Results 8,881-8,900 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Question Heading for question(s) 259,260,261 (13 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 to 261, inclusive, together. While there are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms, proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (13 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. Legislative provision is made for the refund of rates paid on vacant commercial properties in certain circumstances.  The Local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Valuation Office (13 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I refer to the reply to Question No. 549 of 12 December 2017 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Inspections (13 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Arising from an examination by my Department of Wicklow County Council's procedures and records in respect of private rented inspections, as part of an overall programme of review of local authority procedures in this area, a number of recommendations were made to Wicklow County Council to improve their inspection regime, records management and procedures in undertaking inspections...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (13 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of housing authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions. Section 58(3) of the Housing Act 1966 provides that subject to such Regulations as may be made by the Minister under the section, a housing authority may charge such rent or other payment as they may determine from time to time, in respect of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: EU Treaties (13 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Ireland ratified the Revised European Social Charter on 4 November 2000. At that time Ireland accepted 92 of the 98 paragraphs of the Revised Charter. Three of those paragraphs not accepted by Ireland make up Article 31, which relates to the right to housing. The issue of the right to housing was debated in Dáil Eireann and Seanad Eireann recently.  Arising from this, a motion...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Expenditure (13 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together. The 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 is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope.  The full conditions for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The costs to support the administration of domestic water charges across printing, postage, billing and the contact centre for the period April 2015 to February 2016 were €31.65m. Advertising costs of €2.85m were also incurred, including in relation to Registration, the Water Conservation Grant and the First-Fix scheme, up to 31 December 2015. The Water Services Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Availability (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: It is crucial that the State's housing land bank is developed as soon as possible.  To this end, details of some 1,700 hectares of land in local authority and Housing Agency ownership were published on the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map, with these lands having the potential to deliver some 42,500 homes nationally. The map also includes details of some 300 hectares of land in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Health and Safety Regulations (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I refer to the reply to Question No. 520 of 14 November 2017, which set out the position in relation to Section 239 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This Section places a statutory duty on organisers of funfairs and owners of fairground equipment to take such care as is reasonable for ensuring that persons at a funfair do not suffer injury or damage by reason of dangers...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commencement of Legislation (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I refer to the reply to Question No. 157 of 2 February 2017 and the further deferred reply sent to the Deputy on 16 February 2017.  The information provided in February has now been updated and is set out in the following table.: Act Sections/Chapters not in force or commenced Reason not yet commenced Electoral Act 1997 Section 79 Section 79 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018 provides funding for new group water schemes, through Measure 3, where public water supply schemes or private wells are not an option.  Kerry County Council included the Scheme concerned in its bid under Measure 3 of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018. An Expert Panel was convened by my Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The taking-in-charge of housing estates is a matter for the relevant local authority under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). My Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016 to support and accelerate overall national and local action on the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, including estates with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 730 to 732, inclusive, together. Since the introduction of the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme in 2012, a total of 3,765 cases have been submitted under the scheme to the end of September 2017.  Of the 3,765 cases submitted, 2,909 were ineligible or terminated during the process.  Of the remaining cases submitted, 282 have been completed, and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Under the Housing Act 1988, housing authorities are empowered to provide assistance to persons that they regard as homeless; Section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements for a person to be regarded as homeless by a housing authority for the purposes of the Act, while Section 10 sets out additional provisions, including that any person regarded as homeless may be placed into temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS) was implemented nationally in 2014, as a national information and management system for homeless services that are overseen by housing authorities.  My Department collates PASS data from lead housing authorities on a monthly basis and these monthly homeless reports are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Funding (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. Therefore,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Investigations (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: On 12June 2017, my Department received a report from Senior Counsel regarding his Review Into Certain Planning Matters In Respect Of County Donegal. My Department is currently reviewing and assessing the contents of Senior Counsel’s report and I have requested the advice of the Attorney General in respect of a number of points. When I have received the Attorney’s...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) plays an important role in the delivery of social housing. To the end of September 2017, a total of 2,428 residential properties, which are part of the security for loans that NAMA has acquired, had been secured for use by local authorities or approved housing bodies. These comprise 2,216 completed properties and a further 212 that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Provision (14 Dec 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Rebuilding Ireland sets out the Government's ambition to increase the supply of housing, in terms of social housing, the private rental market and private housing for purchase. In the context of social housing, this will involve a blended approach to delivery and providing local authorities with a range of mechanisms to achieve the best value for money within the...