Results 2,441-2,460 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: It is up to Louth County Council to bring forward a plan, and we are happy to engage on that. I wish to be clear on vacancies. We have used Louth as the best example of a local authority that has tackled vacancies. The council has gone out on many occasions in recent years under various schemes through which we have allocated money. The council has been successful in bringing forward...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: In order to properly plan for future population and housing growth on a regional and county basis, the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 provides for the co-ordinated and timely incorporation of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial Economic Strategy (RSES) for each of the three regional assembly areas, into the relevant City or County Development Plan. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 67 and 79 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 maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: The Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is firmly focused on increasing housing supply and supporting those in society with the greatest housing need, particularly those in need of social housing supports. The significant progress being made in these areas is outlined on the Rebuilding Ireland website at . Overall, the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: As reflected in Rebuilding Ireland, the accelerated delivery of 50,000 social housing homes by 2021 is a key priority for this Government. In this regard, my Department continues to work very closely with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to support the delivery of these much needed social housing homes across the country. In relation to the Deputy's specific query, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: Despite the efforts of the fire and emergency services and local farming communities, using controlled burning at appropriate times of the year, wildland fires can unfortunately occur in certain areas of the country during very dry conditions.  Considerable inter-agency efforts have been made to reduce the incidence of wildland fires, led by my colleague, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 946, 947 and 964 together. Supporting the development and growth of towns and villages across Ireland is a major priority for this Government and to this end policy interventions are being pursued across a number of Government Departments and are being implemented by local authorities around the country. In particular, €2 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: In the first instance, I would like to acknowledge the stressful circumstances which the owners and residents of buildings face when defects occur in their homes.    However, in general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved: the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, with €2 billion identified in the National Development Plan (NDP) to 2027.  Of this, €58m is available in 2019 to provide initial support for the 88 projects approved for URDF support last November, while €550 million is included in the NDP to provide further support for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks (11 Jun 2019)

Damien English: I refer to the reply to Question No. 45 on today's Order Paper.

Housing (Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 May 2019)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following:“Dáil Éireann, while acknowledging the spirit of the Housing (Adaptation Grant For People With A Disability) Bill 2018, resolves that the Bill be deemed to be read a second time this day six months, to allow for the Government to further explore the extent to which the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (29 May 2019)

Damien English: I thank Senator Humphreys for raising this important issue. At the outset, I acknowledge the very distressing and stressful circumstances which the owners and residents of buildings face where building defects emerge. In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved - the homeowner, the builder, the developer and-or their respective insurers,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (29 May 2019)

Damien English: I cannot be much clearer on this. Difficulties arising from pyrite and mica are different from difficulties with apartments. The key issue is defective material versus defective workmanship. In the case of pyrite and mica, the houses will become uninhabitable. These are very different circumstances. Expert groups and panels were set up in both cases for a number of years. The pyrite...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (29 May 2019)

Damien English: We have also looked at apartments and a task force made recommendations. In all cases when the evidence is gathered and examined, we act on recommendations. That happened with pyrite, mica and problems with apartments. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has been very clear on this in the Dáil. I am happy to meet the Senator to discuss options and I have met others to try to discuss...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (29 May 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 and fire appliances is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through the setting of over-arching policy,...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Local Government Reform (28 May 2019)

Damien English: The Minister of State was detained in the Dáil. Apologies.

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Local Government Reform (28 May 2019)

Damien English: I wish to be associated with your remarks, a Chathaoirligh, and those of Senator Daly. I thank him for raising the issue which is very important. It is certainly timely given that we have more or less completed all the counts of the local elections. I congratulate all those who were successful in winning a seat in recent days. I commiserate with and thank all those who ran but were not...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): Local Government Reform (28 May 2019)

Damien English: I am not sure I mentioned the end of May, but I certainly said "very soon". To be very clear, I spoke about the reforms to remuneration, but there is absolutely no intention to take away powers councillors have.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): Local Government Reform (28 May 2019)

Damien English: I said no powers had been taken away. In fact, we are being very proactive in trying to give back powers. If the Senator had been here for most of the debate on the planning Bill last year, he would know that we gave back powers to councils. We have enhanced their powers because planning is a major function of councillors, among many others. I was first elected to sit on a council in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): Housing Policy (28 May 2019)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and for giving me an opportunity to clarify the relevant regulations as well as the importance of having modular homes and the use of off-site construction, which is something that our Department is for. We would like to encourage as many local authorities as possible to use the option of off-site construction, modular housing, rapid build...