Results 11,461-11,480 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My role, as Minister, in relation to the planning system is mainly to provide and update the legislative and policy guidance framework. The legislative framework comprises the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act), as amended, and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. With regards to policy guidance, my Department has issued a large number of planning guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The National Planning Framework (NPF), published together with the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 earlier this year, is intended to provide the strategic context for future planning, development and investment over the next two decades. In addition, the NPF represents a long-term strategy for Government Departments, State agencies, State-owned enterprises,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister's power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions should not be construed as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department receives staffing sanction request applications for specified grades of posts in the local authority rather than by business location. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Since, 1 January 2014, my Department has received 933 engineering staffing sanction requests from local authorities, of which 819 have been approved. The status of these requests is set out in the table attached. The posts not approved include: - 18 requests which are pending, in general awaiting supporting information prior to an informed decision being taken; - 12 requests refused; - 38...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Provision (13 Nov 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 accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The European Commission has taken an infringement case against Ireland in relation to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) which sets out requirements for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water. A hearing in the case took place in the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on 19 September 2018. Ireland made a number of key points including the burden...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Meters (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Neither I nor my Department have a role in relation to the management of individual customer accounts or the resolution of complaints which are matters for Irish Water in the first instance or, where a satisfactory resolution...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Services (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The local government sector receives funding from a number of different sources, including central Government. It is a matter for each elected Council to decide its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process, having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. Section 45(5) of the Local Government Act 2001 states that a local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: In April 2018, I established a Working Group to conduct a review of the wider investment needs relating to rural water services. The group's aim is to recommend measures to ensure an equality of outcome between those who receive water services from Irish Water and non-Irish Water customers. The terms of reference of the review provide for a two-strand approach. Strand 1 is considering...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department is aware that some Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) recipients are making payments directly to their landlords, beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf. There is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent to their landlord and my Department does not collect data in relation to households in receipt of HAP who...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff Data (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: At 31 October 2018 there were 158.7 full time equivalent (FTE) males and 98.9 FTE females employed in my Department in senior management positions (these being positions at Assistant Principal (and equivalent grades) and above).

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department provides funding to local authorities to acquire a range of properties for social housing use, including properties that are vacant and in need of remediation. To ensure a local-led response to such work, responsibility for property acquisitions is delegated to local authorities. Local authorities are encouraged to adopt a proactive approach in utilising their available...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (13 Nov 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 and are published on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Protected Disclosures (13 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, is currently finalising its analysis of the submission made with reference to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 by the person named with a view to communicating the outcome of the process to that person as soon as possible. In its analysis, my Department will have regard to the request by the person named for a full and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Deputy for the question. The death of any person sleeping rough on our streets is a tragedy and our sympathies go to the families who have lost loved ones in this way most recently and over the past number of years as each death occurred. Supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness is an absolute priority for this Government. Budget 2019 reflects this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Deputy for his question. He pointed to a particular case from four years ago that tells us we have been living with this crisis, particularly with individuals sleeping rough and experiencing homelessness, for a number of years. It is why we have people like Fr. Peter McVerry, Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy and Ms Alice Leahy doing such tremendous work for too many years. There is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I have served breakfast in one of the hostels in Dublin. That morning I spoke to the people who had stayed there the previous night about their experiences. Not everyone had a positive experience that night even though they were in a fantastic facility that is doing everything it can. I am aware of the additional supports that we need to put in place. One of the first meetings I had...