Results 3,281-3,300 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

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

Damien English: -----a process whereby new plans that are published and produced follow the spirit of the legislation, even though the legislation has not been passed yet. It is hoped it will get there some time this year. We are putting in place a process that guarantees, no matter who is in Government in the future, that there is a protocol that takes account of all the consultation we have had and that...

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

Damien English: -----but in that case it would be very difficult. It would assume a lot of the responsibilities of planners. That is the job of the planning departments and planners whose profession it is. We are politicians and legislators who make decisions on documents and so on. We would not be in a position here to do all that planning detail of a national plan that needs to be passed through the...

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

Damien English: No.

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

Damien English: Can I raise a few issues that I hope to deal with on Report Stage?

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

Damien English: Yes, that is fine once they get taken.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (25 Apr 2018)

Damien English: Before formally concluding Committee Stage in the Seanad I shall outline, in accordance with the procedures, four of the amendments that I have already referenced in the Dáil and earlier during deliberations in the Seanad. The following list are four amendments that my Department is working on which I propose to table on Report Stage in the Seanad: amend the Derelict Sites Act 1990 to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (25 Apr 2018)

Damien English: My Department does not have details of residential units that are specifically wheelchair liveable.  My reply to Question No. 239 of 18 April 2018 sets out the requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations and indicates that these may be regarded as the statutory minimum level of provision. While Part M provides, inter alia, that new dwellings are visitable, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (24 Apr 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 and my Department is required to identify and develop sectoral mitigation measures for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (24 Apr 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: Pyrite Remediation Programme (24 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: Local Authority Funding (24 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together. Since 2009, my Department has made financial support available to assist local authorities in meeting the costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works associated with the response to significant severe weather emergency events. This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (24 Apr 2018)

Damien English: The Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan For Housing and Homelessness identifies the important contribution that increased student accommodation provision can make to resolving the overall housing undersupply problem. Rebuilding Ireland builds on the close cooperation of my Department with the Department of Education and Skills on the issue of student accommodation over a...

Plastic and Packaging Pollution: Statements (19 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I welcome the EU plastics strategy. My Department and I are fully committed to working with the European Commission and other member states to achieve the ambitions set out in the first ever Europe-wide strategy for plastics, particularly marine litter. We are liaising and co-operating very closely with waste and litter policyholders in the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten’s...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Closures (19 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton. I wish to apologise on his behalf that he cannot be present due to a prior commitment to visit two schools with An Taoiseach. I will make sure to convey to him the matters raised in this debate. He is very familiar with this situation but I understand the importance of raising it today...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Closures (19 Apr 2018)

Damien English: Again, I understand the issue raised by the Senator, namely, phasing and dealing with it appropriately but I must point out that the phasing arrangement began in 2008, which is nearly ten years ago. It was agreed national policy. A lot of time has been given to this school. Part of the difficulty was that in 2015, St. Thomas's school expanded its provision to cater for leaving certificate...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills who is unable to take the debate and sends his apologies. He had a prior commitment to visit two schools with the Taoiseach. He would like to be here to discuss the matter with the Senator because he knows it is very important for the Cork area and the area represented by the Senator. Again, I thank the Senator for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Apr 2018)

Damien English: The Minister is very anxious that this would progress through the phases as quickly as possible. It is on the list and will be done. All involved in the Department would like to see it progress and will work with the local school to do that. Again, I thank Senator Buttimer for raising this issue on behalf of his constituents.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Commemorative Events (19 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I thank Senator Colm Burke for raising this important issue in such a sensitive manner. His approach certainly reflects the type of sensitive approach that the Minister, Deputy Madigan, and her Department would take. The Minister is sorry she could not be here. This is an issue in respect of which she would like to engage with the Senator and this House. However, she cannot be present due...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Commemorative Events (19 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I thank Senator Colm Burke for raising this matter and giving us the opportunity to discuss it. The Senator has put forward some good ideas and the departmental officials will explore the possibilities and engage with the Minister on this, as well as with the advisory group. I suggest that the various groups to which he referred should engage with the relevant local authority and feed in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rent Controls (19 Apr 2018)

Damien English: I refer to the reply to Questions No. 1491, 1556 and 1579 of 17 April 2018 which sets out the latest position in the matter.