Results 3,801-3,820 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Topical Issue Debate: Homelessness Strategy (30 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I was about to answer Deputy Ó Broin's specific question when I ran out of time. It was not the Ceann Comhairle's fault; it was probably my fault for speaking slowly for once. The Deputy has suggested that 1,800 homes have been offered to the State in various ways. I am not sure the figure is as high as that, but it is certainly more than 1,000. Like the Deputy, I am not happy with...

Topical Issue Debate: Homelessness Strategy (30 Nov 2017)

Damien English: Some of the new beds being provided under the emergency provision were announced during the year. We put many extra beds in place in the early part of the year. We are committed to doing more. In October 2016 and again in September or October of this year, we sat down with all the people involved in this sector to try to work how many additional emergency beds were needed. We committed...

Topical Issue Debate: Homelessness Strategy (30 Nov 2017)

Damien English: It covers Westmeath and Offaly.

Topical Issue Debate: Homelessness Strategy (30 Nov 2017)

Damien English: That will not be necessary. These facilities will remain open until February or March.

Topical Issue Debate: Homelessness Strategy (30 Nov 2017)

Damien English: It is not an issue.

Topical Issue Debate: Homelessness Strategy (30 Nov 2017)

Damien English: This week we tragically heard of the deaths of two individuals on our streets. We all agree this is not acceptable and should never happen. It is certainly something that we want to avoid. All Deputies agree that it should be avoidable and that it should not happen. It is as simple as that. I join the Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and many others in this House in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Energy Rating Administration (29 Nov 2017)

Damien English: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which comes under the auspices of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is the statutory agency responsible for the implementation and management of the Building Energy Rating (BER) Scheme, in accordance with Ireland’s obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive...

Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I should be in a position to update the House before the end of the year. The expert panel is progressing well in terms of technical issues and regulations 1 and 2. As regards those who are in an unsafe house, once they prove they are entitled to go on the social housing list, local authorities can accommodate them. A number of people made applications but did not qualify for various...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (28 Nov 2017)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (28 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 684 and 685 together. Since 2009, my Department has made financial support available to assist local authorities to cover the costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works associated with significant emergency events, including flooding. This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities in responding to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (28 Nov 2017)

Damien English: The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides the legislative basis for the formulation of statutory local authority plans, and is supplemented by guidelines issued by my Department under section 28 of the Act, which are available on my Department's website at the following web link: www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Pub...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: County Development Plans (28 Nov 2017)

Damien English: The report referred to in the Question would appear to have been a submission to the planning authority, in the context of the internal processes relating to the preparation of its draft development plan. The documentation forwarded by planning authorities to my Department in the context of my statutory role as consultee in the development plan preparation process is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: County Development Plans (28 Nov 2017)

Damien English: Planning and development is one of the most important functions of local authorities. Development plans and local area plans, as adopted by the elected members in line with the broader regulatory and policy context for planning, set the local policy context for individual decisions on planning applications by the planning authority. The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: County Development Plans (28 Nov 2017)

Damien English: The process in relation to making a local authority Development Plan is a statutory one, set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). My Department examines the development plans and local area plans as adopted compared to recommendations and requests made at the public consultation stages in my capacity as statutory consultee. The examination of the plans...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commencement of Legislation (28 Nov 2017)

Damien English: All sections of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 have been commenced, apart from section 34 which amends section 96 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, in relation to rental accommodation availability agreements.  The commencement of section 34 is linked to Chapter 4 of Part 2 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, relating to rental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (23 Nov 2017)

Damien English: The Government intends Ireland 2040 - Our Plan, the National Planning Framework (NPF), to provide the long-term strategic planning and investment context for Ireland over the next 20 years. Recognising that almost 40% of Ireland’s population lives in rural areas, the Government recognises that rural communities should be in a position to meet their housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (23 Nov 2017)

Damien English: The application to harvest seaweed in Bantry Bay was originally received in 2009, approved in principle in 2011 and the legal papers giving effect to the decision were completed in 2014. The licence requires the submission and approval of a detailed monitoring plan prior to the commencement of harvesting. The monitoring plan is under consideration in my Department at present. The proposed...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2017)

Damien English: We will introduce that one.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2017)

Damien English: The Deputy heard my whole speech. She should read that as well.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I am grateful for the opportunity to address the House on this matter. It is very important that we are here again, discussing housing and homelessness for possibly the seventh or eighth week in a row. That is where the focus has been for everybody in here. It is our number one priority and as I said last week, it is wrong to argue otherwise. Week in and week out, everyone in this...