Results 2,461-2,480 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (16 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 to 562, inclusive, together. I am aware of the tragic deaths referred to and I sympathise with the family and friends of those involved. In relation to buildings, local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, the Housing Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which may be...

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

Eoghan Murphy: The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) was formally established on 3 April 2019. Mr. Niall Cussen took up office as Planning Regulator on the same day. There are currently 8 staff assigned to the Office, including the Regulator. It is intended that this will grow to a complement of 20 staff over the course of 2019. Interim premises have been sourced in Sir John Rogerson's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board Staff (16 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Since 1 January 2018, my Department has received 28 staffing sanction requests from the Residential Tenancies Board for permission to recruit additional staff, all of which have been approved.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Disability Act Employment Targets (16 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 570 together. The 2005 Disability Act sets out the legal obligations of Public Body employers in relation to the employment of people with disabilities. Along with promoting and supporting people with disabilities, public bodies are also obliged to meet a 3% target of employees with disabilities. At the end of 2018, my Department’s rate was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rent Pressure Zones (16 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The expiry date of all deemed and designated RPZs will be extended  by the Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill to 31 December 2021. The Bill further provides that any area falling within  the new Cork City Council boundary, which is not already a RPZ, will become one from 31 May 2019. Areas already designated as RPZs will remain designated and areas...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (16 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Residential developments consisting of two or more dwellings that have been granted planning permission under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) may be eligible (depending on the grant of planning condition) for taking in charge. The taking in charge of residential estates by local authorities is provided for under section 180 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (16 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Energy Efficiency/Retrofitting Programme was launched in 2013 to improve the insulation standards and overall energy performance of local authority social housing stock. The programme is being implemented in two phases: Phase 1 provides funding targeted at the less intrusive cavity wall/attic insulation, while Phase 2 focuses on the fabric upgrade works to dwellings with solid/hollow...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: 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. In order to be eligible for HAP support, a household must first qualify for social housing support and be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Public sector employment policy is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. In accordance with the Department of Finance Circular E100/8/82 of 23 December 2010, relating to “Starting Pay on Recruitment from Open Competitions”, my Department issued Circular letter E.L. 02/2011 to local authorities. This circular outlines that offers of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Ervia defined benefit pension scheme is closed to new members. Historically, Ervia provided retirement benefits for the majority of its employees through defined benefit schemes . As part of a programme of pay and pension reform agreed with staff and unions, Ervia closed the defined benefit scheme to new entrants with effect from February 2014 and agreed, subject to...

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

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 217 together. A risk adjustment is included in the Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) for Bundle 1 of the Social Housing PPP Programme. This PSB was compiled in full accordance with Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure guidance. The guidance clearly states the public sector benchmark should include the whole life cost,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.  The review is addressing a number of key aspects including sound or noise, visual amenity setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being...

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

Eoghan Murphy: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 (the Act) introduced new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for strategic housing developments (SHDs) of 100 housing units or more or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála (the Board) for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector Strategy (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. Under Action 18 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector published in December 2016, a Working Group was established, involving representatives of all major public stakeholders with a policy interest in short-term lettings, to consider measures aimed at facilitating the short-term letting of accommodation within permanent residences...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is provided by local authorities in accordance with the Housing (Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans) Regulations 2018, which broadly set out the eligibility criteria to avail of the loans as well as the obligations of the local authorities and duties of borrowers in respect of the Scheme. In accordance with the regulations, as Minister, I have issued a statutory...

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

Eoghan Murphy: The information sought is not readily available in the format requested and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. However, details of the official engagements attended by myself and the current Ministers of State in my Department, including events of the kind referred to, are published in the form of Ministerial Diaries on my Department's website at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was launched on 1 February 2018 to replace the existing House Purchase and Home Choice Loan schemes, providing a new line of mortgage finance, including fixed rates over 25 to 30 years, to creditworthy first-time buyers who cannot access sufficient mortgage finance from commercial lender.   The HFA borrowed €200 million to fund the scheme, and...

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

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: Approved Housing Bodies (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Approval in principle for a development of social homes by an approved housing body (AHB), at the location  in question, was given a number of years ago, but the project did not proceed. Funding not utilised on a particular project is not ring-fenced if the project does not proceed.  However, it is open to the local authority or an AHB to bring forward a new proposal...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (11 Apr 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was launched on 1 February 2018 to replace the existing House Purchase and Home Choice Loan schemes, providing a new line of mortgage finance, including fixed rates over 25 to 30 years, to creditworthy first-time buyers who cannot access sufficient mortgage finance from commercial lender.  Local authorities were issued with allocations for mortgage...