Results 5,761-5,780 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The delivery of more affordable homes, to buy or rent, is a major priority for Government, focusing in particular on the cities of Dublin, Galway and Cork, where people are facing the greatest affordability challenge. Increased delivery of homes at more affordable prices will involve local authorities developing their own residential land bank, comprising some 1,700 hectares, to its full...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, a new loan offering, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, was made available on 1 February 2018. The new loan enables credit-worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range. The low rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: A number of social media accounts are operated by my Department and must be managed in accordance with my Department’s Social Media policy. My Department has not spent any money on social media training or consultancy since 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff Training (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: A number of social media accounts are operated by my Department and are managed in accordance with my Department’s Social Media policy. My Department has not spent any money on social media training or consultancy on the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts Data (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: No contracts for services were awarded to the Company referred to in the period outlined.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 453 and 454 together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: In line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which took place in 2017 and saw submissions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (29 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Following a Review of the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme, published on 8 February 2017, a range of amendments to the eligibility criteria and administration of the MTR scheme came into effect to enable more properties to qualify and to make the scheme more flexible and accessible to borrowers. The Review, available at the following link , explored the impediments to participation in the scheme...

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Government has signalled its intention to hold a plebiscite on directly elected mayors in the autumn. It will require legislation to come through the House. Work is ongoing in my Department to bring a paper to Government. We will make a decision on what options to proceed with on the holding of a plebiscite and I hope to bring that to Cabinet in April.

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: It is difficult for me to speak to individual cases. If the Deputy wishes to give me the details of the case to which he refers, I will look into it. Under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan, people who have separated and come from former relationships are entitled to access that home loan scheme. This is the first tranche, related to the €200 million fund. We are reviewing the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Department has been doing a lot of work on this area because of its importance not only around flooding but also our responsibility regarding certain EU directives on river basin management plans and river catchment areas. Work is ongoing in the Department to progress that. I am in regular contact with the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW on all these issues as we do...

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I will not be able to assign a referendum polling date until the Bill is passed by the Seanad. I hope that will happen later this afternoon. I will then be able to announce the actual polling date.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being undertaken on the revised Guidelines before they come into effect, in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment for certain people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. It is available in all local authority areas and its introduction now ensures that all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff Data (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligation of the public sector to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities.  This Act also provides for a statutory annual report on the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector. The latest available figures relate to 2016 when 4.7% of staff (32 staff) in my Department declared themselves as having a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Nuclear Plants (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department received correspondence from the UK authorities on 7 December 2017, informing it of the carrying out of a public consultation on the process and criteria for designating potentially suitable sites in a new National Policy Statement for nuclear power projects with over 1GW of single reactor capacity for the period 2026-2035, and stating that the Department could make a submission...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regional Development Initiatives (28 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Project Ireland 2040, which was launched by the Government last month, sets out the long-term planning and investment strategy for the country and contains a wide range of major investment projects and commitments within the 10-year National Development Plan. In addition, the 20-year National Planning Frameworkoutlines the broader policy principles and priorities to plan in a more strategic...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (27 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: A building had permission and often one relies on the close attention of people who are launching objections to the application. I am interested in this, having not yet heard how the additional units came to the attention of the planning authority. Was it through the planning authority's own work?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (27 Mar 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I hope tomorrow's meeting will put us in that position.