Results 2,781-2,800 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities Provision (4 Dec 2018)

Damien English: Local authorities are responsible for the provision of social housing in their areas, and, as such, decide on the number and specific types of dwellings to provide in their developments, based on identified need. One of the key measures achieved in 2016 under the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD), which has been extended to 2020, was the establishment of Housing...

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

Damien English: I have no further update to the number of local area plans, strategic development zones and county development plans in operation by local authorities since my reply to Question No. 230 of 24 May 2018. The numbers of such plans and SDZ designations and planning schemes vary in line with wider policy and operational requirements including, the requirements of planning legislation,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Funding (29 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I will work backwards. I am not in a position to write cheques for €50,000 off the cuff but I will get that checked out. If funding is required for something, it helps when the local authority makes an application for it. Then we can process the application. In general we encourage a top-class quality and high design in all our local authority housing and there is a massive...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Funding (29 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I agree with him that there is no excuse for 90 houses to be lying idle. If that is the case, I urge Louth County Council to discuss funding options with us. To be clear, we have a voids programme which provides funding to refurbish housing. I understand that, this year, Louth County Council applied for 16 and was granted 15, and a claim was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (29 Nov 2018)

Damien English: All of the information in respect of the foreshore lease applications for the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site, at Spiddal, Co. Galway can be viewed on my Department’s website by selecting the following application link: www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/overview? title_1=Marine+Institute&field_date_received_value%5...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (29 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The costs incurred by my Department, beyond the normal staffing administration costs for the processing of a particular application which are not itemised separately, are the legal costs associated with the drafting of the lease and the cost associated with the statutory requirement to publish the Notice of Determination for the foreshore lease in Iris Oifigiuil. The legal costs incurred...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (29 Nov 2018)

Damien English: My Department does not directly incur legal representation costs involved in defending challenges to foreshore consent decisions.Such costs are borne by the Chief State Solicitor's Office and accordingly, the information sought by the Deputy is not held by my Department. My Department does not make decisions in relation to land planning consents. Decisions in relation to land planning...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this matter which provides the opportunity for me to discuss the advancement of housing, community facilities and planned infrastructure in Celbridge area and the continued planned growth of this important town in tandem with the supporting infrastructure and amenities required. This matter was originally tabled for last Thursday and the Minister, Deputy...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I will be brief because I went over the time on my initial reply. Building on Monday’s announcement on the funding for the build to progress some of the infrastructure requirements, it is important that the local authority works quickly now. I hope it does that and engages with all the relevant Departments to move it through the system. On foot of that and the existing plan, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Economic and Social Research Institute (28 Nov 2018)

Damien English: Both my Department and I are fully aware of the latest ESRI report on the construction industry. The report 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 and that the present high cost of accommodation may act as a disincentive for workers seeking to come and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Data (27 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 613, 614 and 616 together. The 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 is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (27 Nov 2018)

Damien English: My Department recently published Draft Guidelines for planning authorities for public consultation in relation to how best to encourage increased building height in urban areas. The Draft Guidelines are intended to set out national planning policy guidelines on building heights in relation to urban areas, as defined by the census, building from the strategic policy framework...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (27 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The 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 is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope.  The full conditions for eligibility are set out in the scheme which is available...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (27 Nov 2018)

Damien English: In 2013, the issue of external walls of dwellings displaying significant cracking in Donegal was raised with my Department. The nature of the problem related to the crumbling of the concrete blockwork in the external walls of affected dwellings, thereby compromising their structural integrity and giving rise to considerable personal distress to the many homeowners involved. At that time,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (27 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I refer to the reply to Question No. 260 of 21 November 2018. While a dispensation or relaxation of the Building Regulations may be required for the modular homes concerned, the specification set out in the request for tender represents the minimum standards in the temporary/portable home sector. It is similar to British Standards and other industry standard requirements for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising the issue. It is a very important site. I got the guided tour from Councillor John Bailey and Deputy Maria Bailey over a year ago and I had a good look at it. I also met with council officials to look at various sites in the area. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has also visited the area. We are very conscious of the importance of this area for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for his focus on this site, and I thank the others involved as well. To be fair, it is an issue Deputy Bailey raises on a weekly basis with both our housing delivery team, under Mary Hurley's guidance, and our planning section. The two sections of the Department are very much focused on this site and I have had engagement there as well because we want to see it happen....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Tenant Purchase Scheme (21 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It is an important issue, which has been raised at council meetings around the country and by colleagues of the Senator in this House. The new tenant incremental purchase scheme for existing local authority houses came into operation on 1 January 2016. The scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Tenant Purchase Scheme (21 Nov 2018)

Damien English: We have committed to completing and dealing with the report in this quarter but it may be in the new year as some legal issues have to be sorted out. Once it is published, we can make decisions and we will do so early in the new year because it is an important area. I do not promise the full solution sought by the Senator but we are trying to find one that solves the issue as it relates to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (21 Nov 2018)

Damien English: Considerable work has been undertaken to advance the drafting of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill, including through engagement with the Marine Coordination Group and a number of workshops and bilateral meetings with relevant policy Departments and the Office of the Attorney General throughout 2017 and 2018.  In addition, a high level Marine Legislation Steering...