Results 2,981-3,000 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2018)

Damien English: A range of initiatives have been announced to try to tackle vacancy and housing supply, some of which have been a great success. The House supported the action plan for housing for which €6 billion has been provided. Included in the plan are legislative updates to tackle this issue. I described taking over someone's house as a disgrace because it is unnecessary and not part of our...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (19 Sep 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. 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 affected by defects in the blockwork in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (18 Sep 2018)

Damien English: The Property Registration Authority can only show legal rights that are burdens on title, within the meaning of Section 69 of the Registration of Title Act 1964, or that are appurtenant to registered lands. Such rights must be created by express Deed of Grant or where the law allows, acquired by prescription. In the case of the right to harvest seaweed, only rights vested by the Land...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Action Plan for Rural Development (18 Sep 2018)

Damien English: My Department is currently drafting a guidance note on Enterprise Development in Rural Areas under the National Planning Framework andthe Action Plan for Rural Development. The guidance is intended to address the relevant planning and development consent considerations and requirements in respect of the promotion and accommodation of enterprise development in rural areas, with the aim of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (18 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 777 and 805 together. All new dwellings must comply with building regulations, the aim of which is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The building regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) or an extension to an existing building as well as for material alterations and certain...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (18 Sep 2018)

Damien English: Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements of the Building Regulations, including Part B (Fire Safety), rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities, who have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (18 Sep 2018)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 Sep 2018)

Damien English: The Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) was jointly published by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in 2013, to assist local authorities in promoting sustainable communities. The purpose of the Manual is to ensure that the welfare and needs of pedestrians are prioritised in the design of streets in urban areas, so that roadways for cars do not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (7 Sep 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. The Department of Education and Skills, with the support of my Department, has sought to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (7 Sep 2018)

Damien English: In 2016, my Department commissioned the Housing Agency to conduct a comprehensive review of the scheme of loans and grants for caravans that had been in operation since 2000. The Housing Agency surveyed all local authorities and engaged in broad consultation with all key stakeholders. A report on the review was submitted to my Department in 2017. On foot of the review, I requested that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (7 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1363 and 1410 together. My Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016 to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, including estates with developer-provided water services infrastructure (DPI). Under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks (7 Sep 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. 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 affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (7 Sep 2018)

Damien English: The construction and delivery of commercial development is a matter for normal market functioning within the broad legislative, regulatory and policy context set down by Government and local authorities in the areas of planning, building regulations and related areas. I am not aware of any incentives that exist for the construction and delivery of commercial development. The issue of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Agencies (7 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1420 and 1423 together. Project Ireland 2040signals a significant policy shift towards securing more compact and sustainable urban and rural development, which requires significantly more effective land management in key development areas. Against that background, it is proposed to establish a National Regeneration and Development Agency to assist in ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (7 Sep 2018)

Damien English: The National Planning Framework (NPF), published under Project Ireland 2040, sits at the top of the planning policy hierarchy in Ireland and provides a structure for future development and investment over the next two decades. This national level planning policy is being implemented at the regional level through preparation of statutory Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES)...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (12 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy and I will take on board all the points he made. I will bring them back to our officials when the review comes back from the agency and we will look at what is assessable or not. He has raised a few issues that are worth looking at. I am satisfied that the current income limits and the current scheme are generally fair and equitable. I think people will agree that it is...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (12 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to clarify the position. On 1 April 2011, the Social Housing Assessment Regulations introduced a new standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing in every housing authority. The regulations include maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Area Plans (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to discuss the advancement of housing development in Celbridge, specifically with regard to vacant lands, which have been identified as an area of key and strategic development, and to discuss the attendant infrastructure measures that have to be implemented to deliver this housing supply. This housing supply has...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Area Plans (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: Exactly. The lack of movement on it is a key issue. It is important to see it moving. Taking account of the criteria and objectives I mentioned, there is scope for Kildare County Council to submit proposals for funding infrastructure requirements for urban regeneration and associated housing delivery in the Celbridge area. I look forward to applications from Kildare County Council that...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Area Plans (11 Jul 2018)

Damien English: The Deputy is correct that it is not any one person's or one agency's problem, but it is a problem for the community and for anybody who wishes to drive through Celbridge or to work or live there. We would be anxious that it would happen too. The focus of all the stakeholders - the council, local businesses, landowners, State agencies and the wider community - should be on implementing the...