Results 8,101-8,120 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (10 Jul 2018)

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.  This responsibility includes carrying out the necessary health and safety checks on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Project Ireland 2040 Implementation (10 Jul 2018)

Damien English: Project Ireland 2040, published in February 2018, signals a significant policy shift towards securing more compact and sustainable urban and rural development, which requires significantly more effective land management in key development areas. Against that background, it is proposed to establish a National Regeneration and Development Agency to assist in ensuring a more effective...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (10 Jul 2018)

Damien English: The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2018/844 came into operation on 9 July 2018 and Member States are required to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 10 March 2020. The revised Directive requires that in the case of new non-residential buildings and non-residential buildings undergoing major...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (10 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 939 and 940 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 provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (10 Jul 2018)

Damien English: The possible impacts on proposed dune conservation works at Portrane Beach, The Burrow, Portrane, County Dublin by the activities proposed under the application will be examined as part of the technical assessment process for applications for consent under the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended).

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (10 Jul 2018)

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, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (10 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I.S. 398-1:2017 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol sets out the process for assessing and determining whether a building has been damaged by reactive pyrite or is likely to be in the future and it categorises the building.   While the standard provides an objective, reliable and robust means by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (10 Jul 2018)

Damien English: The preparation of a General Scheme of a Bill to provide for the prohibition of the sale, manufacture, import or export of certain products containing plastic microbeads is at an advanced stage. It is intended to bring this to Government at the earliest opportunity, with a view to drafting progressing as a priority, so that the Bill can be published in the 2018...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Area Plans (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to discuss the advancement of housing development in Celbridge, specifically with regard to vacant lands, which have been identified as an area of key and strategic development, and to discuss the attendant infrastructure measures that have to be implemented to deliver this housing supply. This housing supply has...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Area Plans (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: Exactly. The lack of movement on it is a key issue. It is important to see it moving. Taking account of the criteria and objectives I mentioned, there is scope for Kildare County Council to submit proposals for funding infrastructure requirements for urban regeneration and associated housing delivery in the Celbridge area. I look forward to applications from Kildare County Council that...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Area Plans (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: The Deputy is correct that it is not any one person's or one agency's problem, but it is a problem for the community and for anybody who wishes to drive through Celbridge or to work or live there. We would be anxious that it would happen too. The focus of all the stakeholders - the council, local businesses, landowners, State agencies and the wider community - should be on implementing the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: In March of this year, my Department published the 2017 Annual Progress Report on Unfinished Housing Developments, which are regarded as developments not substantially complete in the context of the scope of works envisaged under the relevant planning permission. The report is available on my Department's website at the following . As outlined in that Report, the number of unfinished housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Energy Rating Compliance (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is the statutory agency responsible for the implementation and management of the Building Energy Rating (BER) Scheme, in accordance with Ireland’s obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. These regulations require every new building to have a BER Certificate since 1 January 2007.  In...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Motions (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: Amendment No. 41 was tabled by Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill. We outlined the case in this regard quite strongly here on the day, and last week in the Dáil we went over the need not to have this amendment and over how it would affect the Bill if adopted. The Bill as drafted already provides that any draft of a revised or new framework must be submitted for the approval of both Houses...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Motions (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: The Bill seeks to give them a future.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Motions (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: Again, this relates to the issue of an annual review. Having an annual review would not help us in trying to achieve long-term planning. There might have been a misunderstanding of what we were trying to achieve, which is why I hope the Seanad will understand that when we think of long-term planning, it would be hard to prove the results every year. We are thinking about having a review...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Motions (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I accept that the thrust of what Members are saying is that most people would agree that it is sensible not to have a one-year review. I am glad, on reflection, that we can agree on that as well. Again I am happy to confirm that we will have ongoing discussions on this. I am not going to go back into the National Planning Framework 2040 because it will upset people.

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (12 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to clarify the position. On 1 April 2011, the Social Housing Assessment Regulations introduced a new standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing in every housing authority. The regulations include maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (12 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy and I will take on board all the points he made. I will bring them back to our officials when the review comes back from the agency and we will look at what is assessable or not. He has raised a few issues that are worth looking at. I am satisfied that the current income limits and the current scheme are generally fair and equitable. I think people will agree that it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (7 Sep 2018)

Damien English: Research undertaken by the Higher Education Authority into student accommodation provision estimates that there is significant unmet demand nationally and, with the student population forecast to increase to nearly 193,000 by 2024, significant investment is needed in provision of accommodation nationally. The Department of Education and Skills, with the support of my Department, has sought to...