Results 8,481-8,500 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (19 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation, pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (19 Feb 2019)

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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: Approved housing bodies, AHBs, are making an important contribution to the supply of new social housing homes under Rebuilding Ireland. Since 2009, homes built, purchased or leased by AHBs are made available for social housing support under a payment and availability agreement with the local authority. For each property or group of properties, the payment and availability agreement sets out...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I sense that the Deputy is a little unhappy with approved housing bodies, but the Government is very happy with their performance. They are doing very well and delivering many houses. The scheme is designed to achieve good value for the Exchequer and we have been doing so for many years. The average cost of a house through payment and availability agreements is approximately €878....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The Deputy made some misleading comments. Local authorities are very much involved in the delivery of housing through approved housing bodies. No approved housing body scheme can come through the system without the approval and involvement of the local authority. I would rather if the Deputy did not mislead the House or cause confusion for councillors.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: Approved housing bodies must work through the local authorities, which sanction the schemes in combination with the Department. They are reimbursed for the costs of that - that is why the housing budget is there. I remind the Deputy that the housing budget this year is the largest ever, with a housing spend of approximately €2.5 billion. The combination of work with local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 30 and 43 together. In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, local 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I agree with the Deputy. We genuinely want to make progress in this area. There has been under-achievement in meeting the TAP targetss set for the past 20 years by up to 80%, although the position in some years was better than others. Not enough has been happening at local level to make projects succeed. The Deputy made reference to local authorities, but detailed analysis has been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: We all share the Deputies' concerns that the money is not being spent on Traveller-specific accommodation, but even though there is an underspend, we will make sure the money is spent on other housing solutions that will benefit both Travellers and non-Travellers. Travellers do not just benefit from Traveller-specific accommodation. We meet many Traveller families who want a choice of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: Again, part of the issue here is that, as we rightly increase the capital funding back up, the pipeline of projects are not there to be able to draw that allocation down. We originally make allocations based on projects that should be in the pipeline and have come through planning and then they get stuck in planning or design or have not been agreed locally with all the various stakeholders...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 76 together. In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, local 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 there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: While there is no specific time limit for the use of sites on a temporary basis under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, local authorities are required to make adequate provision for transient and permanent sites in their programmes. The guidance is provided for temporary sites and local authorities will be encouraged to use it as best practice. It was set in conjunction with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: We will continue to increase capital funding for this purpose. There is no reason urgent fire safety works cannot be carried out. There is no excuse. I understand the difficulties in respect of new accommodation and sites because of the different stakeholders involved, but in the refurbishment of existing sites, there should be no delay in implementing the required changes.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Expenditure (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I will try to answer some of the questions raised by the Deputy. I do not have all of the details he has asked for because some of the issues he has raised are different from what was initially proposed to be discussed. I have no problem in getting further information for the Deputy and if we have to organise a meeting with the Deputy, the Department and Irish Water I will be happy to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Expenditure (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I am mindful that the Deputy was probably chatting to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle when I outlined the position. I do not have the actual planning costs that he is looking for. What happens is Irish Water is given an envelope of funding to deliver the project. It is monitored through the Irish Water strategic plan which is presented to the Government and the regulator. I know from dealing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The provision of housing, whether it be social, affordable or private is a top priority for this Government. Under Rebuilding Ireland, the Government is making over €6 billion available to deliver 50,000 social housing homes nationally, through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021.  In addition, some 88,000 households are to be supported...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. 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. In 2017, the report of the Expert Panel was published and included eight recommendations, which my Department is actively...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: 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. My Department’s records indicate that I have attended six meetings in relation to the operation of the scheme. Representatives of the Pyrite...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: 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 have no other practical option to obtain redress and is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (21 Feb 2019)

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. In 2017, the report of the was published and included eight recommendations, which my Department is actively progressing with the relevant stakeholders, prioritising the implementation of...