Results 8,501-8,520 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (27 Feb 2019)

Damien English: My Department received a foreshore lease application in 2012 from Schull Community Harbour Development Company Limited to facilitate works on the foreshore in Schull Harbour, Co. Cork. The works proposed are the development in the inner harbour area, with a 235 berth marina extending in area from Schull Pier to the North Shore of the harbour. The proposed works are substantial and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (28 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue and bringing attention to it. I also thank him for his openness to bringing about change and putting the focus on the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation, something which is not happening in many places and Galway is probably the best example. The report summarises and highlights the position as well as can be done. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (28 Feb 2019)

Damien English: It is clear that we have needed action for a great many years. I have been on some of these sites and they have been troubled spots for 20 or 30 years but I can only act within the law that is there.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (28 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The legislation was introduced in good faith in 1998. In conjunction with the various Traveller representative bodies, I was asked to set up this expert group to bring about recommendations to change the system, once and for all. Proposals have been put in place and I am determined that when we get the report, we will act on it but we have to wait until we get it. The report will bring...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (5 Mar 2019)

Damien English: The proposals that my Department receive for activities and developments on the foreshore vary greatly in terms of their nature, scale and complexity. The applications received range from the hand harvesting of seaweed to the construction of offshore windfarms or subsea cables. The type of applicants will also vary from private individuals and local groups to public sector bodies, local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regional Development Initiatives (5 Mar 2019)

Damien English: The draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Southern Region is currently on public display until 8 March 2019.  Following the consultation period, the Southern Regional Assembly must report on and consider all submissions received in the formulation of the final RSES, the adoption of which will require approval by the members of the Regional Assembly. If the...

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: It is good to be back in the House. I thank all Senators for the opportunity to discuss this very important issue. Addressing Traveller accommodation is a priority for me and the Department and I am glad we have a chance to discuss the issue, on which we touched in various previous debates. I am conscious that some Senators have been very focused on this area over the past year and have...

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: I thank Senators for their comments. Senator Black touched on an important issue when she said that if we do not act to give people the opportunities they deserve, and proper housing conditions, what happened in Carrickmines will happen again. It is most important that we prevent that. There are many other reasons we have to act, as pointed out by various Senators, but providing safe and...

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: As Senator Butler stated, there is a need for a cultural change and a change in mindset. We have a great deal of work to do to bring people with us on this journey. I am glad that politicians of all parties are realising their responsibilities. We have a lot of work, however, to do outside of this House to bring other sectors with us on this topic. I reiterate that the figures are not...

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: That is fine. The Senator can have all of the figures. No one is trying to hide the figures when we are stating that thousands of children are homeless. We are trying to fix the problem and not hide it.

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: In her comments, the Senator stated that she hoped for more engagement between the committee and Traveller representative bodies. They would welcome that and representatives of some of those bodies are present. There is nothing to stop that engagement happening. We welcome more debate, engagement and opportunities to tease these issues out. There is also nothing stopping the Senator from...

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: I am not legally allowed to direct any committee in what it does. I have asked and suggested. I am glad the committee has responded and is doing that work.

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: Absolutely. To be clear, I do not direct committees as to what they should do. I ask and I suggest. I am delighted that, through the work of Deputy Ó Broin, the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government has gladly taken on this work. The committee asked to take it on. It has worked with us and is still doing so. I do not direct that committee - I ask and suggest...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: The short answer is that the money is absorbed into the overall housing budget. Naturally, though, it is more focused. The expert panel is due to report in April. It is on track to do that. This committee has worked on the issue as well. We hope to increase capital spending on Traveller-specific accommodation. When we fund general accommodation, that is available to Traveller families...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: We can do that. New units are provided generally. I can forward the committee the details. Our spend reflects the requests from local authorities and what is required for Traveller accommodation programmes, TAPs. The new TAPs will not start until the new councils take up position. In September 2019, the Deputy will see a new round of TAPs and a five-year plan that sets out the ambitions...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: We expect the expert panel to report to us in April at the latest. I am engaging with it and, as of last week, it was on track to do that. I will not try to guess what it will recommend in terms of significant changes. Everyone at this meeting is committed to working with the panel's suggestions and trying to implement them. It is not just desirable, but necessary, that we do our job in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: When we increase the money, it is on the back of proposals put to us. The delivery does not happen for a combination of reasons. It is not just-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: We must work through the various reasons. I hope that the expert panel will provide us with the evidence and suggestions we need. We can discuss with the committee how to implement the changes. I get the sense that there is a desire among the various parties present to move this forward. I hope that we can make inroads. We want the money to be spent. We will increase resources once that...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: In fairness, the plan should be finished by May. The Deputy stated it will take two to three years. It need not take two to three years. Officials can begin the process of reviewing the Wicklow plan and all the towns and villages from the summer onwards.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: They can get going on that. That review could start. The regional plan should be finished in May and the process can kick off then from there on. It should not take them two to three years. It is a matter of how they prioritise. Naturally, one's county plan will setting out one's overall ambition but one could complete that process in another timeline.