Results 3,841-3,860 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Data (14 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I want to make very clear that the figures I tried to give earlier show we have a homelessness rate of approximately 2.7 households for every 1,000 households. In England, the figure is 3.45 homeless households for 1,000. The figure for Scotland is higher again. The Deputy is right to say that the number of those rough sleeping in England, namely, 4,134 people, is also very high. When the...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Data (14 Nov 2017)

Damien English: We provide emergency accommodation and we will provide an increased number of emergency beds in the months ahead to allow for potentially cold weather. We are not saying that it is acceptable. I want to be absolutely clear on this. Speaking about international comparisons does not in any way try to excuse or normalise homelessness. That is not what this is about. We have put in the...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Data (14 Nov 2017)

Damien English: It is not the same as ten years ago.

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Data (14 Nov 2017)

Damien English: The number of adults is the same as ten years ago, but the difference is that more than 3,000 children are homeless now. We have to put in more money to fix this and we will fix it. Progress is being made. Please do not do down the work that is being done by all of those involved in providing solutions, because 85 solutions a day is quite a lot. It is not enough to deal with it so we will...

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Data (14 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I welcome the opportunity to elaborate upon the comments that were made by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, at the weekend in respect of lreland's rate of homelessness and to clarify the technical issues associated with making international comparisons. The Taoiseach is very well informed about the situation relating to housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (14 Nov 2017)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (14 Nov 2017)

Damien English: An independent Pyrite Panel was established in September 2011 to explore options for a resolution to the problems caused by the presence of pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material which had manifested in dwellings in a number of local authority areas. The Panel undertook a desktop study, in conjunction with a stakeholder consultation, to establish certain facts in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (14 Nov 2017)

Damien English: Traveller-specific projects and developments are focused on group housing schemes and halting sites.  This includes meeting traveller-specific housing needs through a range of mechanisms, including the provision of mobiles and caravans; the provision and refurbishment of halting sites and bays within sites; the refurbishment and extension of existing group housing; the return to use...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (14 Nov 2017)

Damien English: As set out in my reply to Questions No 271 and 272 of 26 October 2017, 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...

Private Rental Sector Standards: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I thank the Sinn Féin Deputies, particularly Deputy Ó Broin, for tabling this motion tonight as it enables us to discuss what worries the Government in this area and also what we witnessed in last week's programme. In this House, we are not easily shocked, as people have said, and we have seen many things over recent years. What was shown in the programme was a blatant disregard...

Private Rental Sector Standards: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2017)

Damien English: Anywhere there is a need.

Private Rental Sector Standards: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I stand over everything I said. Anywhere there is a need.

Private Rental Sector Standards: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2017)

Damien English: It is only in draft form. It is not finished yet.

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (7 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue which concerns thousands of citizens not just in Cork, but throughout the country. The latest official figures available relating to local authority housing lists are those which were prepared on foot of the statutory summary of social housing assessments, SSHA, carried out in September 2016 by the Housing Agency. This identified 91,600...

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (7 Nov 2017)

Damien English: We agree that we face unprecedented challenges regarding the supply of social housing. That has been the issue. Governments of different parties before the recession decided to withdraw local authorities from delivering housing and we are trying to put that capacity back into the system. We are asking local authorities, councillors such as those mentioned by the Deputy and the staff who...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (7 Nov 2017)

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 pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Regulations (7 Nov 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1342 and 1343 together. The difficult process of resolution of the issues relating to the development in question, involving the relevant members of the Irish Banking Federation, the Residents’ Committee, the Government and Dublin City Council, concluded with a Framework Agreement in October 2013. In recognition of the unique and exceptional...

National Planning Framework: Statements (Resumed) (26 Oct 2017)

Damien English: I might as well take a stab at it. I thank all the Members of the House for their valuable, insightful contributions to the discussion. As many of them have acknowledged, this is one of the most important issues that this Chamber will consider. We will set down the vision, the ambition and the implementation plan as to how we see our country growing over the course of the next 20 years. I...

Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Departments (26 Oct 2017)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Stanley for raising this matter and apologise on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, who could not be here tonight. I assure the Deputy that, as the Minister stated previously, the most important issue with regard to consideration of services at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise is that patient safety and outcomes must come first. The Minister is...

Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Departments (26 Oct 2017)

Damien English: I reiterate that the Minister was unable to be here tonight and I am not in a position to respond to the Deputy in detail.