Results 2,181-2,200 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Damien English: I accept that. We might criticise the Opposition for not having a plan. In all of these debates, we acknowledge that the Opposition might come forward with some ideas, one or two here and there.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Damien English: Some. No one is denying that,-----

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Damien English: -----but the job is to put a plan in place,-----

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Damien English: -----action by action, and drive it.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (3 Dec 2019)

Damien English: The job of the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is to put a housing plan in place. Rebuilding Ireland is a five-year plan and we are in the third year. His job is to implement it and go site by site to ensure that the houses are being built. That is his job, not to make an odd statement in the Chamber calling for some kind of action. It is actually to drive the plan and make it happen....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (3 Dec 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 614 together. While my Department is aware of dwellings where concerns over fire safety issues have arisen, it is a matter for local authorities, who have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, the Fire Services Acts, the Housing Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, to deal with such cases....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mica Redress Scheme (3 Dec 2019)

Damien English: Last year, the Government agreed in principle to introduce a scheme to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been significantly damaged due to defective concrete blocks. Budget 2020 provides funding of €40 million to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme and this new scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (28 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I am aware of the group denoted by the Deputy and I acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which owners and residents face when their homes are affected by construction defects. The Safe as Houses report has been considered by my Department, and indeed many of its principles underpin the building control reform agenda already well underway. The building...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Nov 2019)

Damien English: Last year, the Government agreed in principle to introduce a scheme to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been significantly damaged due to defective concrete blocks. Budget 2020 provides funding of €40 million to fund  the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (27 Nov 2019)

Damien English: To date, no formal application for consent under the Foreshore Acts 1933-2011 has been received. Details on the application process are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applying-consent/conse nt-process-explained.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Eligibility (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I thank Senator Murnane O'Connor for tabling this Commencement matter. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is unfortunately not available to attend today and has asked me to take this matter on his behalf. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Eligibility (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: We hope to bring forward a package of reform and change for qualification for social housing and issues around that in the months ahead. We hope to publish it before the end of the year, but if not, then early in the new year. To be clear, I will make sure that Carlow is looked at, as well as other band 3 regions like Monaghan. Some difficulties have been brought to my attention. We have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Management Companies (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this issue concerning the regulation and operation of retirement homes and villages, to which I will respond in general. The Senator specifically raised the issue of the Park Retirement Village in Castletroy in Limerick city. It is an area with which I am familiar, and I visited the retirement village and was very impressed with it. I cannot get speak on it...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Management Companies (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: I am glad the Senator has raised the issue, both in general and in the context of the specific case in Limerick, which I hope the RTB will be able to resolve quickly. In general, it is important that we bring forward more suitable accommodation and housing for people who are ageing, which will include all of us at some point in our lives. A large part of the issue is that people want to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Management Companies (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: The management company as well. It is important that we see progress in that area too.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: The aim of the Building Regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of a building or to an extension or material alteration of a building. These regulations set out the minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve. Building Regulations and procurement processes are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mica Redress Scheme (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: Last year, the Government agreed in principle to introduce a scheme to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been significantly damaged due to defective concrete blocks. Budget 2020 provides funding of €40 million to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme and this new scheme to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (26 Nov 2019)

Damien English: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in...

Supporting Children out of Emergency Accommodation and into Homes: Statements (21 Nov 2019)

Damien English: Let us be clear on that. I get a sense from some of Fianna Fáil Deputies that they believe this is an attack on the LDA. I spoke at the outset about the importance of making sure this situation does not happen again. At the presentation of both of the reports we are discussing today, some speakers, in particular the Ombudsman for Children, talked about this happening again when the...