Results 4,861-4,880 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water Services Infrastructure (6 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I cannot answer for how long this has been going on but the bottom line is it will be sorted out.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (6 Jul 2016)

Damien English: The Building Regulations 1997 to 2014 set out the minimum statutory requirements applicable to the design and construction of new buildings, extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings and are divided in 12 parts (classified as Parts A to M). Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) are published to accompany each...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (5 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. It is clear that excellent work is done by group water schemes. There has been pent-up demand for some years due to the lack of investment owing to economic circumstances. Hopefully, we are in a better place now to try to tackle that and we hope to get that money out to them to be spent more quickly. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (5 Jul 2016)

Damien English: Water supply and water quality are issues that are dear to the heart of the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, and ones on which he will take action. As the Senator knows, he is not a Minister who sits around waiting for decisions. He is only in the job less than two months and he has made it very clear that he will make announcements in the very near future in regard to these schemes, and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (5 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. In accordance with section 8 of the , the Board is independent in the performance of its functions and I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (5 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together. The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. In accordance with section 8 of the , the Board is independent in the performance of its functions and I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme. The...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 34 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Damien English: It always has an impact.

Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: The new programme for partnership Government sets out the ambitious priority attached to urban regeneration by the new Government. This is an area in which we wish to engage, specifically by redesigning and enhancing the current scheme. A series of specific actions has been set out as to how it is proposed to facilitate the regeneration of our urban centres, many of which were adversely...

Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: I did refer to CPOs.

Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: I accept that I may speak a little fast.

Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: However, in listing the actions we are considering I clearly stated that we were considering the possibility of "mandating local authorities with better land management powers, including the possibility of additional CPO capabilities". I am sorry if that was not clear.

Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: I also noted the reference to compulsory purchase orders in the Deputy's question. While local authorities have some powers in the area of compulsory purchase orders, they clearly do not consider them to be sufficiently strong. We are willing to examine this issue. Other State body stakeholders have CPO powers which are not being used. We will see what we can do to increase the use of...

Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: Deputies Cowen and Lawless outlined the issues the Department intends to examine. We will consider a range of carrot and stick measures. Deputy Lawless will be familiar with the Supreme Court decision on a case arising in County Kildare. That decision affects any change to legislation governing CPOs that we may consider. This is a complicated area that involves a number of statutes and...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: I will make a couple of observations. The Deputy only hears what she wants to hear. The Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, and I have repeatedly said we wanted to increase greatly the supply of housing being built by local authorities. Has the Deputy missed that?

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: One of the Minister's first acts was to meet all of the local authorities to ask them how they would ramp up supply and what would be needed across government to make that happen. As the Deputy may have missed that, I will be clear - that is what we want to do. However, we also recognise that we need more houses across the system. The Deputy might not like calling it a housing "market",...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: -----young people of all ages who want to use their skills. They want to work. They are not sitting at home waiting to increase profits. They want to work on sites. I accept that a percentage are involved in the speculative market, but the majority want to go to work and build houses and will settle for a small margin on that work.

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: Exactly. That is what we are trying to fix.

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: There is a range of reasons across the system. We will change the situation. That is our job. It will involve a major ramping up in the supply of social housing delivered through local authorities and the rebuilding of the capacity of the Department and local government to make this happen.

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: Access to land for a range of developers, as well as local authorities, is one of the barriers. In most cases though local authorities have sites available, but there are delays in the system, issues in accessing finance, off-balance sheet concerns, etc. Affordable land is an issue for everyone in the long term. To deliver affordable housing, we need affordable land. There is some...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Damien English: Yes. In general, access to land at the right price is an issue for all providers. It has a major effect on the end price.