Results 9,001-9,020 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (17 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department’s overall key priorities in terms of capital investment in the period to 2027 include: - social housing delivery and regeneration; - output of housing generally, supported by targeted infrastructural investment; - investment in our water services infrastructure through Irish Water and rural water programmes; - supporting sustainable growth in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: There have been two complaints of bullying lodged by staff members in my Department since 2011.  There have been no sexual harassment claims in the period in question.  These cases were investigated fully under the “Positive Working Environment Policy” which was the Anti-Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy for the Civil Service in operation at the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The large majority of social housing projects initiated by local authorities are implemented through standard contracts for public works, following a competitive tendering process. Contractors in such cases are paid on a staged basis as the project advances. Local authorities may also acquire social housing either through acquisitions of second-hand or newly completed houses,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. Recognising that housing affordability is a major issue for some households and that while initiatives introduced to date are having an impact and will have a greater impact in time, the Government considers that a further package of targeted measures focused on addressing affordability is needed to enable low- to moderate-income...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (18 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The most recently published statutory summary of social housing assessments relates to the assessment carried out in 2016.  This summary is a record of the number of households on all local authority waiting lists, as at 21 September 2016.  The results of the 2016 summary show that there were 91,600 households deemed qualified for, and in need...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (18 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 354 together. The targets referred to by the Deputy relate to delivery targets from the previous Social Housing Strategy 2020.  The current targets for social housing delivery are set out in Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, which was published in July 2016 and is available at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (18 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The project at Lord Edward Street, Limerick, which consists of 81 units, has an overall capital budget of over €19 million including land acquisition, site development and enabling works. Construction commenced in February 2016 and was expected to take 18 months to complete. The houses were completed in December 2017 and they are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (18 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Social Housing PPP Programme involves an investment with a capital value of €300 million. It is to deliver 1,500 social housing units in total, via three bundles. The first bundle, which comprises six PPP sites, is to provide over 500 units in the Greater Dublin Area. Two of the sites are located in the Dublin City Council area with one each in the County Council areas of South...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together. My Department is currently undertaking a focussed review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.  As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being undertaken on the revised Guidelines before they come into effect. This is in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board Enforcement (18 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: In September 2017, as part of the review of the Rent Predictability Measures, I announced a series of measures in relation to the rental sector, including a two-year change plan to develop and strengthen the role of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), particularly with regard to enforcement. Charging rents above those permitted by Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 will become an...

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: In September 2017, I signalled that we were embarking on a change management programme with the Residential Tenancies Board to make it a proper, independent regulator for the sector and to find balance for both tenants' rights and landlords' rights. Key to that is the issue of the deposit, as the Deputy pointed out, in terms of the security it gives to the landlord and the money that is owed...

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: It may be enacted as part of new legislation that we bring in to reform the Residential Tenancies Board.

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: No such commitment has been given. There are proposals for local government reform that will come before Cabinet shortly. We should not underestimate the difficulties involved in the type of structural change to local government that would be required if a new layer of government were to be introduced, with a directly elected mayor which would have the powers and the teeth to solve some of...

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: One point to note at the outset is that the Rebuilding Ireland home loan announced yesterday applies to self-build as well and it will be useful to those who are looking to build homes around the country. One of the key goals we are trying to achieve with the national planning framework which we are finalising at present is clarifying issues in relation to planning around the country....

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: It is being looked at in the context of the national planning framework.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2018 Second Stage: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank Deputies Shortall and Catherine Murphy for bringing this Bill forward and for providing us with another opportunity to discuss the development of the rental sector, which is a priority for the Government. I acknowledge the substance of the Bill and its genuine motivation to improve the situation for tenants at a time of under-supply in the residential rental sector. It also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (23 Jan 2018)

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 homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities.  My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (23 Jan 2018)

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 homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities.  My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Protection Agency (23 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together. A report entitled "Management Options for the Collection, Treatment and Disposal of Sludge Derived from Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems" was published by the EPA in 2014 under its STRIVE research programme. This report evaluated the legislation relating to Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWWTS) and evaluated best...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (23 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Section 2 of the Referendum Act 1998 provides for the establishment of a Referendum Commission. It provides that the Minister may establish a commission, in the case of a constitutional referendum, not earlier than the date on which the relevant Constitutional Amendment Bill is initiated in the Dáil. I intend to establish a Referendum Commission, in accordance with section 2...