Results 8,261-8,280 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (6 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The Government has committed to placing the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or CIRI, on a statutory footing.  CIRI was established on a voluntary basis in 2014 and over 800 building and contracting entities are currently included on the register. At the end of May 2017, the Government approved the draft heads of a Bill to place the CIRI on a statutory footing and the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regional Development Policy (6 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to discuss the matter and bring some clarity to it. I welcome the opportunity to provide clarity and address any misunderstanding that may have arisen. We had some discussion of Project Ireland 2040 and the regional plans in the Dáil. We need to have more discussion in this House, in committee and the Dáil to tease out what we are trying to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regional Development Policy (6 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for this debate and I am happy to engage with him over the months ahead to try to get this right. The population targets are based on ESRI data but we believe there is enough headroom and space in the Kildare figures and in the various towns. This is something we can monitor over the coming weeks as we try to bring this process to an end.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Traffic Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Rock for raising this important public safety concern affecting a number of communities in his area and in other parts of the country. He will recall that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, responded to a parliamentary question on the same issue on 19 February last. I pass on the Minister's apologies to the House. He is in the Seanad and could not be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Traffic Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The Department has also reached out to a number of local community groups in the context of positive engagement fostered with local communities. Department officials are also engaging with a number of overseas jurisdictions to inform further the multi-pronged approach required to deal with the serious anti-social and dangerous behaviour associated with the misuse of these vehicles. At the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (8 Nov 2018)

Damien English: Under the Disabled Persons Grants Scheme, capital funding is provided to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to the existing social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants. My Department has recently given funding approval for the construction of extensions to 2 local authority houses in Ballynacarrigy and Castletowngeoghegan, Co. Westmeath. It is now a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (8 Nov 2018)

Damien English: There is no statutory requirement for a clerk of works on building developments. In response to the many building failures of the past, my Department introduced the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which require greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction by registered construction...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (8 Nov 2018)

Damien English: My Department wrote to the person concerned on 24 August 2018 last clarifying the legal standing on appurtenant and profit-à-prendre rights to harvest wild seaweed and the interaction of these rights with the Foreshore Act and specifically applications to harvest wild seaweed. My Department outlined that in order to consider an application to harvest wild seaweed, it...

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: That is rubbish.

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The Deputy is right - it does not make sense. It is not true.

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: They are.

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: That is not true.

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: It is not.

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: It is 48%.

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I am glad of the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I understand the spirit behind the Bill and what Deputy Healy is trying to achieve. We have had a number of debates previously and this is a genuine attempt to deal with the issue. We do not agree with some of the measures in the Bill because we are not sure they will achieve what the Deputy is seeking, but I understand and accept the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry Register Ireland (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The Government has committed to placing the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or CIRI, on a statutory footing. CIRI was established on a voluntary basis in 2014 and over 800 building and contracting entities are currently included on the register. At the end of May 2017, the Government approved the draft heads of a Bill to place the CIRI on a statutory footing and the Bill was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (13 Nov 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 in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Data (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: My Department provides funding to local authorities under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, in respect of private housing. The schemes are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the local authorities. In 2016, funding in the amount of €3,902,496 was provided to Cork County Council and 723 households...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: Primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the building regulations rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. As such, in general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, namely, the homeowner, the builder, the developer and-or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme. It is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: We are working through the recommendations of the fire safety task force and the Minister, Deputy Murphy, recently met representatives of the apartment owners' association to discuss their concerns, specifically those relating to sinking funds and who covers costs etc. It is ongoing work. The key recommendations of the task force were to have the registration of fire safety subcontractors...