Results 501-520 of 10,538 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 ("the Regulations") - S.I. 235 of 2019 - which came into effect on 1 July 2019. In summary, the Regulations require...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 to 639, inclusive, together. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial, independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. All RTB mediators, adjudicators and tribunal...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, or building their own home, through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie. The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 641, 642 and 665 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. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In making decisions on a planning application, a planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) as appropriate, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area having regard to, inter alia, the provisions of the local development plan, any relevant Ministerial or Government policies, any submissions or observations received from the public and any planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides grant funding to assist households in rural areas that are dependent on a private water supply (individual well) for their household use. The objective of the grant is to provide financial assistance to households dependent on these supplies where capital expenditure is incurred. The grant scheme is administered by local authorities on behalf of the Department. An...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under electoral law, in order to be able to vote at electoral events in Ireland, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides. With some exceptions (mainly postal and special voters) all persons must attend in person to vote at their local polling station and Irish citizens resident outside the State do not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 711 together. On 7 December 2022, the Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill (STTL Bill) and the priority drafting of the Bill providing for the establishment of a new registration system for short-term lettings to be operated by Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 653 together. Further to Parliamentary Questions No. 341 of 20 February 2024 and No. 475 of 5th March 2024, to qualify for a Local Authority Home Loan an applicant must currently have a legal right to reside and work in the State. As previously advised the Credit Policy requires that applicants from outside the EEA/EU must be legally resident in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities (LAs) and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the leasing of houses and apartments. LAs and AHBs may enter into lease agreements and subsequently house social housing tenants into properties secured under various leasing schemes, including LA and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Oversight and Audit Commission (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My response to Dáil Question No. 343 of 20 February 2024 sets out the position in relation to the matter raised. In that context, it would not be appropriate for me to make a request to the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) under Section 126D of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended) in relation to this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Recognising that people with disabilities have particular needs, my Department endeavours to ensure that the voting process is as accessible and inclusive as possible. My Department produces a Memorandum for the Guidance of Returning Officers in advance of all electoral events. These memoranda advise that the selection of polling stations should have regard to the needs of voters with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. Applicants who may meet the Fresh Start criteria apply to the general Local Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collate data on the taking in charge of housing estates by local authorities. All planning authorities are required to have a policy on taking in charge within their respective functional areas in accordance with Planning Circular PD 1/08 which was issued on 26 February 2008. The information requested should be sought from the relevant planning authorities. The taking...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has developed the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023 and is managed by the Housing Agency, pending further policy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I announced on 11 December 2023 the opening of the Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme) for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. The Scheme, which is being administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis, is open to applications from Apartment Owner Management Companies (OMCs) via the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has already taken a number of steps to incrementally increase the retirement age for retained fire-fighters from 55 to 60, following engagements in the Labour Court and the Work Place Relations Commission. The Government has recently approved an increase in the mandatory retirement age for other members of the uniformed services including An Garda Síochana, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (20 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for...