Results 3,081-3,100 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (20 Jun 2018)

Damien English: The first call for proposals for the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme was launched on 31 January 2018 and the Housing Agency accepted submissions from interested parties until 12 April 2018. A total of 33 submissions were received from interested parties, which represents strong interest from the market. The Housing Agency is currently reviewing the proposals and will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (20 Jun 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 55 together. Firstly, I acknowledge the stressful circumstances which the owners and residents of buildings face when defects occur in their homes.  In response to the building failures that have emerged over the last decade, my Department has advanced a robust and focussed Building Control Reform Agenda,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Energy Rating Compliance (20 Jun 2018)

Damien English: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 sets out the national objective of transitioning to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy in the period up to 2050.  It requires the publication of a national low carbon transition and mitigation plan every five years. In this regard, my Department is required to identify and develop sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites Data (20 Jun 2018)

Damien English: The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas.  Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017.  Planning authorities have issued notices to owners of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Maritime Spatial Planning (20 Jun 2018)

Damien English: I am committed to introducing enabling legislation to provide for the formal creation and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).  It is intended to bring forward legislation for the designation and protection of MPAs once the legislative work on the prohibition of microbeads plastics has been completed. I also intend to establish an expert advisory group whose...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (20 Jun 2018)

Damien English: Project Ireland 2040, within which the National Planning Framework (NPF) sits, will ensure that we maintain the fabric of our rural communities, support the growth of rural towns while recognising the need for the countryside to continue to be a living and lived-in landscape, and invest to support job creation.  The NPF is a national plan, with a high-level ambition of creating a single...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (19 Jun 2018)

Damien English: The role of the Minister and me in the planning system is to provide and update the legislation and policy guidance framework. The Minister cannot get involved in, or exercise any power in respect of, any particular case, including an enforcement issue with which a planning authority is or may be concerned. Responsibility for enforcement action in respect of any breach of the planning code...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (19 Jun 2018)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for raising this important issue on unauthorised developments and how they are not being complied with. I do not have the details of this specific case and am I was not familiar with the story, but I am now aware of it. At the outset, I will outline the Minister's role in relation to the planning system. It is mainly to provide and update the legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments Data (19 Jun 2018)

Damien English: Lead policy responsibility in relation to Local Property Tax is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance. However, section 10 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 provided that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government may prescribe a list of unfinished housing developments to which an exemption from the local property tax applies. The list of unfinished...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mobility Allowance (19 Jun 2018)

Damien English: The terms and conditions governing the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme, including the payment limits, were reviewed in 2013/14 and I have no plans at this point for a further review. My main focus in respect of these grants is to spread their benefits by further increasing the funding available.  This is what has been done for 2018, with an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (19 Jun 2018)

Damien English: Stronger compliance with building standards and the broader building control reform agenda are critical priorities for the Government, and a commitment has been given to placing the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or CIRI, on a statutory footing. CIRI was established on a voluntary basis in 2014 and over 800 building and contracting entities are currently included on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (19 Jun 2018)

Damien English: The licence in question was approved in principle by the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2011 and the legal papers giving effect to that decision were completed in 2014 by the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. As leave to apply for reliefs by way of Judicial Review on certain matters related to the licence has been granted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (19 Jun 2018)

Damien English: I want at the outset to acknowledge the difficult situations that can arise for home owners when building defects emerge after completion of their homes. These difficult situations can have a serious impact on the lives of those concerned.  The Expert Panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Agencies Data (14 Jun 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 255, inclusive, together. Project Ireland 2040, published in February 2018, signals 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...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Damien English: I cannot accept the amendment proposed by Senator O'Sullivan. The Bill as drafted ensures that the office of the planning regulator shall have regard to the policies and objectives of the Government, planning authorities and any other public authorities whose functions have a bearing on proper planning and development. Furthermore, section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Damien English: I will address the Opposition amendments Nos. 26 and 27 together, as tabled by Senators O'Sullivan and Boyhan, respectively. Both amendments have the same overall objective of the initiation, at the behest of the elected representative of the council, of a process for the variation of the local development plan or local area plan by way of a resolution adopted at a council meeting. We have...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Damien English: I have two ears.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Damien English: The Senator is hoping that will be the case.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Damien English: It only happened five minutes ago.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Damien English: We might need to revisit the other amendments.