Results 2,521-2,540 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

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

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together. In response to the many building failures that have come to attention over the last decade, the Government has embarked on a multi-pronged Building Control Reform Agenda, to reduce the risk of similar problems occurring again. The reform is centred on three main initiatives: - Reform of the Building Control...

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

Damien English: Kanturk Fire Station is included in the programme of sixteen fire stations for construction within the five-year, €40 million, allocation of the Fire Services Capital Programme announced in February 2016. Draft designs for the new station have been received and reviewed by my Department, and approval issued to the Council on 16 July, 2018 to proceed to seek tenders for the project. ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Apr 2019)

Damien English: As the Deputy will be aware, it was confirmed in October that we would introduce a scheme. Our Department, in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, has been working on it for the past few months It was ready to bring to Cabinet a few times but different issues arose with Brexit and so on. We hope to bring it either to the next Cabinet meeting or the one after...

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

Damien English: The licence in question provides for the harvesting of kelp in specific areas of Bantry Bay in rotation. The areas to be harvested are outlined in the original application and supporting documentation which is available on my Department's website at www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/bioatlant is-ltd. The licence does not confer exclusive use of the areas...

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

Damien English: In line with the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland, and reflecting the disappointing level of overall funding drawdown in recent years, the Housing Agency, in 2017, commissioned a review of funding for traveller-specific accommodation to date.  This review had regard to targets contained in local authority TAPs and actual delivery, the current status of accommodation funded and...

Seanad: Property Services (Advertisement of Unfit Lettings) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (10 Apr 2019)

Damien English: I wish to thank Senators Ó Donnghaile, Gavan and Warfield for bringing forward this Bill which provides us with an opportunity to discuss the advertising of unfit lettings. Some rental properties are of such poor quality they should not be on the market, let alone advertised. No Member would condone that. The Government has no problem with the Bill’s principle. We would be...

Seanad: Property Services (Advertisement of Unfit Lettings) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (10 Apr 2019)

Damien English: I will be happy to interact with the Senator.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Natura 2000 (10 Apr 2019)

Damien English: As I have stated in previous replies on this matter, I am committed to developing primary legislation to provide for the creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in accordance with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Work on this will commence when legislation to prohibit certain products containing plastic microbeads is sufficiently advanced....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pyrite Issues (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: I am glad we are taking Deputy Daly's question as it is an important discussion. There are no plans to set up the forum she is calling for but that does not mean we are not open to discussing any of the issues. We had very useful meeting at the back end of last year where all the relevant Deputies came together with the agency and the Department to tease through some of the issues....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pyrite Issues (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: Perhaps I was not clear in my first answer. I think we have made progress on that particular area. The Department got legal advice because I do not expect any board to listen to me as an individual Minister of State, so we backed that up with legal advice and an opinion. I understand the board then got its own legal advice and we have now finally made progress on that situation, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: I did not hear the very last thing the Deputy said but funding is available to local authorities, when they ask for it, to fund certain projects. Wexford County Council went way beyond its targets last year, thankfully, and successfully did so in respect of both its build and its acquisition. We encourage that when it makes good sense and is good value. Certainly if there is targeted...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: Rebuilding Ireland aims to deliver 50,000 additional social housing homes through build, acquisition and leasing programmes and aims to support some 87,000 additional households through the housing assistance payment scheme and the rental accommodation scheme, over the six-year period of the plan. A significant part of that will have an impact on Wexford. Very significant progress has been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: We are available to meet Wexford County Council on any occasion and in fairness it is quite active in meeting with us. The specific questions the Deputy has asked have not come to our attention. I can confirm that the budget for acquiring houses is not gone. I am surprised that this is the impression that has been given. We are encouraging local authorities to build more houses and to get...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Unions (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: This is an important point.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Unions (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: It is exactly the same.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Unions (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: The Deputy should check the record. I have checked it but the Deputy obviously has not checked it.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Unions (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: I have nothing to correct.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Unions (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: It has absolutely not fallen off our agenda. Deputy O'Brien does not like the answers to the questions and keeps trying to phrase them differently every time and tries to insinuate that I misled the House. I have absolutely nothing to change on the record. I have been very clear in saying one of the credit union bodies is ready to do this. Everything is in place. It can switch it on...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Unions (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: I cannot be any clearer. That is a fact, it is true and I have no record to change. It is ready for business if a body wants to use it.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Unions (9 Apr 2019)

Damien English: The other section is where we grant-aided money through an innovation fund to the sector along with the credit union movement to bring forward a special purpose vehicle. It is to encourage innovation. We are not dictating to it how it develops that special purpose vehicle because we would not be allowed to do that, nor would it be appropriate. The Deputy seems to fail to understand that....