Results 2,261-2,280 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2019)

Damien English: Can I make a point of clarification?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2019)

Damien English: To be clear, I said, and I am right to say this, that the largest housing budget ever was debated in the House and passed over two nights. That is what we are doing because we take this issue seriously. It is not right to say I am telling an untruth because I am not, and I would not.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2019)

Damien English: When I get the Deputy's letter, I will certainly help and deal with the individual issue. In general, however, a housing body or a local authority does not evict tenants for no reason. If someone passes away and there are tenants in the house who were named on the tenancy, that is always dealt with in a fair and approachable way. I would be surprised if the story is as the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2019)

Damien English: A couple of questions were asked. The legislation on renting was updated in July. There will be another Bill coming through the Houses in the months ahead. We will, therefore, discuss the issue again. There was clear advice that we could not deal with the amendment on landlords who wanted to secure evictions before they sold their houses. Second, in respect of families with children...

Latent Defects Redress Bill 2019: First Stage (22 Oct 2019)

Damien English: No.

Planning and Development (Amendment) (First-Time Buyers) Bill 2019: First Stage (22 Oct 2019)

Damien English: No.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architects Register (22 Oct 2019)

Damien English: Architectural Technologists are not currently classed as a regulated profession in Ireland. This means that there is no designated competent authority, which has the power to approve or restrict access to the profession in Ireland under national or EU law. In early 2016, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) published Awards Standards for Architectural Technology award. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (22 Oct 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: Commencement of Legislation (22 Oct 2019)

Damien English: The recently signed amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations give effect to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) and Major Renovation to cost optimal level where it is technically, functionally and economically feasible.   The cost optimal energy performance level for a typical dwelling is equivalent to a B2 BER. While there are no specific grants available for...

Topical Issue Debate: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (17 Oct 2019)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Heydon for raising the need for a second bridge over the Liffey at Newbridge, County Kildare to be progressed through Project Ireland 2040 and the urban regeneration development fund, and for giving me the opportunity both to discuss that today and to outline how we as a Government believe that Project Ireland 2040 helps causes like this and helps to achieve, through the urban...

Topical Issue Debate: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (17 Oct 2019)

Damien English: The Deputy is making a strong case for Newbridge and this infrastructure in the next round of funding. I understand the council has engaged with the officials in my Department since the previous round, in which it was not successful, although it had some success in other areas. It would be important that it would make a second application and make it as strong as possible by highlighting...

Topical Issue Debate: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (17 Oct 2019)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Heydon for raising the need for a second bridge over the Liffey at Newbridge, County Kildare to be progressed through Project Ireland 2040 and the urban regeneration development fund, and for giving me the opportunity both to discuss that today and to outline how we as a Government believe that Project Ireland 2040 helps causes like this and helps to achieve, through the urban...

Topical Issue Debate: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (17 Oct 2019)

Damien English: The Deputy is making a strong case for Newbridge and this infrastructure in the next round of funding. I understand the council has engaged with the officials in my Department since the previous round, in which it was not successful, although it had some success in other areas. It would be important that it would make a second application and make it as strong as possible by highlighting...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vacant Sites (16 Oct 2019)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter relating to housing and community development in Celbridge, the wider Kildare region and other areas. I am from Meath and many in the Chamber today are from Kildare, so we all understand the pressures being felt in our counties. We also know how a lack of master plans led to developments that were not exactly what we wanted in many cases,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vacant Sites (16 Oct 2019)

Damien English: To be clear, the Department supports logical and sequential planning, as well as master plans for areas. The process exists where a local authority can appoint a planner to work with a team of people to develop a master plan that can maximise resources. It is something we certainly encourage. We have no problem corresponding with Kildare County Council in offering that support but we...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (16 Oct 2019)

Damien English: My Department is awaiting final legal advice on this matter and, once received, will determine the appropriate next steps.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (15 Oct 2019)

Damien English: Government approved a General Scheme of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill in July 2019. Further policy work continues on development of certain aspects of the proposed regime with a view to incorporating these elements at a future stage. In addition to the policy development work, my Department is continuing to work with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (15 Oct 2019)

Damien English: Two Foreshore Leases have been granted in respect of applications for offshore wind farms, the Arklow Bank Wind Farm and Codling I Bank Wind Park Farm, off the Wicklow coast, in 2002 and 2005. These leases were issued by the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources who had responsibility for foreshore functions at that time. My Department has the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (10 Oct 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...