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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Contracts (13 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: In June 2018, as part of the first tranche of approvals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Sligo County Council was approved a provisional allocation of €1,236,000 in respect of its planned O’Connell Street Enhancement project. While my Department works closely with applicants on the development of their projects, the advancement and completion of each...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (13 May 2020)

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 support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Protected Disclosures (13 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires each public body to publish an annual report setting out the number of protected disclosures received in the preceding year and the action taken. The annual reports for my Department are available on the Department's website at the following link: . Since the introduction of the Act, no protected disclosures have been received from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (13 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: In July 2019 my Department launched the multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021. Bids were sought from local authorities for funding under the programme and the closing date for bids was 18 September 2019. Nineteen local authorities with Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure in estates in their areas made applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (13 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels and has a dedicated Drought Management Team which it activates during periods of shortages and droughts to assess and monitor demand on water supplies. Irish Water has, this week, commenced a public information campaign to urge the public to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (13 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department has operated an Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority social housing since 2013. The programme improves the insulation standards and overall energy performance of local authority housing stock, which can benefit those at risk of fuel poverty, as well as contributing to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction and energy efficiency targets. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (13 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group was established 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 working group...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Offices (13 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department does not have offices in the locations referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Charges (20 May 2020)

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 level. Irish Water charging policy is also subject to approval by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). In this regard, my Department is maintaining close contact with Irish Water in relation to its response to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Development, unless specifically exempted under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the 2000 Act), or the associated Regulations, requires planning permission.  In the case of the harvesting of peat, Class 17 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), provides that peat extraction in a new or extended...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Registration of Title (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1306 to 1308, inclusive, together. The Property Registration Authority (PRA) is upscaling its operations in line with COVID-19 recovery planning.  As part of a phased approach to business continuity, the PRA is implementing a graduated increase in the level of applications processed for registration.  New work practices and projects are being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Consultants appointed by my Department since 1 January 2020, together with the purpose of each service engagement, the costs to date and the expenditure programme concerned, are set out in the following table. Consultancy service providers are only engaged by the Department where specific expertise is required which is not available in the organisation at the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1311 and 1349 together. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.   The 2011 Regulations prescribe...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rent Pressure Zones (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 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 for designation 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rent Controls (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: The various differential rent schemes in place in local authorities provide for rents which are linked to a tenant's income. It should be noted that rents can go down where a person’s income reduces. Accordingly, a rent freeze would not be appropriate as it would prevent downward rent movements in such circumstances and, therefore, no rent freeze has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: On 29 March 2020, the Government, following my request and taking account of the considerations under section 251A(5) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, made an Order under section 251A(3) of that Act which resulted in the extension of time for a range of specified or appropriate periods and timelines in the Planning Acts and associated planning regulations. In determining...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1317 and 1359 together. With effect from 27 March 2020, new emergency measures were introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period. Tenants cannot be forced to leave their rental accommodation during this period, other than in exceptional circumstances.  Initially, these emergency legislative provisions will last for a period...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Provision (20 May 2020)

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 associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1319, 1320, 1324 and 1325 together. My Department publishes comprehensive statistics on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery activity under Rebuilding Ireland. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: These data provide a breakdown of social housing delivery across the range of mechanisms...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Acknowledging that renters in Dublin and other major urban centres are currently facing significant housing access and affordability challenges, the Government is committed to the introduction of a Cost Rental sector in Ireland. My Department is developing a national policy approach for this new form of rental tenure. This work includes the development of two pathfinder projects on...