Results 181-200 of 10,499 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together. On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48”...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 to 353, inclusive, together. Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 comprising of 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Regulations, 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out the requirements for site notices when an applicant is applying for planning permission Article 19(1) of the Regulations requires that a site notice shall be inscribed or printed in indelible ink on a white background, affixed on rigid, durable material and secured against damage from bad weather and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently, as a matter of priority, preparing legislation to put in place a statutory remediation scheme for owners of certain apartments affected by fire safety, water ingress and structural defects. This legislation will establish supports for the remediation of these defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. Given...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Capital Assistance Scheme provides up to 100% capital funding to AHBs to support the delivery of housing for certain priority categories of tenants. To date the Castleblayney Care Group AHB has completed 18 new social units of accommodation for which my Department has provided over €2.5 million under CAS. The AHB had indicated an intention to deliver an additional 2 CAS units as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Research and Development (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Met Éireann a line division of my Department funds a broad range of research activities relevant to its mission “to monitor, analyse and predict Ireland's weather and climate. We do this to provide Irish society and decision-makers with world-class weather, climate, and flood services to protect life and property, and to promote wider societal and economic well-being”. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The 2015 regulations were amended by the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It remains the case that the question of city status for Drogheda is not under consideration at the moment. As indicated previously, the National Planning Framework (NPF) published in 2018 sets out a vision and strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040. The Framework recognises the strategic importance of Drogheda and aims to support its development and its economic potential...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2 (BER)/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366, 369 and 385 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All targets the delivery of 18,000 new Cost Rental homes to 2030. A strong pipeline is in place and under continuous development by local authorities, by Approved Housing Bodies using the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL), and by the Land Development Agency. The core principle of Cost Rental is that the rents cover the development, management, and maintenance costs of the homes,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. Details of cases to be determined by the Board are a matter for the Board. Under section 30 of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to invest in water and waste water infrastructure to support the development of those rural villages that are not currently served by Uisce Éireann. More than €243 million of funding, over the period 2021 to 2025, has been provided under the National Development Plan for non-Uisce Éireann investment in rural water infrastructure. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 405 of 16 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Valuation Tribunal is an independent statutory body established under the Valuation Act 1988 and continued by the Valuation Acts 2001 to hear appeals against decisions on the valuation and revaluation of commercial and industrial properties for rating purposes. There are a number of options available to an occupier of a rateable property who is dissatisfied with a determination of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collect the data sought in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 list prepared by Tailte Éireann under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2022. Tailte Éireann has independent responsibility for all valuation matters, except appeals of valuation procedures set out under the Valuation Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Fluoridation (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no function in relation to the matter raised in the Question. The Irish Expert Group on Fluorides and Health, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Health, advises on matters relating to water fluoridation. As such this Question is more appropriate for reply by the Minister for Health.