Results 6,561-6,580 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: There have been two complaints of bullying lodged by staff members in my Department since 2011.  There have been no sexual harassment claims in the period in question.  These cases were investigated fully under the “Positive Working Environment Policy” which was the Anti-Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy for the Civil Service in operation at the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The large majority of social housing projects initiated by local authorities are implemented through standard contracts for public works, following a competitive tendering process. Contractors in such cases are paid on a staged basis as the project advances. Local authorities may also acquire social housing either through acquisitions of second-hand or newly completed houses,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. Recognising that housing affordability is a major issue for some households and that while initiatives introduced to date are having an impact and will have a greater impact in time, the Government considers that a further package of targeted measures focused on addressing affordability is needed to enable low- to moderate-income...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in carrying out his functions under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 and my Department has no role in this regard. The revaluation provisions in the Valuation Acts 2001-2015 provide for the revaluation of all rateable property within a rating authority area so as to reflect changes in value due to economic factors such as business turnover,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, as amended, provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Contracts with Irish Water are an operational matter for the utility and I have no function in such matters. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website. The statistics collected relate to the total numbers of: - Invalid applications received, - Applications received for outline permission and full permission, - Decisions to grant/refuse permission, - Decisions issued within the statutory eight-week...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Solar Energy Guidelines (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I refer to the reply to Questions Numbers 259, 260 and 261 of 13 December 2017.  The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department is in regular contact with Louth County Council regarding the delivery of their social housing programme.  I will be meeting with all Local Authority Chief Executives, including Louth County Council, at the Housing Summit on 22 January 2018.  Furthermore, my Department will be meeting with all Local Authority Directors of Housing on 7 February 2018 in order...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1702, 1731 and 1838 together. Recognising that housing affordability is a major issue for some households, several important initiatives have already been implemented under Rebuilding Ireland to stimulate housing supply at more affordable prices and rents. Such initiatives include: - planning reforms to provide flexibility and certainty in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The National Planning Framework (NPF) is intended to set a new long-term strategic planning and investment context for Ireland over the next 20 years.  It will outline a high-level, national vision for Ireland for 2040, and will provide the framework and principles to manage future population and economic growth over the next 20 years (catering for 1 million extra people, 600,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1704 and 1728 together. The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing 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 are based on an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates Exemptions (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1705 and 1717 together. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.  The Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility for valuation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme, including the number of completed transactions by lender.  This information is available on the Agency's website at the following link: . Following a Review of the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme, published on 8 February 2017, a range of amendments to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rent Pressure Zones (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2016 sets out the process through which Rent Pressure Zones can be designated. It provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered as a Rent Pressure Zone. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the Director of the Residential Tenancies...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply Leakages (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for delivering public water services. Irish Water is also responsible for water services infrastructure including water supply pipes or drainage pipes extending from a waterworks or wastewater works to the curtilage of a private property. Under sections 43 and 54 of the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for maintenance and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: In late 2017, my Department conducted a review of group water schemes' subsidies. The review involved discussions with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the representative body of the group water sector.  Discussions concluded in December when I approved the revised subsidy levels.  The new subsidy arrangements, endorsed by a special delegate conference...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board Data (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1711 to 1713, inclusive, together. Details of determination orders, dispute processing times, appeals and requests for enforcement to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) over the past five years, are not held by my Department. Each year, the RTB publishes information on its activities in its annual report, including disputes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department has ongoing engagement with all the local authorities regarding the delivery of social housing through all funding streams.  This includes quarterly meetings of the technical staff, of both my Department and the local authorities, to review progress on all projects. These engagements can also involve site visits to review project activity at first hand. These quarterly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (16 Jan 2018)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department publishes data on a monthly basis regarding the number of homeless persons accommodated in all forms of emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities.  These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities and are produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS), the single integrated national data information system...