Results 4,041-4,060 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Topical Issue Debate: Naas Town Centre (12 Jul 2017)

Damien English: -----so I understand and appreciate the Deputy's eagerness to have the matter resolved. I have seen the site and understand even from the point of view of having passed through the town how important it is that this site be developed or resolved one way or the other. I therefore understand Deputy Durkan's and the council's desire to keep raising the matter at every opportunity they can in...

Topical Issue Debate: Naas Town Centre (12 Jul 2017)

Damien English: I agree with Deputy Durkan that we, as a planning Department, must do all we can to make this happen. If we can help in any way with planning queries or other issues surrounding this matter, and if Kildare County Council seeks our help in that regard, we will be able to engage with the council. There is no problem whatsoever facilitating a meeting if needs be. If there are any planning or...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (11 Jul 2017)

Damien English: I understand that things can change. I am sorry that I could not wait any longer. We have some appointments booked up as well. I thank Senator Mac Lochlainn for raising this important issue - I recognise it as such. I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn's colleagues in Donegal and Mayo as well. Colleagues across parties and in both Houses have been raising this issue with me directly during the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (11 Jul 2017)

Damien English: Everyone here has been driving this issue for well over a year. I recognise that. It is cross-party, and I want to be clear on that. I am conscious of the effects in Donegal and Mayo. It would be wrong of anyone to try to claim this issue. People are being affected. It is not a political issue. I have met these people. I have told them that I will do my job to help them get a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (11 Jul 2017)

Damien English: The residents I have met fully understand that. I met the Mica Action Group in Donegal and other groups in Mayo also. They understood that a report had to be done. We had to gather the evidence and get solutions. I have had it for a couple of weeks. We will deal with it. These people want to know that the houses will be fixed. I told them I will work with them on that, and that is as...

Quarterly Report on Housing: Statements (6 Jul 2017)

Damien English: I will facilitate the Acting Chairman in that regard. Many questions were asked during the debate and I will not get a chance to answer all of them, but we can come back. to them. We had a good discussion at the committee on the issue. On behalf of this side of the House, I thank everybody for his or her contribution. It has been a wide-ranging and well informed debate in which many...

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (5 Jul 2017)

Damien English: I am very happy to confirm that our Departments has no rule relating to stone walls. The Deputy can go back to the council and tell the people there to check the rules. If there is any doubt about that, I can send the Deputy a letter on it. I am very conscious of the social benefits flowing from the housing adaption grants for older people and people with disabilities in terms of...

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (5 Jul 2017)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Danny Healy-Rae for raising this matter. As Minister of State with responsibility for housing and urban renewal in the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, I am aware of the challenges we face in delivering housing supports to a range of vulnerable households and groups throughout the country. We held a competition last week in regard to new...

Topical Issue Debate: Military Aircraft (29 Jun 2017)

Damien English: As the Deputy will understand, my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, is engaged in important business elsewhere and is unable to reply in person. For this reason, I will respond on his behalf. As I do not have details of the aircraft to which the Deputy referred, I cannot respond to the specific matters raised by the Deputy. I was asked to respond to a...

Topical Issue Debate: Military Aircraft (29 Jun 2017)

Damien English: The Deputy contends that allowing US military aircraft to land at Shannon Airport amounts to a change in or weakening of our policy of neutrality which enjoys wide public support and has been pursued by successive Governments for more than half a century. As has been repeatedly stated in the House, that policy has not changed. Ireland is not a member of a military alliance and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (29 Jun 2017)

Damien English: Section 8(2) of the Building Control Act 1990 provides that an Enforcement Notice shall not be served in respect of building works after the expiration of the period of five years commencing on the date of the completion of the building or the works, or the material change in the purposes for which the building is used. Section 17(6) of the Building Control Act 1990 provides that summary...

Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: I am glad to have the opportunity to participate in this debate on an important aspect of local government. I commend and thank Deputy Cassells for bringing forward the Bill. It takes a lot of time to get a Bill together and get one's colleagues and the rest of us to support it. This is a worthwhile discussion. It is one I have had around the country with councillors over the past year in...

Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: It started there but the wider county council is making it happen. That is my point. I have no difficulty saying town councils have many good ideas and some great projects, some are finished, others have been talked about for many years but there were no resources to back them up. It involves bringing everyone together.

Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: The municipal area there takes in the size of the town and is probably one of the best municipal areas.

Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: That supports the argument on both sides here. A reduction in some municipal areas might be a better way to do it. That is worth thrashing out. The scheme involving investment in the order of €12 million will strengthen Navan's case. It will also strengthen economic growth in the town, supporting business, retail and tourism to meet the needs of Navan for present and future...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seanad Reform (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for the chance to clarify the record and confirm that there is no change to the Government's commitment. We will go through the formalities. I must have missed the matter in the debate on the leadership contest. A Programme for a Partnership Government confirms the Government's commitment to pursue the implementation of the Manning report. I am pleased to have the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seanad Reform (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: I did not see the article the Senator referred to about the presidential vote, but the work has started in my Department and is ongoing. We are not doing that for fun. We are committed to it and I understand that there were delays with the nominations. I cannot explain six months of delays. I will check for the Senator to make sure that all of those nominations are now included. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: The following are the average costs for the range of differently sized social housing units in terms of both construction costs and ‘all-in’ costs. These are based on the analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period. Due to the very low level of capital investment in social housing construction during many of the years in question it...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: In July 2015, the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government directed that a review be undertaken by an independent fire expert to develop a framework for general application, in the interest of supporting owners and residents living in developments where concerns regarding non-compliance with fire safety requirements arise. A steering group was convened to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety (27 Jun 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 622 to 624, inclusive, and 634 and 640 together. My Department has overall responsibility for the statutory regulatory framework governing both Building Control and Fire Services. Inspection and enforcement and the maintenance of relevant registers are a matter for  local authorities who, under the relevant legislation, are designated...