Results 11,501-11,520 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Constitutional Amendments (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: We introduced the vacant site levy by means of which we are taxing people on the basis of how they are not using their land.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Constitutional Amendments (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: In the context of rent pressure zones, we are capping the amount of money people can earn from their properties. We are also changing other rights in this regard as well. Within the existing provisions - and without making a change to the Constitution - we can rebalance things in favour of the collective in order to meet people's demands and needs when it comes to housing and, in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Constitutional Amendments (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: We will wait for the committee to adjudicate and we will then consider its adjudication.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Issues (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 103, 114 and 132 together. The question comes in the context of recent issues in the Department of Education and Skills with the construction and structural integrity of certain schools. That has caused concern for parents and families attending those schools as well for the principals and teachers who work there. I commend my colleague, the Minister...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Deputy for the question. Rents are too high in this country, and that is why we are working to implement the rent pressure zone model. The zones have been introduced and are working but they need to be strengthened. A rent Bill will be published very shortly that will do just that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: It will strengthen the enforcement of rent pressure zones. We have provided additional money in the budget for next year for the RTB to make sure the zones are being adhered to. It will also provide for rent transparency and longer notice periods for tenants when a notice of termination is served. The strengthening measures are to be introduced in the rent Bill and they will work to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am well aware of Deputy Neville's interest in this area because he has raised it on a number of occasions. We have the money available to deal with vacant or void stock in local authorities. The call for common sense is a good one but we also have to make sure that every process we have when it comes to spending taxpayers' money is a robust process....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: While the development of residential land in local authority ownership is a matter for the individual authority concerned, including its elected members, in the first instance, I am determine to ensure that new social and affordable homes are delivered from the public land bank without delay, with particular emphasis on prioritising those sites with the greatest potential to deliver housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Government’s Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 sets the broad policy context for the development of water services, including the position of Irish Water as the single, publicly owned water services authority. In July 2018, the Government decided that Irish Water would become a standalone publicly owned, commercial, regulated utility separated from the Ervia Group...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Earlier this year, the Government approved the priority drafting of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill. The Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with a view to publication during the current Oireachtas session. The Bill intends to strengthen further the effectiveness of the rent setting and rent review laws by empowering the Residential Tenancies...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department oversees a number of legislative provisions aimed at addressing dereliction and vacancy in our cities and towns, including the Derelict Sites Levy and the Vacant Sites Levy. In this connection, the Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area are provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments, which has been carried out on an annual basis since 2016. The 2018 assessment shows that 71,858 households were assessed as qualified and being in need of social housing support. This represents a decrease of 13,941...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The approved housing body sector includes a number of housing co-operatives whose objectives are to provide social and affordable housing. These bodies are supported through a range of schemes for both social and affordable housing which are funded by the State through the local authorities. As part of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, approved housing bodies have been given the task of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites Levy (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced the vacant site levy, which is a measure aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017. Planning authorities have issued notices to owners of vacant sites by 1...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Along with my colleague the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, I signed the Establishment Order for the new Land Development Agency (LDA) on 13 September 2018. The Agency will act as a national centre of expertise, working with and supporting local authorities, public bodies and other interests, to harness public lands as catalysts to stimulate regeneration and wider...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 102 together. A multi-stranded approach is being taken to the targeted delivery of affordable housing. In order to support the affordable housing programmes of local authorities, the Government has committed €310 million, over the three years 2019 to 2021, under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) announced as part of Budget 2019. The funding is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Review (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 96 together. The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V units are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 to ensure that units delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Local authorities are actively encouraged to ensure that all vacant properties are brought back into active use as expeditiously as possible. While my Department provides exchequer funding to local authorities to support eligible capital improvements to local authority housing, including through the voids and energy efficiency programmes, section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Statistics in relation to vacant social housing homes are compiled by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in its annual reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These statistics are set out on a local authority basis and include the percentage of total local authority dwellings that were vacant at the time of the review by NOAC, with the most recent report...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (14 Nov 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Along with my colleague the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, I signed the Establishment Order for the new Land Development Agency (LDA) on 13 September 2018. The Agency will act as a national centre of expertise, working with and supporting local authorities, public bodies and other interests, to harness public lands as catalysts to stimulate regeneration and wider...