Results 14,381-14,400 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (14 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank Deputy Ó Broin for the follow-up questions. I will make a couple of points and will come back to his specific questions in a moment. Irish Water has achieved a 44% reduction in the amount of untreated and inadequately treated wastewater being discharged to our rivers, lakes and seas since it was established in 2014. It is doing good work in this regard. If we look at the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Superannuation Schemes (14 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The administration of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS) is a matter for each employing local authority as an individual Trustee of the LGSS.  In the particular case in question, the Scheme member should request the specific information from his/her employer with regard to his/her superannuation entitlements under the provisions of the LGSS.  In the event that any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (14 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together. When the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme was initially being developed, it was estimated that the drawdown of loans would be approximately €200 million over three years.  However, this loan product has proved to be more successful than initially anticipated. In the context of the scheme’s success my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department is aware of the two High Court Judgements referred to and has sought legal advice in relation to their implications. Further to the legal advice, my Department is currently engaging with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment - which oversees the sectors most impacted by the Judgements i.e. the telecommunications and energy sectors - with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (14 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in line with the “preferred draft approach” which was announced in June 2017 by the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in conjunction with the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. The review is addressing a number of key...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (14 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The number of residential completions for 2019 will not be known until early 2020. However, trends indicate the continued expansion of supply. For example, in the year to end September 2019, the number of new homes becoming available for use increased further to 23,554, a 15% increase on the same period last year. In the year to the end of September 2019, the number of new homes in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (14 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: In accordance with the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 Irish Water collects charges from customers for providing service connections to premises. The charging regime for the provision of connections is determined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) acting in accordance with that Act. The CRU is required to perform its functions in a manner that best serves the interests of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Can I see the documentation?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I welcomed the decision by the elected members of Dublin City Council on 4 November to support the resolution for the redevelopment of the O'Devaney Gardens site in Dublin 7. The council voted by a margin of 39 to 18 for a development agreement which will deliver 768 much needed new homes in this city centre location. This includes a tenure mix...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: -----this proposed side agreement has no legal standing. There is no legal or financial documentation. The details remain obscure, including on the potential role of an unspecified approved housing body. Crucially, these councillors have not identified the significant capital funding required to purchase these homes, which I believe would be acquired at full market price. No request has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I put the facts on record. It was not political commentary, just facts. If the Deputy is trying to be helpful-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: That is not the case.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Deputy for his reply. We need to move forward but let us do so honestly without misleading the public about agreements that have not been reached. The Deputy mentioned an amended agreement but there is no new agreement or documentation. Rather, there is an offer from the developer to sell houses to the local authority at market prices. What a brilliant offer for the developer,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Solar Energy Guidelines (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: As is the case with the large majority of development types, there are currently 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, with planning applications made to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Details of the number of homes delivered under CAS in each local authority area, are available on my Department's website at the following link: . The most recent report sets out the position to the end of Quarter 2 of 2019. Details relating to delivery in Quarter 3 of 2019 will be published as soon as they are validated. Under CAS, loans of up to 100% of the project capital costs may be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Repair and Leasing Scheme (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) and the Buy and Renew Scheme were developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant dwellings across Ireland. In addition, both new and second-hand dwellings can be used to deliver social housing support under my Department's long term...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: In line with the introduction of Part L of the Building Regulations, all social homes commencing construction from 1st November 2019 are being constructed to Nearly Zero-Energy Building Regulations, subject to transition arrangements. Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) means a dwelling that has a very high energy performance, as determined in accordance with Annex I of the EU Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Costs (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together. The Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) requirement will apply to new dwellings commencing construction from November 2019 subject to transition arrangements. An NZEB dwelling is one that has a very high energy performance, as determined in accordance with Annex I of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Recast (EPBD Recast)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Funding (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Disabled Persons Grants (DPG) Scheme applies to works that are necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability in local authority housing. This may involve minor adaptations such as stair-lifts, grabs-rails, showers, wet-rooms, ramps etc. It also provides funding for more major adaptations such as extensions, for example in the case of overcrowding, or the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (19 Nov 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Responsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided for group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. Prior to the commencement of Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme in January 2016; the selection, prioritisation and approval of individual group water scheme proposals for advancement was a matter for...