Results 8,881-8,900 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (5 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1128 and 1132 together. My Department commissioned the Housing Agency to conduct a comprehensive review of the scheme of loans and grants for caravans that had been in operation since 2000. The Housing Agency surveyed all local authorities and engaged in broad consultation with all key stakeholders. A report on the review was submitted to my Department in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Illegal Dumping (5 Nov 2019)

Damien English: My Department has been engaged with the State's legal services since 2014 in relation to the case in question. Following a circuit court judgement, a case that my Department was not party to, it was necessary to devote resources to identify whether the area in question was State Owned Foreshore. Subsequently, my Department sought advice on issues such as whether that circuit court...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (5 Nov 2019)

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 850 building and contracting entities are currently included on the register. The Government approved the draft heads of a Bill to place the CIRI on a statutory footing and the Bill was referred to the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (5 Nov 2019)

Damien English: The Fire Services Capital Programme forms an important part of my Department’s strategy to support fire authorities in the development and maintenance of a quality fire-fighting and rescue service. My Department provides capital funding for the construction/upgrading of fire stations and the procurement of fire appliances and specialised equipment. The prioritisation and effective...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Control Management System (5 Nov 2019)

Damien English: The design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, in order to ensure the safety of people within the built environment. The Act provides for the making of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations. In relation to products, Part D of the Building Regulations sets out the legal requirements for materials and workmanship. It requires...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (5 Nov 2019)

Damien English: In response to the building failures that have emerged over the past decade, Government has embarked on a three pronged Building Control Reform Agenda, which is focused on: 1.Reform of the Building Control process; 2.Establishment of a National Building Control Management Project; and 3.Putting the Construction Industry Register Ireland on a statutory footing. The require greater...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (5 Nov 2019)

Damien English: In July 2015, the then Minister directed that a review be undertaken by an independent fire expert to develop a framework for general application, in the interest of supporting owners and residents living in developments where concerns regarding non-compliance with fire safety requirements arise. It included a case study based on the housing estate that the Deputy refers to. The Framework was...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (6 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Byrne for bringing forward this topic for discussion and providing us with an opportunity to consider what we have achieved in recent years through Meath County Council. I will also outline our plans for the next few years, including funding allocations. Deputy Byrne will be aware that housing is one of the Government's top priorities. Investment in Rebuilding Ireland has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (6 Nov 2019)

Damien English: Deputy Byrne should look at his own party's proposals. No party in opposition has greater ambition in relation to social housing than we do in government. We have set out a ten-year plan which brings Rebuilding Ireland forward with a commitment to deliver up to 1,200 social houses a year. I do not see anyone else here with that ambition. The ambition is there at national level and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (12 Nov 2019)

Damien English: The Building Regulations set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. The related Technical Guidance Documents (Parts A - M respectively) provide technical guidance on how to comply with the regulations in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2019)

Damien English: This issue will be dealt with as part of the social housing package the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, intends to bring forward in the coming weeks. We have discussed the issue often in the House and, as Members know, the scheme is very generous. The €15,000 income requirement is in place for scientific reasons, but I agree that it is causing a difficulty. The matter is under...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (14 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I was confused myself.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (14 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, who cannot attend, for which she apologises. Naturally, she is very much aware of the regrettable ongoing issue at SK Biotek in Swords. I acknowledge that workplace disputes are never welcome news for workers, employers and the economy. That is why we hope this issue can be resolved as soon...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (14 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I thank both Deputies for their intervention by raising this issue. With reference to the TUPE regulation and the obligations in that regard, it is not for me to adjudicate on how the dispute should be resolved. We have apparatus in place to do just that. To be clear, regulations are in place and they are the same for all employers, be they multinational companies or otherwise. We do not...

Overcrowded Housing Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann, while acknowledging the relevance of the Overcrowded Housing Bill 2018, in the context of serious cases of overcrowding that have occurred in the rented sector, resolves that the Bill be deemed to be read a second time this day three months, to allow for further consideration of...

Overcrowded Housing Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I look forward to working with colleagues on this in the months ahead, as will the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and bringing forward the legislation. I thank colleagues for their views on the proposed Bill and their comments on the issues raised. We all acknowledge that there is overcrowding. There are different statistics for different situations but as we knock on doors and meet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (14 Nov 2019)

Damien English: Action 25 of the Climate Action Plan 2019 aims to facilitate the development of offshore wind, including the connection of at least 3.5 GW of offshore wind to the grid by 2030. Action 25 contains two measures for which my Department has lead responsibility and which require input from a range of other Departments and agencies: 1. Completion of the National Marine Planning Framework in a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architects Register (19 Nov 2019)

Damien English: Architectural Technologists are not currently classed as a regulated profession in Ireland. This means that there is no designated competent authority, which has the power to approve or restrict access to the profession in Ireland under national or EU law. In early 2016, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) published Awards Standards for Architectural Technology award. The Awards...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (19 Nov 2019)

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 850 building and contracting entities are currently included on the register. The Government approved the draft heads of a Bill to place the CIRI on a statutory footing and the Bill was referred to the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (19 Nov 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...