Results 2,861-2,880 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (24 Oct 2018)

Damien English: Considerable work has been ongoing between the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), a number of larger Tier 3 AHBs and their financial advisor on the development of a vehicle or mechanism for delivering private financing for AHBs providing social housing in line with commitments under the Government's Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, Rebuilding Ireland. This project...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: There is no commitment in the programme for Government to do that but there is a commitment to strengthen the staff and resources of An Bord Pleanála. It has gone through much reform that has resulted in a lot of success and fast-track planning. It is something we can certainly look at because these issues come up a lot with regard to length of time but the staffing issue must help...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: Increased funding has been set aside under Project Ireland 2040 for improvements in the water infrastructure, including group water schemes. We attended a conference recently and went through all the details. That sector is happy with the capital plans. Naturally, we want to get these implemented as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 672 and 673 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. The Panel had the following terms of reference: (i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: Research undertaken by the Higher Education Authority into student accommodation provision estimates that there is significant unmet demand nationally and, with the student population forecast to increase to nearly 193,000 by 2024, significant investment is needed in provision of accommodation nationally. In July 2016, the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: The issues referred to by the Deputy are a matter for local Building Control Authorities, who are independent in the use of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2014. Building Control Authorities are required to keep certain information pertaining to building works that come under the Building Control Regulations 1997-2015 on a statutory register, including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981.  My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Services Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: Responsibility for the provision of emergency medical services, including pre-hospital emergency care, rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE) which operates the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and emergency departments in hospitals in accordance with health sector legislation and national policy. The HSE operates under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health. As...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Act 1981.  My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Damien English: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Act, 1981.  My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Rental Sector (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I have been in the House to address the matter, which I know is dear to his heart, on at least five occasions to date. He is correct that short-term letting affects supply. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is focused on addressing the issue as quickly as possible. I welcome the opportunity to outline the progress the Government has...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Rental Sector (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I discussed this issue yesterday with the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. He is aware of the issue raised by the Senator and he understands the need for urgent address of it. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has never said that he will do it "tomorrow". Rather, that is Senator Humphreys's interpretation of what the Minister said. In September, he said that he hoped to do...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I thank Seanad Éireann for the opportunity to update it on Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. Today is a good opportunity to debate progress and to outline some future areas of priority action. Rebuilding Ireland is a comprehensive delivery plan, which has been augmented and updated since its publication in mid-2016. It is not a quick fix;...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: We recognise as a Government that our first priority is to deliver a housing programme. Central to that is a commitment to a belief in social and council housing. We are doing that, putting money behind it and we are actually delivering that housing. That might not suit the mantra of some people but I am confident in saying that. I know it without any doubt. If we stick to this...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: That is why we have a building programme. While we are building the houses, however, we have to make sure we have people in a house today as well. We will use the HAP programme and we have to rely on the private sector for that. It is not something we want to do forever but it is something we have to do because we have to have houses today while we build the new ones. We are doing that....

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: It is not being privatised. It is a use of State-owned land. I accept that Sinn Féin believes that on any site all the housing should be built by the taxpayer, but that is not the best use of taxpayers' money and it will not give the best mix of housing that should be brought forward. We must make a decision about the best use of taxpayers' money, that is, about how taxpayers' money...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: The taxpayer is committed to delivering 10,000 social houses a year and more. When we say we have to build approximately 33,000 houses per year, the taxpayer cannot and should not pay for all of them. It is a great deal of tax to collect and we need tax for everywhere else, such as schools, hospitals and many other areas. Choices must be made. How does one best deliver housing for...

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: We delivered houses once with people in them.

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: How long do I have? Half an hour?

Seanad: Update on Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (18 Oct 2018)

Damien English: I will try to do that and come back with updates on various projects. I will get a specific update for Senator Humphreys. I am aware that we are all frustrated with the timelines but the Senator will be aware that this is a major project, on which the Department has been proactive from the start in trying to make it happen, along with Dublin City Council and other players. There is a deal...