Results 8,221-8,240 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (16 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 654 and 655 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 scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (16 Oct 2018)

Damien English: The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, known within the industry as BCAR, require owners, builders, and registered construction professionals to demonstrate through the Statutory Register of Building Control Activity that the works or buildings concerned have been designed and constructed in compliance with Building Regulations. The roles and responsibilities of owners, designers,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I refer to the reply to Question No. 677 of 16 October 2018 which sets out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (17 Oct 2018)

Damien English: The provision of fire services in local authority areas is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy and through a range of service development programmes. The issuing of 1916 – 2016 Commemorative medals was a commitment in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 342 together. I note the motion passed by Dáil Éireann on 19 June 2018 regarding Dublin Fire Brigade's emergency ambulance service. Responsibility for the provision of emergency medical services, including pre-hospital emergency care, rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE), which operates the National Ambulance Service (NAS)...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Rental Sector (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I have been in the House to address the matter, which I know is dear to his heart, on at least five occasions to date. He is correct that short-term letting affects supply. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is focused on addressing the issue as quickly as possible. I welcome the opportunity to outline the progress the Government has...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Rental Sector (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I discussed this issue yesterday with the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. He is aware of the issue raised by the Senator and he understands the need for urgent address of it. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has never said that he will do it "tomorrow". Rather, that is Senator Humphreys's interpretation of what the Minister said. In September, he said that he hoped to do...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I thank Seanad Éireann for the opportunity to update it on Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. Today is a good opportunity to debate progress and to outline some future areas of priority action. Rebuilding Ireland is a comprehensive delivery plan, which has been augmented and updated since its publication in mid-2016. It is not a quick fix;...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: We recognise as a Government that our first priority is to deliver a housing programme. Central to that is a commitment to a belief in social and council housing. We are doing that, putting money behind it and we are actually delivering that housing. That might not suit the mantra of some people but I am confident in saying that. I know it without any doubt. If we stick to this...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: That is why we have a building programme. While we are building the houses, however, we have to make sure we have people in a house today as well. We will use the HAP programme and we have to rely on the private sector for that. It is not something we want to do forever but it is something we have to do because we have to have houses today while we build the new ones. We are doing that....

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: It is not being privatised. It is a use of State-owned land. I accept that Sinn Féin believes that on any site all the housing should be built by the taxpayer, but that is not the best use of taxpayers' money and it will not give the best mix of housing that should be brought forward. We must make a decision about the best use of taxpayers' money, that is, about how taxpayers' money...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: The taxpayer is committed to delivering 10,000 social houses a year and more. When we say we have to build approximately 33,000 houses per year, the taxpayer cannot and should not pay for all of them. It is a great deal of tax to collect and we need tax for everywhere else, such as schools, hospitals and many other areas. Choices must be made. How does one best deliver housing for...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: We delivered houses once with people in them.

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: How long do I have? Half an hour?

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I will try to do that and come back with updates on various projects. I will get a specific update for Senator Humphreys. I am aware that we are all frustrated with the timelines but the Senator will be aware that this is a major project, on which the Department has been proactive from the start in trying to make it happen, along with Dublin City Council and other players. There is a deal...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: -----and one can touch and see them. I ask that the Senator please not come to me and tell me there are no houses.

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I have been on sites all over the State, and there are real houses. The Senator should try to push one over and she will find out how real they are. This mantra that no houses are being built is not true. It is not fair to all those people who are involved in delivering houses, and who will this year deliver more than 8,000 social houses.

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: Senator Warfield referred to the 7,900 houses, which is the figure for this year. There will be more than 7,900 houses provided this year. The Senator might be referring to next year, when the figure will be 10,000. The full 10,000 houses to be delivered next year is a combination of direct build, acquisition and leasing. That will be 10,000 new houses in the system, not all of which will...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: -----and it should not, and cannot, happen again.

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: On RPZs, I have often had colleagues of different parties in the Houses looking for their areas to be zoned. It should not be an ambition to have one's town or county in an RPZ. Such as zone means that people are paying too much rent. People should not campaign to be in an RPZ. I often get criticisms from colleagues in my own town that the area is not in a zone. There is a science behind...