Results 3,241-3,260 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Home Loan Scheme (8 May 2018)

Damien English: As the Deputy will be aware, the Rebuilding Ireland home loan is targeted at first-time buyers who wish to own their own home, satisfy the relevant income limits, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. As previously noted regarding this issue, the primary earner...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Home Loan Scheme (8 May 2018)

Damien English: Some of these issues were also raised at the meeting. As with any scheme that is only three months old, there will be some teething problems. There were some issues with the assessment of data at the outset. Additional training is to be provided at all levels in local authorities. The Housing Agency has processed 460 applications and has sanctioned about 224 of those. If somebody has...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Home Loan Scheme (8 May 2018)

Damien English: The scheme set out the ambitions at the start and it will be a demand-led scheme. It is the credit committee's job to judge the different types of overtime. The overtime is very clear from someone's employment record. Applicants are asked to give a lot of information on the form as well. The credit committee analyses the data and makes the decision, as they do in banks, credit unions and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (8 May 2018)

Damien English: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities. The March...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (8 May 2018)

Damien English: The Programme for a Partnership Government (PPG) sets out a number of requirements in relation to local government reform. In particular, the PPG envisages the submission of a report to Government and the Oireachtas on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability, and to ensure that local government funding, structures and responsibilities strengthen local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (8 May 2018)

Damien English: Policy responsibility for A Vision for Change, the strategy which sets out the direction for Mental Health Services in Ireland and which is being implemented by the HSE in conjunction with other agencies, is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health. The current National Housing Strategy for People with a Disabilityand associated National Implementation Framework, were jointly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (8 May 2018)

Damien English: In line with the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland, in 2017 the Housing Agency commissioned an expert, independent review of funding for traveller-specific accommodation to date. This review had regard to targets contained in the local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes and actual units delivered, the current status of accommodation funded and funding provided for accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (8 May 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: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (8 May 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together. The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 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 pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (1 May 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 training...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (1 May 2018)

Damien English: Applications to harvest seaweed, most of which are by companies, are effectively on hold until such time as I am in a position to bring clarity to the regulatory regime applying to the harvesting of wild seaweed. This includes the interaction between the applications on hand from companies and any seaweed related rights that exist. At that point the applications on hand will come before me...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Damien English: The Deputy and I were at the meeting to which he refers. The timeline given at the meeting was that we would hopefully be in a position to publish the protocol in February or March. We are a little behind that now, but the protocol is practically ready to be published. It is the work of the NSAI; it is not work my Department can do directly. We asked the NSAI to prepare the protocol as...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I recently met the chief executive and staff of the local authority in Kerry and that matter was not put to me as one of their main issues of concern. There is enough room with the housing assistance payment in certain cases, as there is a 20% allowance to go above the cap if needs be. It was not raised with me, but I am happy to discuss it with the Deputy and with the local authority. If...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Maritime Spatial Planning (26 Apr 2018)

Damien English: My Department is responsible for national marine environmental policy in Ireland, principally through the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The aim of MSFD is to integrate environmental considerations into all aspects of marine activity to maintain or reach a point of good environmental status (GES) in our seas and oceans and ensure that this status...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (26 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 231, inclusive, together. My Department recently published the 2017 Annual Progress Report on Unfinished Housing Developments, which are regarded as developments not substantially complete in the context of the scope of works envisaged under the relevant planning permission.  The report is available on my Department's website at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (26 Apr 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: Housing Adaptation Grant (26 Apr 2018)

Damien English: The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out. The grant eligible works include the provision of heating and any repair or improvement works which are considered reasonably necessary.  The detailed administration of these grants,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (26 Apr 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” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress and is limited in its application and scope. The full...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies Establishment (26 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 245, inclusive, together. Project Ireland 2040 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 Development Agency to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I thank the Senators for having me back in the House. We will try to get this Bill near the end of its passage today, if possible. On this space, Senator Boyhan and I have a lot of common ground and we do not need to force a vote. I certainly would not want to force the Senator to vote. It is not in my nature to make anyone vote. We will try to find a compromise if we can. As the...