Results 4,241-4,260 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (2 May 2017)

Damien English: I am satisfied that the specific control requirements for listed breeds provide a balanced and workable arrangement which recognises the rights of dog owners, respects animal welfare to the extent possible, while also taking account of the needs of society to be protected from dogs with a significant capability to inflict very serious injury, or cause death. I have no plans to amend the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (2 May 2017)

Damien English: Pillar 5 of the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, published in July 2016, is specifically focused on Utilising Existing Housing Stock, with a key objective of ensuring that the existing vacant housing stock throughout the country and across all forms of tenure, in both the public and private sectors, is used to the optimal degree possible....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Grant Aid (2 May 2017)

Damien English: In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved: the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme. In this regard, it is incumbent on the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply of defective materials to face up to their responsibilities and take appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (2 May 2017)

Damien English: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme by the Pyrite Resolution Board for certain dwellings affected by significant pyrite damage. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: County Development Plans (2 May 2017)

Damien English: In relation to the Fingal County Development Plan, I have not issued a Direction. However, my Department made a number of submissions regarding the Development Plan during the consultation processes. The submission on the proposed material amendments included recommendations on the deletion of two zoning proposals in the vicinity of the former N2/M2 roads - amendments...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (2 May 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. It is important to note that the building control function of each Local Authority pursuant to the Building Control Act 1990, as amended, is separate and distinct from the planning function of each Local Authority under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Local Authorities in their capacity as Building Control Authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Legislative Measures (13 Apr 2017)

Damien English: Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 introduced a system of statutory registration for architects and restricted use of the title architect to persons who are registered architects. Section 22 of the Act makes specific provision for registration based on technical assessment of persons who had been independently performing duties commensurate with those of an architect for a period of 10...

Topical Issue Debate: Fire Service Staff (12 Apr 2017)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Scanlon for raising this important issue and I understand his reasons for bringing it forward. Fire services, in all their facets, are delivered by people. On behalf of the Government, I want to recognise the contribution that all staff in the fire services, both the retained services and the full-time services in Dublin city, make in protecting our communities. I talk to...

Topical Issue Debate: Fire Service Staff (12 Apr 2017)

Damien English: I understand why the Deputy is raising the issue and I am conscious certain members of the service have been asking for this. However, it is not something that has been brought to my attention on a larger scale, either by the unions or management. It is an issue on which I can do a bit more digging. I recognise that the retirement age is a conversation that is happening in regard to many...

Order of Business (11 Apr 2017)

Damien English: Deputy Martin looks traumatised.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (11 Apr 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323, 329, 330 and 331 together. In relation to the Deputy’s request, these are matters for local authorities, who are independent in the use of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 – 2014. In relation to inspections, the Local Government Management Agency collected data on inspections carried out on buildings and published...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (11 Apr 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. The purpose of the Building Control Management System (BCMS) is an IT enabler, set up to facilitate building control authorities, building owners, builders and construction professionals in discharging their separate responsibilities under the Building Control Act 1990.  The system provides a common platform for clear and consistent...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (6 Apr 2017)

Damien English: I fully agree with the Deputy. Preliminary data from the census indicate there are approximately 200,000 vacant properties when holiday homes are excluded. The figure may be slightly lower but, either way, this area presents an immense opportunity. For this reason, the Minister announced a couple of initiatives to fast-track our approach. We are putting processes in place. We held two...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (6 Apr 2017)

Damien English: We are all in complete agreement on this matter, which is nice for a change. The opportunities in this area are endless. We have asked local authorities and approved housing bodies to send someone out to every vacant property and tell us who owns it, why it is empty, what is wrong with it and what must be done to bring it into use. The Department will then chase up on every individual...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (6 Apr 2017)

Damien English: Pillar 5 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is specifically focused on ensuring that the existing vacant housing stock throughout the country and across all forms of tenure in both the public and private sectors is used to the optimum degree possible. I know the Deputy agrees with this. In this regard, action 5.1 commits to the development of a national...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Apr 2017)

Damien English: They are genuinely committed to delivering houses quickly and I am not convinced the Deputy is genuinely committed to that cause. We want to reach these targets and we will achieve them. The Deputy is committed to a different agenda and that is up to her, but we are following international best practice.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Voluntary Housing Sector (6 Apr 2017)

Damien English: I can speak with confidence about pipelines because the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and I have been in Tipperary recently opening new treatment plants, thanks to Irish Water and the great work it is doing with the new investment plan it has, thanks to the money it has been allocated. We should compliment it on the work it is doing. On housing, when it comes to Tipperary, it is doing well...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Apr 2017)

Damien English: Under the Government's Rebuilding Ireland action plan, a particular priority attaches to using publicly owned lands for the delivery of housing as quickly as possible. In particular, we need more homes for families and individuals on the social housing waiting list and for those on low to middle incomes. Increasing and accelerating housing delivery to meet demand across the full...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Apr 2017)

Damien English: We are not against that at all. We are in favour of it.

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Apr 2017)

Damien English: The Deputy said there is capacity for 1,500 units. The Minister, the Department and I agree, as would most people, that it would be wrong to put 1,500 social housing on that site. The site is probably best designed for around 1,000 housing units at medium development, which the Deputy would encourage as we have discussed developments in that area before here. The target at this moment is...