Results 2,821-2,840 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: There is a pipeline of projects I am happy with but we want to increase the number of projects and the funding is there for it as well.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The development of publicly-owned lands for housing is a key Government priority. In 2019, the Government will provide over €2.4 billion for housing. All local authorities are encouraged to bring forward viable and appropriate development proposals that can be funded through the range of schemes and programmes which have been put in place. The Department, the Minister and I are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The establishment of the steering group in regard to the fish passage at Parteen is a key measure of the Government’s river basin management plan for Ireland 2018-2021. The Parteen area of the Shannon is designated as a heavily modified water body under the water framework directive and it is incumbent on us to apply enhancement measures, where practicable, to improve the ecological...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. We had a similar conversation at the meeting at Ardnacrusha with a view to making sure we look at any and all solutions, both the ones brought forward by engineers from all over the world and the local suggestions. The steering group has 18 months of work ahead of it to look at all the different ideas and different solutions, but also to try to take advantage of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: To be clear, our Department will be chairing and leading this. It is a commitment the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, gave when he launched the river basin plan in April of this year because it is an important area of work, for all the reasons the Deputy has outlined. I again commend all the stakeholders for coming together around the table. It is very clear to me there is a good working...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: We are working through the recommendations of the fire safety task force and the Minister, Deputy Murphy, recently met representatives of the apartment owners' association to discuss their concerns, specifically those relating to sinking funds and who covers costs etc. It is ongoing work. The key recommendations of the task force were to have the registration of fire safety subcontractors...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: Procedures have been put in place. The work is ongoing but the task force indicated clearly that management companies, owners of properties and resident associations need to deal with local authorities, which are the local building control authorities, to work through the issues. We are very clear where the responsibility lies. We understand and know there are issues around sinking funds,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The work is ongoing and no final decision has been made as to whether a regulator is required. We are clear that the procedures put in place by the 2014 Act will certainly ensure this will not be an issue in future. We are confident of this and we must ensure we can continuously enforce the procedures through local authorities as the lead building control authorities. The first interim...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: Primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the building regulations rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. As such, in general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, namely, the homeowner, the builder, the developer and-or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 122 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. On 13 June 2017, the report of the was published and included eight recommendations, which my Department is actively progressing with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 87 and 89 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 109 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” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: The National Planning Framework (NPF), published together with the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 earlier this year, is intended to provide the strategic context for future planning, development and investment over the next two decades. In addition, the NPF represents a long-term strategy for Government Departments, State agencies, State-owned enterprises,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together. The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013provides 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 schemeis a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 and 291 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (14 Nov 2018)

Damien English: In response to the building failures that have emerged over the last decade, my Department and representatives from the local government sector reviewed the existing building control regulatory framework, in collaboration and consultation with industry stakeholders. This has led to a multi-faceted building control reform agenda, which commenced implementation in 2014 with the introduction of...

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: I am glad of the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I understand the spirit behind the Bill and what Deputy Healy is trying to achieve. We have had a number of debates previously and this is a genuine attempt to deal with the issue. We do not agree with some of the measures in the Bill because we are not sure they will achieve what the Deputy is seeking, but I understand and accept the...

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: They are.

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: That is not true.

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Damien English: It is not.