Results 10,121-10,140 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The taking-in-charge of housing developments 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 trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the taking-in-charge...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff Data (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Payment of salaries to staff of my Department is made in line with pay scales approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Currently, there are two members of staff in my Department earning a salary below the amount of €11.70 per hour.  This figure will reduce as and when the staff concerned progress along an incremental scale.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Agencies Staff Data (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together. My Department does not employ agency staff. Accordingly, the issues raised do not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Action 5.9 of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness and Action 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development committed to reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016.  The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff Data (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: In line with the commitment under Action 2.9 of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a dedicated Housing Delivery Office (HDO) was established within my Department, in August 2016, to support the accelerated delivery of housing across the social and private sectors, and tenure spectrum, in an integrated and timely manner. Working with the broader Housing and Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provides for, among other things, the establishment of a tenancy deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). There have been significant changes in the rental market since the 2015 scheme was first envisaged and designed. For example, the draft scheme was originally intended to be financed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department currently publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities.  These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS).  The reports are collated on a regional basis, are published...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment Administration (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The HAP rent limits were increased significantly in July 2016, including by up to 60% in some areas. The Government also provided flexibility to each local authority to agree to a HAP payment up to 20% above the maximum rent limit, where it is necessary, because of local rental market conditions. Additional discretion of up to 50% above rent limits is available to assist in housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (10 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I refer to the reply to Question No. 89 of 8 May 2018. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis.  Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants.  Loan...

Order of Business (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Deputies are practising student politics.

Order of Business (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank Deputy Neville for the question. As the Deputy will be aware, in last years' budget we increased by more than double the vacant site levy on vacant land that was being hoarded and that could be used for the development of housing. From the beginning of this year the 3% levy applies and from next year the levy jumps to 7%. That means over a two-year period there will be a 10% levy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rent Pressure Zones (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004, as amended, provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered as a Rent Pressure Zone. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to conduct an assessment of the area to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts Data (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department has no record of contracts for goods or services from DXC Technology in the period since 2010. The table provides details of payments made in respect of contracts for goods or services from HP Inc. and HP Enterprise since 2010. My Department has a Memorandum of Understanding in place with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in respect of ICT services and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: As housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area and for the development of appropriate responses to the need identified. No instruction has issued from my Department to local authorities regarding single rural dwellings and such developments can be part of a local authority's social housing construction pipeline, where...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, which provides for the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator, is currently progressing to Report Stage in the Seanad. Once it is enacted, I will be in a position to set an establishment date for the Office. My Department has been making such preparations in advance of the establishment of the Office as are possible,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department currently publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The reports are collated on a regional basis, are published on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I refer to the reply to Question No. 239 of 26 April 2018 in which I provided details on housing capital expenditure claims from local authorities being processed by my Department at that stage. My Department provides funding to local authorities on an ongoing basis as projects are progressed. As such, the position in respect of claims changes constantly as claims are received, validated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Charges (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I have previously addressed this matter in my reply to Question No. 448 of 1 May 2018. Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive requires member states to take account of the principle of the recovery of the costs of water services, including environmental and resource costs, in accordance with the 'polluters pays principle'. Cost recovery must have regard to an economic analysis of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment Data (15 May 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. It is available in all local authority areas and its introduction now ensures that all social housing supports can be accessed through the local authorities, allowing tenants to take up full-time employment and keep their housing support, subject to adjustment of their...