable work has been undertaken to advance the drafting of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill, including through engagement with the Marine Coordination Group and a number of workshops and bilateral meetings with relevant policy Departments and the Office of the Attorney General throughout 2017 and early 2018. Final legal advice from the Office of the Attorney...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Relief Schemes (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: My Department has no role or function in the operation of any scheme of assistance for businesses affected by flooding and did not provide any compensation to businesses affected by flooding of 28 June 2012 in Cork County. Following on from severe flooding events in 2015/16, the Government established a humanitarian scheme that would support small businesses, community, voluntary and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: My Department is currently in contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in an effort to provide a viable final resolution to the complex issues relating to this matter, and will continue to work to conclude the matter as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: The development in question was the subject of a 10 year lease granted to a third party in 1993 and which is expired since 31 October 2003.  My Department will undertake a full inspection and report on the development in the coming weeks, following which contact will be made with the individual concerned with respect to his request to occupy and operate the originally...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 620 and 633 together. In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme. It is important to note that while my Department has overall responsibility for establishing and maintaining an effective...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: Matters relating to fire safety and fire safety compliance are dealt with by my Department by way of legislation, Regulations and Guidance Documents. In relation to the Building Regulations, work has been on-going in my Department to review Part B/Technical Guidance Document (TGD) B – Fire (2006). A new Part B/TGD B Volume 2 (2017) came into force on 1 July 2017, in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme. It is important to note that while my Department has overall responsibility for establishing and maintaining an effective regulatory framework for building standards and building...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Cathaoirleach for affording me, along with Mr. Sheridan and Ms Dew, the opportunity to present to the committee on this draft order which proposes to increase by one member, on a temporary basis, the number of ordinary members of An Bord Pleanála. The background to the draft order stems from the new additional functions of An Bord Pleanála in dealing with applications...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: From when the new arrangements were put in place in July up to 21 March, the board received 47 valid pre-application consultation requests, for the initial nine-week period, in respect of which 36 opinions have issued, with a further 11 due in the coming weeks. A total of four of the 36 opinions indicated that the documents submitted gave a reasonable basis on which to submit planning...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: There were two refusals and five grants, three of which were conditional. Permission for the student accommodation at Belfield was granted with conditions. Permission for the residential development on Ballyogan Road was refused. Permission for the residential development at Barna in Galway was also refused. Permission for the student accommodation on Cork Street was granted, while...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: There are 523 residential units and 3,408 student bed spaces. We set out a specific student accommodation action plan with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Education and Skills. We wanted to drive that agenda and have purpose-built student accommodation on or close to campus which should also free housing for others. There has been a push on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: The Deputy's second question concerned the statutory timelines. When we had a debate on this matter in the Seanad and in the Dáil, that was considered. Generally, 80% to 82% of An Bord Pleanála's cases are dealt with within the statutory timelines. It has a service level agreement with our Department to reach that target. In 2017, it was lower than that and only 65% to 66% of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: We will certainly track that and consult the board on it. I have made it clear that we have proposed this order on foot of a commitment given that if we changed the legislation to provide for fast-track developments An Bord Pleanála needed additional board members. A specific team was set aside for that, therefore, it should not influence the board's day-to-day processes. If both...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: There is a number of reasons. I do not have a breakdown of the trends, but I could ask the board about that. Naturally, the board will come back to us if there are specific changes it would recommend. Generally, this process is to make sure we have a high standard of application in the first place.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: I remember at the time the then Minister, Deputy Coveney, stressed that it would not be a surprise if those who submitted the first applications found the process difficult because it was a new process and the planning would be fast-tracked. That nine-week phase is to make sure we get good quality applications and that nobody's time is wasted. The 32 applicants would have been given...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: ------a consultation. If they want to come back, they can still apply. Only four got a straightforward response; they were told their applications were at the top level, but 19 applications have come in. Some of those 32 combined applications and they would have made changes before they formally applied. The nine-week period is to guide best practice and the submitting of the best...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: Correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 Order: Motion (27 Mar 2018)

Damien English: This is not so much about the appointees but about the complement of the board.