Results 15,221-15,240 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: As most construction sites only commenced remobilisation from 18 May 2020, in light of the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, it is too early estimate with any accuracy the potential costs of the safe working practices required in line with the Return to Work Safely Protocol; COVID-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers and Workers, and their impact on the viability...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (27 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1071 and 1072 together. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL) was launched on 1 February 2018. When the RIHL was initially being developed, it was estimated that the drawdown of loans under the scheme would be approximately €200 million over three years. The RIHL proved to be more successful than initially anticipated and following discussions with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (27 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Local authorities, in managing their range of functions in the context of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, adhere closely to the direction, guidance and advice from the Department of Health and the National Public Health Emergency Team for COVID-19 (NPHET). My Department and the local government sector are working together to ensure that all local government services are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (27 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: In accordance with the requirements in the Local Government Act 2001, Clare County Council sought sanction to borrow €6m to purchase 10 sites across the county for housing development in June 2019. When reviewing requests such as this, my Department is required to consider the borrowing capacity for the local goverment sector, the overall priorities of Government in terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 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 nineteen local authorities with Developer-Provided Water Services Infrastructure in estates in their areas made applications for funding. Kerry County Council included the estate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mental Health Services (27 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: On establishment of the Land Development Agency (LDA), the Agency was tasked with the development of an initial tranche of 8 sites, including the Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum. On the basis of information provided by the LDA to my Department, the development at the Dundrum site is currently in pre-planning stage. Following the relocation of the Central Mental Hospital, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (27 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. Article 5 of the Establishment Order empowers the LDA to provide services including the development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (27 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), which, at approximately 360 hectares, is the single largest undeveloped land-bank in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, is expected to deliver 8,700 new homes. At full build-out, it is anticipated that the area will deliver approximately 870 social housing homes, in line with the 10% requirement under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: In 2018, I published updated Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, as Ministerial Guidance under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), following an extensive public consultation process. The updated guidelines set out policy in relation to a range of apartment formats needed to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: In June 2017 a Working Group was established involving representatives of all major public stakeholders with a policy interest in short-term lettings, to develop guidance in relation to planning applications, changes of use relating to short-term lettings and to examine the need for new regulatory arrangements.  In October 2018, having considered the Working Group's report as well...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: With effect from 27 March 2020, under new emergency measures introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period, tenants cannot be forced to leave their rental accommodation, other than in exceptional circumstances. The measures also prohibit any increases to rent for the duration of the emergency period.  Initially, these emergency laws will last for a period of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department publishes a monthly report on homelessness. The monthly report is based on data provided by housing authorities and produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS).  The report captures details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. Official homeless reports are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Registration of Title (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: I understand that the Property Registration Authority (PRA) is upscaling its operations on a gradual basis in line with Covid-19 recovery planning.  As part of a phased recovery plan, the PRA is implementing a graduated increase in the level of applications processed for registration.  New work practices and projects are being successfully incorporated into this phased increase. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: In Autumn 2019, Louth County Council submitted a proposal to my Department proposing the creation of two senior positions, one each in Drogheda and Dundalk, to enhance planning and development within the towns in alignment with the requirements of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and in coordination with Meath County Council in the context of Drogheda. The Council sought financial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme which came into operation on 1 January 2016 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: Local authorities have been to the fore in the national response to the COVID-19 crisis showing great flexibility and innovation in continuing to deliver services and functions under COVID-19 response restrictions, including the closure of public offices, since the end of March. During this period local authorities put in place the new Community Call initiative...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: With effect from 27 March 2020, under new emergency measures introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period, tenants cannot be forced to leave their rental accommodation, other than in exceptional circumstances. The measures also prohibit any increase to rent for the duration of the emergency period.  Initially, these emergency laws will last for a period of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department provides funding to local authorities to support a broad range of housing programmes, including the delivery of new social housing homes through build, acquisition and leasing and programmes which support maintenance, upgrades and improvement works to existing social housing stock. The funding provided to Kerry County Council in 2018 and 2019 in respect of the various...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Incidence (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: In 2013, the issue of external walls of dwellings displaying significant cracking in Donegal was raised with my Department. The nature of the problem related to the crumbling of the concrete blockwork in the external walls of affected dwellings, thereby compromising their structural integrity and giving rise to considerable personal distress to the many homeowners involved. At that time,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (3 Jun 2020)

Eoghan Murphy: The Department’s approach, based on advice to date, is that the economic functions of the Land Development Agency (LDA) do not give rise to an advantage either to the LDA or other parties under State Aid rules. The General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019 was developed taking account of legal advice in relation to State Aid.  A General Scheme of the Land...