Results 2,621-2,640 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

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

Damien English: Again, part of the issue here is that, as we rightly increase the capital funding back up, the pipeline of projects are not there to be able to draw that allocation down. We originally make allocations based on projects that should be in the pipeline and have come through planning and then they get stuck in planning or design or have not been agreed locally with all the various stakeholders...

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

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 30 and 43 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...

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

Damien English: I agree with the Deputy. We genuinely want to make progress in this area. There has been under-achievement in meeting the TAP targetss set for the past 20 years by up to 80%, although the position in some years was better than others. Not enough has been happening at local level to make projects succeed. The Deputy made reference to local authorities, but detailed analysis has been...

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

Damien English: We all share the Deputies' concerns that the money is not being spent on Traveller-specific accommodation, but even though there is an underspend, we will make sure the money is spent on other housing solutions that will benefit both Travellers and non-Travellers. Travellers do not just benefit from Traveller-specific accommodation. We meet many Traveller families who want a choice of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: Approved housing bodies, AHBs, are making an important contribution to the supply of new social housing homes under Rebuilding Ireland. Since 2009, homes built, purchased or leased by AHBs are made available for social housing support under a payment and availability agreement with the local authority. For each property or group of properties, the payment and availability agreement sets out...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I sense that the Deputy is a little unhappy with approved housing bodies, but the Government is very happy with their performance. They are doing very well and delivering many houses. The scheme is designed to achieve good value for the Exchequer and we have been doing so for many years. The average cost of a house through payment and availability agreements is approximately €878....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The Deputy made some misleading comments. Local authorities are very much involved in the delivery of housing through approved housing bodies. No approved housing body scheme can come through the system without the approval and involvement of the local authority. I would rather if the Deputy did not mislead the House or cause confusion for councillors.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: Approved housing bodies must work through the local authorities, which sanction the schemes in combination with the Department. They are reimbursed for the costs of that - that is why the housing budget is there. I remind the Deputy that the housing budget this year is the largest ever, with a housing spend of approximately €2.5 billion. The combination of work with local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The provision of housing, whether it be social, affordable or private is a top priority for this Government. Under Rebuilding Ireland, the Government is making over €6 billion available to deliver 50,000 social housing homes nationally, through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021.  In addition, some 88,000 households are to be supported...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. 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 Expert Panel was published and included eight recommendations, which my Department is actively...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme, to be implemented by the Board, with support from the Housing Agency. My Department’s records indicate that I have attended six meetings in relation to the operation of the scheme. Representatives of the Pyrite...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (20 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners, who have no other practical option to obtain redress and is...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (19 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." My speech is being circulated along with a briefing note on the Bill which I have made available to Deputies. I am very pleased to bring the Bill before the House. The Bill is short and technical but very important. It completes a series of amendments to the Companies Act 2014 that will enable simplified procedures for all companies...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (19 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation, pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (19 Feb 2019)

Damien English: My ministerial role in the planning system is to provide and update the legislative and policy guidance framework. As the Deputy is aware, I cannot get involved in or exercise any power in respect of any particular case, including an enforcement issue with which a planning authority is or may be concerned. Recently, though, I have stated that we are prepared to examine this area. We set...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (19 Feb 2019)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for raising this important issue which is the enforcement of planning law regarding unauthorised developments and consequential damage and maintenance issues concerning surrounding infrastructure. I am conscious that in her presentation she mentioned cases, the details of which I do not have and of which I am not aware. She has put them on the record and we...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (19 Feb 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 in...

Industrial and Provident Societies (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The Deputy should try to say something positive-----

Industrial and Provident Societies (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The point is that the review began in 2017.

Industrial and Provident Societies (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Feb 2019)

Damien English: The Deputy asked me a question.