Results 3,481-3,500 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I know but they were being complimentary so I had no problem with that. I thank you for the chance to answer some of the questions, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Some of the issues were raised by speakers on a previous day in January while others were covered today. I do not have all the answers, but if there are any questions I do not answer I will forward any details to individual Members. I...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I am very conscious of that. We are really trying to focus on vacant properties and I would point out to Senators McFadden, Byrne and others that there is a range of schemes in place in that regard. The repair and lease back scheme had a very poor uptake, which was very disappointing. I thought that scheme was well designed and that it could have been a great success. We have made changes...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: There are other questions which require specific answers.

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

Damien English: My Department does not maintain the information sought.  While planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website at the following link , these statistics do not include planning enforcement-related information, such as attendance at court for cases relating to unauthorised development.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: 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 provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: There are some 17 applications to harvest seaweed on hands in my Department that have yet to be determined.  During the course of assessing the applications it became clear that certain rights to harvest seaweed exist.  My Department is in the process of ascertaining, with the assistance of the Attorney General, the legal interface and relationship between...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: As I outlined in the reply to Question No. 660 of 13 February 2018, the role of my Department in relation to seaweed harvesting is to regulate the activity in accordance with the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended. The Act provides that a licence may be granted to remove beach material, including seaweed. Any licence granted would be temporary in nature.  The Foreshore...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: Section 1 of the Bill contains the standard provisions relating to the Short Title, collective citations, construction and commencement of the Act. Subsection (1), which was drafted for the version of the Bill before it concluded its passage through the Dáil, provided for the standard collective citation. This amendment proposes to insert a new subsection to update the collective...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: The purpose of these minor amendments is to correct the definition of "Minister" in section 2 of the Bill. They clarify that in light of the changes made to the title of the Ministry and the Department since the publication of this Bill in early 2016, the correct reference is to the "Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government". Accordingly, I will move amendments Nos. 17 to 22,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: Section 4 seeks to make the regulator's evaluations and assessments of development plans and regional strategies legally binding. I understand the rationale behind this approach but I must reject the amendment. We discussed this matter in the Dáil also. The primary role of the office of the planning regulator, as set out in the Bill, is to evaluate and assess development plans and...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: Amendments Nos. 10, 23, 47, 48 and 50 arise from previous amendments tabled by Fianna Fáil on Committee Stage in the Dáil which I indicated I was generally open to but could not accept as drafted. Recognising the links between transport plans and overall planning objectives, I wanted to explore the possibility of conferring on the office of the planning regulator a function...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I do not propose to accept the amendments proposed by Senator Grace O'Sullivan. The Bill ensures the office of the planning regulator shall have regard to the policies and objectives of the Government, planning authorities and any other public authorities, the functions of which have a bearing on proper planning and development. Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: It is not a problem, but it is just not necessary. It is built into the process that these matters must be taken into account when any development plan, planning application or planning regulation is being considered. Where do we stop? There are many other relevant directives in addition to those that have been mentioned. We have discussed this in the context of the national planning...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: Again, the offer is open to the Senator, or any Senator, to sit down with us before Report Stage if he or she has any doubt or seeks further clarity. If the Senator does not believe me or if I cannot prove something to her, we will be here again to discuss it on Report Stage but I ask her to trust me on this. The directives are very well covered and the amendments are not needed. However,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I agree with much in the proposal and understand why the Senator is making it. I understand the observations of his colleagues. However, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 24 tabled by Senator Reilly proposing the insertion of definitions of the terms "planner" and "planning consultant" in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. He said it is a small step but while it...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: To be clear, because I referred to architects. I am not saying that we cannot do this because of problems with that. There is a precedent set so we can do this, but a procedure was followed there. It was not simply a matter of tabling an amendment; we must flesh out our proposals more. If the Senator proposes to table an amendment on Report Stage or to introduce a Bill, that is fine but...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I do not propose to accept amendment No. 30 as proposed by Senators Grace O'Sullivan and Victor Boyhan due to its wording. It is important that there is a clear and robust planning rationale for embarking on a variation procedure in respect of a development plan. The current requirements in the Act recognise the fundamental role of elected members as decision-makers in this regard, which...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: To put Senator Boyhan's mind at ease, he will not have to book a week's holidays to do all of this work. I acknowledge that he has been engaging with my officials on this issue for the past year. There will be sufficient time to discuss the amendment further as there are many amendments I wish to bring forward on Report Stage which I also wish to discuss with him. We have some work to do...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I thank Senator Wilson for raising that issue. As I stated, there are some amendments on which we are still working and hope to bring forward on Report Stage. Those amendments will include the issue raised by the Senator. Some amendments on the vacant site levy that, as we announced, will go from 3% to 7% will be dealt with on Report Stage because they are not ready for today. Amendments...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: She should make sure she mentions Carlow.