Results 121-140 of 10,538 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. Section 36 of the Act provides that the Government may make a further Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) scheme for the purposes of enabling a designated local authority or an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Since I received Government approval in January 2023 to draft legislation to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in apartments and duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013, my Department has been advancing the steps to put the remediation scheme on a statutory footing as a matter of priority. Given the complexity of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (9 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is assumed that the judgment that the Question is referring to is the first module of a case that has been divided into two modules. As no judgment has been delivered in the second module, the matter remains before the Courts and it would not be appropriate, therefore, to comment on the case. The assessment of wind energy developments is covered by the 2006 Wind Energy Development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (9 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212, 213 and 214 together. The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) plc is a non-commercial semi-State company under the aegis of my Department, limited by shares under the terms of the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981. My Department does not hold the information sought in the questions. However, the Housing Finance Agency has a dedicated email address to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (9 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, targeting an average of 6,000 affordable homes to be made available every year for purchase or for rent by Local Authorities, AHBs, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and via the First Home Scheme. The LDA represents a crucial lever in the Government’s delivery of affordable and social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (9 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are encouraged to acquire vacant/derelict properties to be upgraded as new, value-for-money social homes via the Buy & Renew Scheme. Since it was introduced in 2016, in excess of 900 properties have been delivered under this arrangement. The table below shows the breakdown of such units delivered on an annual basis since 2016. Alongside the acquisition and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Dwellings under the scheme come from a number of different sources including private owners, Part V and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Long term lease arrangements can be entered into by either local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 268 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 for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes quarterly progress reports which are based on quarterly performance reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level. The quarterly performance reports include details of the numbers of individuals prevented from entering emergency accommodation, and those exiting emergency accommodation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In recent years, the main source of funding to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for social housing delivery, is through borrowings and support from local authorities through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and Payment and Availability (P&A) programme. The P&A-CALF model has shown itself to be an integral part of social housing delivery and has contributed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. Terms of Reference are being developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General to progress the appointment of a Senior Counsel to review the role of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. 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: Rights of Way (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider where there is a need for a public right of way. In this connection, the relevant planning authority may enter into discussions with the relevant landowners under section 206 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) in order to achieve the creation of a public right of way by agreement. If an agreement cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Union (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on all EU funding made available to my Department each year under the multiannual financial framework are set out in The Revised Estimates for Public Services, which are published annually by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and are available at The Revised Estimates Volumes for the Public Service (www.gov.ie)). Information on relevant programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I was pleased to announce on 12 April that I secured approval for an increase in the mandatory retirement age for both full-time and retained firefighters up to the age of 62, details of which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/eea5a-mandatory-retirement-age-f or-full-time-and-retained-firefighters-to-rise-to-62/. This...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 May 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: Planning Issues (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on the 22 of June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on the 29 of June 2023. The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities and the Housing Agency in the first instance. Their respective roles are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Dwellings under the scheme come from a number of different sources including private owners, Part V and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Long term lease arrangements can be entered into by either local...