Results 3,761-3,780 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (12 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 541 together. The taking-in-charge of housing estates is a matter for the relevant local authority under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). In an attempt to enhance learning and systems development and to accelerate the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, my Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (12 Dec 2017)

Damien English: The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 assign responsibility for fire safety in premises of all kinds, other than dwellings occupied as a single dwelling, to the 'person having control' over premises to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises, and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I thank Deputy O'Brien for raising this issue. He did so in a genuine manner. He is right that it is important to recognise that the homelessness and rough sleepers difficulty exists not only in Dublin, where the main media concentration is, but also outside. We are aware of that in the Department because we are involved in providing the services on a nightly basis. I accept that the...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I wish to make a final point. I agree with the Deputy that we must ensure the different types of accommodation cater for the need. I was at the Dublin Simon Community facility a few days ago where its personnel meet people who present with different needs and can cater for them.

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I wish to make it clear to the Deputy that there should be a bed available for everybody. The Minister could not be any clearer about this. He has repeatedly said in the House that when it comes to the emergency provision of housing, and we know that it is not a permanent solution, he has asked the local authorities to ensure there is a bed available for anybody who wants it. The Deputy is...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I accept the Deputy's good faith and am not denying it. I am just saying that the information we received does not match that of the Deputy.. I am willing to have that checked out because we are clear that we wish to be able to say with confidence where we know we have a bed available for everybody. I monitor the Dublin situation closely. We are able to track the beds that are available...

Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: This was discussed in the Seanad yesterday. The process involves oral and written statements. The written statement will be produced by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. There will be a much more detailed analysis. As I said in the Seanad, there will be other chances to discuss this at a later stage.

Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: Since my Department is the lead Department in respect of a number of proposed measures in the national mitigation plan, I welcome the opportunity to update the House on how we are doing in that regard. I had a chance yesterday to discuss this matter in the Seanad. The measures that my Department has responsibility for predominantly relate to the national planning framework, NPF, and the...

Other Questions: Student Accommodation (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: Increased availability of dedicated student accommodation can relieve pressure arising in the wider rental sector from students looking to meet their accommodation needs. By extension, this increases the overall housing stock, which in turn assists in addressing wider housing supply issues, providing capacity for other accommodation to be made available to provide solutions for others...

Other Questions: Student Accommodation (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: We are trying to tackle the housing shortage in many different ways, of which purpose-built student accommodation is a very successful one. The demands of students are slightly different from those of families, who need accommodation all year round. We have had some success in this regard. Purpose-built student accommodation will free up other properties in the rental sector. The planning...

Other Questions: Student Accommodation (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: Again, the business case for all these purpose-built student accommodation units allows for their usage over those number of months. It is a period of three or four months. It is actually more in some cases because one must take into account the Christmas period as well. Such accommodation is used by other students coming into the country from the higher education sector and other people...

Other Questions: Housing Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: It will be of assistance to Deputy Wallace.

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: My Department does not record monthly statistics on the number of households qualified for social housing support. Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority area are provided in the statutory summary of social housing assessments, which are now being carried out an annual basis and we have last year's figures. The most recently...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: We have had discussions on the various processes of getting on site which we are constantly trying to improve as a major part of Rebuilding Ireland. Local authorities are the responsible authorities to do this. Their capacity was reduced by previous Governments, for reasons with which I did not agree, but we are building it up by strengthening their teams and the number of people available...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: That is exactly what we are trying to put into the system. I agree that there is no excuse for sites taking up to eight years to be completed. We are reviewing all the projects and we are looking at the processes to see if we can put in place realistic timelines that all local authorities can sign up to. Their housing teams and chief executives have bought into this, as has our Department....

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: My understanding is that the process will be the same as last year.

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: It will be based on net need, which means people who are in need of a house or whose housing needs are not being met. People on the HAP or RAS schemes or on the transfer list are not included because their housing needs are met but it will include people on rent assistance, which is 45% of the total number on the housing waiting list. It also includes people in other private rented...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: I want to deal with this myth that I have heard repeatedly from many of Fianna Fáil's own councillors as I go around the country, namely, that local authorities are not being made responsible for, or being put in the position to drive, local authority and social housing. They absolutely are. We are not solely dependent on approved housing bodies, even if Fianna Fáil Deputies and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: It is probably a while since Deputy Cowen read the Action Plan for Housing but he should take a look at it. It shows where the money is allocated and who is doing what.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Damien English: Approved housing bodies are responsible for less than a third of units. We have asked local authorities to take the lead across the board and I again want to emphasise that they are all delivering social housing and that the supply of social housing has gone up for the last two years and now this year again. It will continue to go up in the years ahead. What we are trying to do is to...