Results 2,761-2,780 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: -----but they are not professional landlords. That is something we want to change. We will change it over time if we can. From what I have heard in this evening's contributions, it is safe to say there is a clear need to ensure the residential sector is both an attractive option for tenants and a secure and viable investment choice for investors. The State cannot be the only landlord....

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: Every time we have a debate in the House, I have to remind Members that there is a social housing building programme under way. Deputy Healy and others claimed again tonight that the Government is doing nothing.

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: And I am going to finish addressing the Deputy.

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: Through the Chair, the accusation that there is no social housing building programme is made every week. I accept that it is not the delivery we all want, but it is wrong to continue to come to the House and claim there is no social housing programme. It is not the truth.

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: The Government is committed to a social housing building programme and, what is more, taxpayers are committed to it too. There is €6 billion on the table to fund it and more as well. Under Rebuilding Ireland 2040, money has been set aside to deliver up to 12,000 social houses every year to 2027 and 2028. What happens after that will be for another Government to decide but this one...

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: I have no problem with Members stating that it is not enough or that they want more. That is fine. We can all agree with that, but I ask them not to continue to say it is not happening. We have to be very clear about that. The accusation is also made that the Government is relying solely on the private sector but that is not true either. What is true is that in the early stages of...

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: We all agree that the number of families today, which is over 1,300-----

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: We all agree that the number of families in emergency accommodation is far too high. Nobody - not the Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, the Department or me - wants that. No one wants to see people living in emergency accommodation, whether it is a hotel, bed and breakfast or family hub. Those are not places to be. However, if we failed to engage with the private sector in...

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: Our ambition on behalf of the State is greater than that of most people here. However, we must use HAP and other schemes in the short term to provide housing solutions. I do not apologise for that. I wish we had enough social housing stock to avoid it, but we do not because other Governments did not build it. We are committed to correcting that and I hope future Governments continue the...

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: I am just saying that I am not aware of the case the Deputy mentioned. She said they were in a family hub for a year. The majority of people are not in family hubs for a year, they are there for less than six months and move on.

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: I am aware that some families do not get a housing decision that quickly and we will check that out. However, I question-----

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: I am trying to have a rational, calm conversation with the Deputy.

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Damien English: Through the Chair, if someone is in a family hub for over a year, we will check it out. I have asked whether the family was offered a housing solution and I get the impression they might have been, albeit not the permanent housing solution but perhaps a HAP solution. I have been to a lot of family hubs and I note that a lot of people move through them quite quickly and rightly so. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Economic and Social Research Institute (11 Dec 2018)

Damien English: The recently published Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report on the construction industry indicates that much of the additional labour required for housing supply and other construction and infrastructural work may have to be secured through inward net migration.  However, the report concludes the Irish economy would not appear, at present, to be unduly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Agency (11 Dec 2018)

Damien English: The Abhaile Project was the winner of the Homes for Smart Ageing Universal Design Challenge in June 2017. The project developed an innovative new model to support older homeowners to reconfigure their family-sized homes by creating an independent living area suitable for the older homeowner, eliminating the need to use the stairs; and creating an affordable one-bedroom rental home...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Question Heading for question(s) 588 (11 Dec 2018)

Damien English: The processes for the appointment of members to the Professional Conduct Committee and Appeals Board of the RIAI are laid out in the Building Control Act 2007.    In relation to the Professional Conduct Committee , the Chairperson shall be a solicitor, a barrister or a former judge of the Circuit Court, High Court or Supreme Court who shall be appointed by the Minister for...

Climate Change: Statements (6 Dec 2018)

Damien English: I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the past year's progress. The year went by quickly. On behalf of myself and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, I reaffirm our Department's commitment to working collaboratively with colleagues across Government so that we can collectively and successfully deliver and implement critical climate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (5 Dec 2018)

Damien English: While my Department has a number of roles in relation to the maritime area, these do not include responsibility for addressing coastal erosion.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks (4 Dec 2018)

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. On 13 June 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (4 Dec 2018)

Damien English: The fire safety requirements in the tender documents, issued by the Housing Agency, for the supply and delivery of temporary modular homes (in order to establish a framework) are in compliance with the Technical Guidance Document B – Fire Safety of Part B of the Building Regulations for such buildings. In addition local authorities will also be liaising with the respective Fire...