Results 7,681-7,700 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

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

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2058 and 2059 together. All key indicators of construction activity show that residential construction is ramping up considerably and the recent ESRI Summer Quarterly Economic Commentary published on 22 June 2017 forecasts that house completions will reach 18,500 this year and 23,500 in 2018, suggesting that the overarching Rebuilding Ireland target of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Brexit Issues (11 Sep 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2060 to 2066, inclusive, and 2068 together. The comprehensive document Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’s Approach published on 2 May 2017, outlined in detail the structures put in place by the Government to ensure a strategic and whole-of Government response to Brexit that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Brexit Staff (11 Sep 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: There are no vacancies in my Department for Brexit related roles currently. Matters in relation to Brexit are managed by the business unit responsible for the coordination of EU and international business in my Department, with input from relevant line sections and experts across the organisation, as necessary.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Brexit Issues (11 Sep 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: To date, no specific Brexit-related stakeholder engagement groups have been established by my Department.  This reflects the reality that the priorities identified by Government in planning and preparing for Brexit relate to trade and the economy; protecting the Peace Process; maintaining the Common Travel Area; and the future of the European remit. The whole-of Government response...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (11 Sep 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: While the need for, and objectives of, expenditure programmes are kept under regular review, there are at present no specific programmes being funded from my Department's Vote for 2017 that are likely to yield significant savings in 2018.  Indeed, in relation to housing, additional funding requirements are recognised and provided for in the €5.35 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (11 Sep 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 made a number of amendments to Part V of the Act, following the outcome of an independent review, which included a consultation process. The amendments, effective from 1 September 2015, sought to maximise the contribution Part V can make to social housing supply and sustainable mixed-tenure communities across the country. A principal change was the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (11 Sep 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department provides capital funding to local authorities for Improvement Works In Lieu (IWILs) to enable them to repair, improve or extend privately owned houses that are occupied by approved housing applicants, as an alternative to the provision of local authority housing. IWILs are administered under the Disabled Person’s Grants (DPG) scheme and it is a matter for each local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (11 Sep 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: 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 independent Commissioner of Valuation pursuant to the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV),...

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

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2075 to 2077, inclusive, together. My Department is committed to supporting older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence for as long as possible, as this has the best outcomes both for the individual and for society as a whole. Rebuilding Ireland aims to ensure that older people have a range of housing choices available to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department wrote to the agent representing the applicant in this case on 18 July 2017, seeking their agreement to both the specific conditions and valuation that would attach to a licence if granted.  The applicant accepted both the specific conditions and the valuation by letter received by my Department on 25 July 2017. I expect the case to come before...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Grant Payments (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: My Department does not have any grant available specific to the removal of asbestos from homes. However, the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability provide a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Motor Tax (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Other than the provisions of EU Directive 1999/62/EC (the "Eurovignette" Directive), the EU does not impose rules on motor tax rates.  Directive 1999/62/EC provides a legal framework for charging heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain roads.  While the Directive is largely concerned with the provision of mechanisms for infrastructure charging, it also sets...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Register (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: In order to be able to vote at elections and referendums, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides. Measures to facilitate the greater participation of students in elections have been provided for in electoral law. Section 63 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides that full-time students...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Projects (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: There are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites Levy (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas.  Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017, and to issue annual notices to owners of vacant sites by 1 June...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Charges Refunds (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services was published on 12 April 2017 and approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Committee recommended that in respect of the most cost efficient mechanism of adhering to the principle of equity of treatment for those who have paid and have not paid water charges, such households should be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The application by the Marine Institute to develop a 1/4 scale ocean energy test device site off the coast of Spiddal in Galway Bay was made on the basis of this site being necessary to support the attainment by Ireland of the required EU targets for renewable energy for 2020, 2030 and 2050. Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) published in 2014, which was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the Pyrite Remediation Scheme.  The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme.  In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions, and as Minister, I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Development Contributions (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The development contribution rebate scheme featured as part of the Government's housing package, entitled "Stabilising Rents, Boosting Supply", which was announced by the previous Government in November 2015. The primary objective of the scheme was to enhance the viability of the construction and sale of residential housing units at affordable prices in the locations of greatest need....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Jul 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Pillar 5 of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness 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...