Results 4,341-4,360 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Other Questions: Student Accommodation (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising the issue, as we are trying to concentrate on student accommodation as well. We are aware of the fact that, on occasions, development proposals for student accommodation developments can raise concerns at community level. However, the planning system is extremely open and transparent as regards community participation in the decision making process,...

Other Questions: Student Accommodation (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: It is unfair to just assume that because an area has student accommodation, it will suffer all these difficulties. That is a little unfair and the wrong view, as it is not borne out by facts. I am willing to consider any facts that the Deputy has in that regard. We are trying to provide purpose-built student accommodation with all the services required for everybody's sake and for ease of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Issues (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: I think we all agree that there is great potential in both schemes. What was announced today is the next phase of the repair and leasing initiative, which has been successful in Waterford and Carlow. The plan is to roll out that model. The Deputy has previously called for the model to be available in Offaly and other counties. We also want it to be available everywhere. The scheme is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Issues (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: This is an issue about which Deputy Cowen has real concerns. I share these concerns so I have put much time and effort into meeting people in the business who are becoming assigned certifiers and carrying out this work. There is a great range of costs out there. We are analysing these costs in our Department. We have two working groups on the overall costs of construction, which Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Issues (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: -----which is what we are trying to do, so I think Deputy Cowen will agree with our approach. The report will be published in the second quarter. That is the bottom line on that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Issues (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: I would welcome that. That is what we are trying to do. We are trying to share our work with the committee because the work being conducted by both is similar. The two investigations into the costs are under way. I stress to the Deputy that there is great opportunity regarding the costs of the certifier. I ask people in this business to explore the options out there, even before we...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: Lead responsibility for the Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23 January 2017, rest with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. However, as the proposal listed at Action 6 therein relates to a planning matter, its delivery falls to my Department. The proposed action, which was also reflected in the Government's Action...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: Pillar 5 of the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness - Rebuilding Ireland 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 optimum degree possible. In this regard, Action 5.1 of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: Pillar 5 of the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness - Rebuilding Ireland 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 optimum degree possible. In this regard, Action 5.1 of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: I refer to the reply to Question No. 3 on today’s Order Paper, which sets out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: Pillar 5 of the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness - Rebuilding Ireland 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 optimum degree possible. In this regard, Action 5.1 of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Departmental Investigations (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 72 together. An expert panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in April 2016 to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. The panel have the following terms of reference:- (i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (23 Feb 2017)

Damien English: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. The figures that the Deputy has requested are available on my Department's website at the following web link under ‘registrations by month/year’; www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-pri...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Plan (22 Feb 2017)

Damien English: Lead responsibility for the Action Plan for Rural Development , which was launched on 23 January 2017, rests with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. However, as the proposal listed at Action 8 therein relates to a planning matter, its delivery falls to my Department. The proposed action, which was also reflected in the Programme for a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (22 Feb 2017)

Damien English: The Building Regulations 1997 to 2017, which are made under the Building Control Act 1990, as amended, set out the minimum legal requirements applicable to the construction of all new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. The Building Regulations are primarily concerned...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Third Level Fees (21 Feb 2017)

Damien English: I thank Senator Billy Lawless for raising this matter. I want to apologise on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, who is engaged in the other House and cannot be here for this debate, although he wanted to be here because it is an important issue. I will begin by explaining the background to the current free fees schemes. Under the terms of the Department’s...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Third Level Fees (21 Feb 2017)

Damien English: That is something I would certainly welcome. I know from my previous role in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and my current one in the Department of Education and Skills that even from a skills point of view and from the point of view of our economy, many people such as the ones the Senator represents are abroad with the skills we need. From a construction point of view,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (21 Feb 2017)

Damien English: Senator Murnane O'Connor made a very strong case. I understand the situation. I apologise that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, was not present to hear the strong case the Senator made. He is familiar with the Saplings school in Carlow, the great work that is done there. I understand there are 19 students, four teachers and 12 other staff. The Minister is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (21 Feb 2017)

Damien English: I will pass on the information to the Minister, Deputy Bruton. The Department funds the rent for the current premises and is quite happy to fund the rent for an alternative premises. From the point of view of the Department, the board is responsible for the premises and is also best placed locally to find alternative accommodation. We understand it is looking for that, and will be happy to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Energy Efficiency (21 Feb 2017)

Damien English: Directive 2010/31/EU on the Energy Performance of Buildings requires that by 31 December 2020 all new buildings are nearly zero-energy buildings. Furthermore, it requires that after 31 December 2018 new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities are nearly zero-energy buildings. However, new social housing is not subject to the earlier 31 December 2018 date as social housing is not...