Results 8,741-8,760 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (9 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (10 Jul 2019)

Damien English: Amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations, giving effect to Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Regulations and Major Renovation Regulations, were published earlier this year. The regulations aim to make all new residential dwellings 70% more energy efficient than the performance requirements in 2005. In conjunction with this, amendments to Part F of the Building Regulations were...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (10 Jul 2019)

Damien English: I thank Senator O'Sullivan for raising this case. I also thank him for his honest appraisal of the housing situation and how, despite being potentially complicated, it can work in many cases and help people who choose a different route and try to help themselves. There are systems and processes in place and it is important that we try to work within them. That works two ways, of course,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (10 Jul 2019)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising the issue.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: County Development Plans (6 Sep 2019)

Damien English: The making of a County Development Plan is a reserved function of the relevant planning authority, in this case Mayo County Council. It is a requirement that a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) be prepared as part of the plan-making process for any County Development Plan. This is to inform the planning authority on matters such as the appropriate location for zoned land and, following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (6 Sep 2019)

Damien English: The provision of fire services, including the requisite premises, personnel, appliances and equipment, is a statutory function of fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and fire services are provided by local authorities in accordance with this legislation. My Department supports fire authorities mainly through setting national policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (6 Sep 2019)

Damien English: The provision of fire services is a statutory function of fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. In the case of Dublin, the City Council provides fire services on behalf of the other three Dublin local authorities also. My Department supports fire authorities mainly through setting national policy and co-ordinating its implementation; providing capital...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Harbours and Piers Development (6 Sep 2019)

Damien English: The technical assessment by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee was completed on 3 April 2019. The lease is currently being drafted by the Chief State Solicitor's Office and once it is signed by all parties, it will be a matter for the applicant to decide when they will commence construction.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (6 Sep 2019)

Damien English: In October 2018, the Government approved in principle the development of a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks. In May 2019, agreement was reached with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (6 Sep 2019)

Damien English: The provision of fire services, including premises, personnel, appliances and equipment, is a statutory function of fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and fire services are provided by local authorities in accordance with this legislation. My Department supports fire authorities mainly through setting national policy and co-ordinating its...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (17 Sep 2019)

Damien English: The target date for the publication of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill set out in the Climate Action Plan to tackle Climate Breakdown is Q4 2019. Once the legislation is published, it will then be a matter for the Oireachtas to consider. If the Bill is enacted, it will require further enabling measures post enactment to bring the new regime into operation including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (17 Sep 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 662 and 668 together. In October 2018, the Government approved in principle the development of a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks. In May 2019, agreement was reached...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (17 Sep 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 677 and 678 together. Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities who have extensive powers of inspection...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Sep 2019)

Damien English: The Safe as Houses report has been considered by my Department, and while I can subscribe to many of the principles in it, I believe that the building control reform agenda already well underway provides a comprehensive roadmap for embedding a culture of compliance and accountability within the construction industry and for strengthening the building control framework in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (17 Sep 2019)

Damien English: The provision of fire services is a statutory function of fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. The receipt of calls from the public for assistance by the fire service is provided on a 'shared service' basis by three Regional Communications Centres (RCCs) at Limerick, Castlebar and Dublin. My Department supports fire authorities mainly through...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Building Regulations (18 Sep 2019)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Ó Broin for raising this issue, which has been discussed a lot in the House in recent years. It is a very important issue and more cases are being brought forward. It is an issue in which the Minister, Deputy Murphy, the Department and I are very interested. I recognise the work of the Deputy and the committee on the issue. It is something of which we are certainly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Building Regulations (18 Sep 2019)

Damien English: This is an issue we have discussed at length and we have been very clear on the State's responsibility. The State did not accept liability in the schemes mentioned by the Deputy. With regard to the pyrite scheme that has fixed more than 1,200 houses at this stage, and with regard to the mica scheme in Donegal that was announced in the budget, the defective products and issues were not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Building Regulations (18 Sep 2019)

Damien English: Where the State was able to find a way to deal with defective products through the expert panels it has done so. We have managed to find schemes to do this. I repeat that the issue is mainly the undetermined exposure to the taxpayer. It is unquantifiable. We have tried to step in where we can with regard to some of the changes to the legal system. We have written to the Law Reform...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Building Regulations (18 Sep 2019)

Damien English: That is very clear and we are all in a good position with regard to building control mechanisms. Other issues can be addressed as we bring forward legislation. I understand the committee is supportive and it has made recommendations. They will be brought forward in the months ahead, which will give us a chance to deal with some of these issues as we put in place a system in which people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tenant Purchase Scheme Data (18 Sep 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 58 together. The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 set a commencement date of 1 January 2016 for the introduction of the tenant incremental purchase scheme of 2016. In Galway City, the number of homes sold under the current scheme in 2017 was eight, while a further nine homes were sold in 2018. The scheme in Galway city was...