Results 8,401-8,420 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (15 Jan 2019)

Damien English: As I understand it, the matter referred to by the Deputy, relating to pyrite contamination in concrete blocks in 2014, was resolved by the contracting parties at that time. Furthermore, the issue was dealt with by the relevant market surveillance authority under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 and by building control authorities under the Building Control Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: County Development Plans (15 Jan 2019)

Damien English: According to CSO figures, the population of Naas was approximately 21,000 people in 2016. Naas is one of two key towns identified in County Kildare in the draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) which is currently subject to public consultation. Once finalised, the strategy is intended to further develop strategic planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (15 Jan 2019)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Plan Implementation (15 Jan 2019)

Damien English: As I have stated in previous responses on this matter, I am committed to developing primary legislation to provide for the creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in accordance with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Work on this will commence in earnest when legislation to prohibit certain products containing plastic microbeads is sufficiently...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (15 Jan 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1201 and 1202 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. Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Jan 2019)

Damien English: As the Deputy will be aware, we have had a couple of meetings with different people to try to organise the working group. The local authority has been involved as well. I hope that in February we will be in a position to announce the details of who will be on the working group and how we can progress it. We will involve all the Members of the House from Tipperary in how we put the group...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Energy Rating Compliance (16 Jan 2019)

Damien English: The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets requirements at an EU level for Member States to improve the energy performance of buildings and to make an important contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Article 9(1) of the Directive requires Member States to ensure that:- - by 31 December 2020, all new buildings are nearly zero-energy buildings; and -...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2019)

Damien English: The changes made by the Central Bank have allowed for the investment of the resources of credit unions in the SPV. The SPV model is being worked on by the Irish Council of Social Housing and grant-aided by the Department in conjunction with the credit union movement. We had hoped to complete the work in December. The Government cannot-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2019)

Damien English: I apologise. The Government cannot do it; it must be done independently. We expect the work to be completed in the next month or two. It is one SPV available to the credit unions; there is already a mechanism available to them, namely, the Credit Union Development Authority, CUDA, which is available for the purpose of investing in social housing.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Energy Rating Compliance (22 Jan 2019)

Damien English: Under the current building regulations, a typical dwelling is built to an A3 Building Energy Standard (BER). Currently, based on CSO statistics, 98% of all new dwellings are built to an A3 rated BER standard. The Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) performance for new dwellings will be typically equivalent to a BER of A2. The draft regulations and accompanying technical guidance to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Urban Renewal Schemes (23 Jan 2019)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter, which is very important. It gives me an opportunity to discuss the north quays project in Waterford and, in particular, Waterford City and County Council's successful bid for funding for the north quays under the urban regeneration and development fund. It is a project with which I am very familiar having met many of the stakeholders involved in it...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Urban Renewal Schemes (23 Jan 2019)

Damien English: Without a doubt, the north quays project will provide many opportunities for the city and region. It is a project of major significance. I compliment all involved in getting it this far. Together with the total amount of lifetime URDF grant funding sought, the proposal that came forward this time included four very significant elements of enabling infrastructure which are: relocation of...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2019)

Damien English: In the spirit of Deputy Fitzmaurice, I will not delay the House too much either. I am not going to go back over everything that was addressed last night by the Minister when he outlined the Bill and his hopes for it. I thank all the Members on behalf of the Minister and the Department for their contributions. We appreciate the support offered for the Bill. Most speakers supported the Bill...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Referral to Select Committee (23 Jan 2019)

Damien English: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Greenways Development (24 Jan 2019)

Damien English: A request was received in September 2018 from Fingal County Council to meet with my Department to discuss the proposal concerned in advance of submitting an application under the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended.  My Department has since been engaging with the local authority in relation to the information that is required to progress the matter. As the foreshore...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (29 Jan 2019)

Damien English: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 responsibility for staffing of a local authority and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out its functions is a matter for the relevant Chief Executive. Residential developments consisting of two or more dwellings that have been granted planning permission under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (29 Jan 2019)

Damien English: In tandem with my announcement at the Our Ocean Wealth conference, my Department wrote to all applicants for hand harvesting of seaweed clarifying the legal position on appurtenant and profit-à-prendre rights to harvest wild seaweed and the interaction of these rights with the applications received under the Foreshore Act. My Department outlined that in order to consider an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Disability Support Services (29 Jan 2019)

Damien English: The data on homelessness which is collected by local authorities does not include any information on the numbers of persons with a disability seeking support. The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2016 was published in late 2011 and the associated National Implementation Framework was published in July 2012. These are joint publications by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (29 Jan 2019)

Damien English: The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets requirements at an EU level for Member States to improve the energy performance of buildings and to make an important contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Article 9(1) of the Directive requires Member States to ensure that by 31 December 2020, all new buildings are nearly zero-energy buildings. The Directive defines...

Seanad: Housing for Elderly People: Motion (30 Jan 2019)

Damien English: It is their plan in the first place.