Results 281-300 of 10,538 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 20 June 2023, Government gave approval to commence the process of undertaking the First Revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF), pursuant to Section 20C (5) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and to publish a Roadmap for the First Revision outlining the process and timeline for the revision process. Further to Census 2022, my Department engaged the Economic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No.2 of 11 April 2024, which sets out the position on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 15 of 11 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with Action 96 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update and Q3 2023 Progress Report and following the completion of a review of Part B of the Building Regulations, I signed the Building Regulations (Part B Amendment) Regulations 2024 on 26 March 2024. These Regulations amend Part B (Fire Safety) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997 to update fire safety...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with Action 46 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update & Q3 2023 Progress Report, the deployment and roll-out, of ePlanning continues and is now fully integrated into 24 planning authorities and partially integrated into 3 planning authorities. The ePlanning portal may be accessed at planning.localgov.ie/en/local-government-ireland-planning-sy stem. The Government...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Action 59 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update and Q3 2023 Progress Report Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) criteria are being developed for use in evaluating tenders for public contracts for housing. In this regard, a range of evaluation criteria are being researched and developed which can be used to evaluate tenders for public contracts for housing. This is to take...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All commits to increase the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and a number of measures are being taken to increase its use in social housing delivery. A Roadmap for MMC has been developed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) and my Department. The Roadmap was published on the 11 July, 2023. Both Departments worked with the interdepartmental MMC...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government's decision to increase the borrowing capacity of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) was given effect by Section 66 of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024, which was enacted on 6 March 2024. The amendment was as a consequence of Action 66 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update and Q3 2023 Progress Report (November 2023), a copy of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 646 of 9 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. The Housing for All Action Plan Update published in November 2022, included an action to examine the creation of a system of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 15 of 11 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The position in relation to Action 4.5 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update is detailed in the Housing for All Q3 2023 Progress Report, a copy of which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/97015-housing-for-all-action-plan- update-and-q3-2023-progress-report/

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government approved an initial General Scheme in December 2021 to set out proposals to introduce Land Value Sharing. The proposals set out in the revised General Scheme (www.gov.ie/en/publication/0ad37-general-scheme-planning-and -development-land-value-sharing-and-urban-development-zones- bill-2022/) published on 14 April 2023 are the result of significant analysis and engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January 2023, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with the commitment under Housing for All, work continues to advance on determining the scope, functions, role and structure of the proposed Building Standards Regulator. To this end, a steering group has been established to provide high-level strategic guidance to my Department on a range of relevant matters. On receipt and consideration of the group’s report, I intend to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Commission report has not yet been submitted. Once the report is received, and after I have had the opportunity to examine it, I will bring proposals for next steps to Government for consideration. A formal response to the report's findings and recommendations will issue thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority. If a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what action is necessary and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11 and 19 together. As the Deputies are aware, I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on the 22nd of June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on the 29th of June 2023. I received confirmation from the Banking and Payments Federation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their locations that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2023 and shows that 7,089 social homes are currently onsite with an...