Results 2,601-2,620 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: We expect the expert panel to report to us in April at the latest. I am engaging with it and, as of last week, it was on track to do that. I will not try to guess what it will recommend in terms of significant changes. Everyone at this meeting is committed to working with the panel's suggestions and trying to implement them. It is not just desirable, but necessary, that we do our job in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: When we increase the money, it is on the back of proposals put to us. The delivery does not happen for a combination of reasons. It is not just-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: We must work through the various reasons. I hope that the expert panel will provide us with the evidence and suggestions we need. We can discuss with the committee how to implement the changes. I get the sense that there is a desire among the various parties present to move this forward. I hope that we can make inroads. We want the money to be spent. We will increase resources once that...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: In fairness, the plan should be finished by May. The Deputy stated it will take two to three years. It need not take two to three years. Officials can begin the process of reviewing the Wicklow plan and all the towns and villages from the summer onwards.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: They can get going on that. That review could start. The regional plan should be finished in May and the process can kick off then from there on. It should not take them two to three years. It is a matter of how they prioritise. Naturally, one's county plan will setting out one's overall ambition but one could complete that process in another timeline.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: It is up to the local authority to get their resources in order. The regional plan should be completed in May.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: The timeframe need not be that long. There are two positives. As the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, stated, it will align with the NPF. My understanding is through the process the Wicklow local authority is quite happy with how it turned out and it is a positive for the country. We will build on that. I accept there have been delays in getting to this stage.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Mar 2019)

Damien English: I understand they are content. We will see what comes out of it. A new local authority will be in place in June and it will be set with the job. The timeframe adds up quite well. The new local authority will have ownership of the new plan and will not be caught in the middle of that. That should be positive as well.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (5 Mar 2019)

Damien English: The proposals that my Department receive for activities and developments on the foreshore vary greatly in terms of their nature, scale and complexity. The applications received range from the hand harvesting of seaweed to the construction of offshore windfarms or subsea cables. The type of applicants will also vary from private individuals and local groups to public sector bodies, local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regional Development Initiatives (5 Mar 2019)

Damien English: The draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Southern Region is currently on public display until 8 March 2019.  Following the consultation period, the Southern Regional Assembly must report on and consider all submissions received in the formulation of the final RSES, the adoption of which will require approval by the members of the Regional Assembly. If the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (28 Feb 2019)

Damien English: It is clear that we have needed action for a great many years. I have been on some of these sites and they have been troubled spots for 20 or 30 years but I can only act within the law that is there.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (28 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The legislation was introduced in good faith in 1998. In conjunction with the various Traveller representative bodies, I was asked to set up this expert group to bring about recommendations to change the system, once and for all. Proposals have been put in place and I am determined that when we get the report, we will act on it but we have to wait until we get it. The report will bring...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (28 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue and bringing attention to it. I also thank him for his openness to bringing about change and putting the focus on the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation, something which is not happening in many places and Galway is probably the best example. The report summarises and highlights the position as well as can be done. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (27 Feb 2019)

Damien English: My Department received a foreshore lease application in 2012 from Schull Community Harbour Development Company Limited to facilitate works on the foreshore in Schull Harbour, Co. Cork. The works proposed are the development in the inner harbour area, with a 235 berth marina extending in area from Schull Pier to the North Shore of the harbour. The proposed works are substantial and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (21 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo. In 2017, the report of the was published and included eight recommendations, which my Department is actively progressing with the relevant stakeholders, prioritising the implementation of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Expenditure (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I am mindful that the Deputy was probably chatting to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle when I outlined the position. I do not have the actual planning costs that he is looking for. What happens is Irish Water is given an envelope of funding to deliver the project. It is monitored through the Irish Water strategic plan which is presented to the Government and the regulator. I know from dealing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Expenditure (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I will try to answer some of the questions raised by the Deputy. I do not have all of the details he has asked for because some of the issues he has raised are different from what was initially proposed to be discussed. I have no problem in getting further information for the Deputy and if we have to organise a meeting with the Deputy, the Department and Irish Water I will be happy to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 76 together. In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, local 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 there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: While there is no specific time limit for the use of sites on a temporary basis under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, local authorities are required to make adequate provision for transient and permanent sites in their programmes. The guidance is provided for temporary sites and local authorities will be encouraged to use it as best practice. It was set in conjunction with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: We will continue to increase capital funding for this purpose. There is no reason urgent fire safety works cannot be carried out. There is no excuse. I understand the difficulties in respect of new accommodation and sites because of the different stakeholders involved, but in the refurbishment of existing sites, there should be no delay in implementing the required changes.