Results 141-160 of 10,538 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

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

Darragh O'Brien: The purpose of the review, currently underway, of qualifications for engineering posts in the local government sector is to determine if changes are required in order that the qualifications are appropriate and relevant to the role of an engineer at the various engineering levels in a local authority. An examination of the educational and experience requirements at each engineering level...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by...

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

Darragh O'Brien: There is no direct funding from carbon taxes associated with the retrofitting budget for social housing which relies on voted expenditure as part of the annual budgetary process. In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (ABP) is a quasi-judicial body which carries out its statutory functions independently of me as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. ABP appointed an external reviewer, Ms. Lorna Lynch, Senior Counsel, to carry out a scoping investigation into certain matters. An Bord Pleanála has advised that, in conducting this scoping investigation, Ms....

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

Darragh O'Brien: On 14 November 2023, the Cabinet agreed a proposal to broaden the Local Authority Home Loan, to make finance available to purchase and/or renovate derelict or non-habitable properties. A Working Group of key local authority stakeholders has been established and continues to meet to develop the supports and structures required to successfully implement the extension across the Sector. The...

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. The Scheme provides very considerable enhancements for eligible homeowners, over the earlier 2020 Scheme including 100% of the costs of the remediation works approved...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 and 291 together. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Social Housing is...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity, to include homes built by local authorities and by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), in each local authority area. This data is available to the end of 2023 and is published on the statistics' page of my Department’s website at the following link:...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under electoral law, a nomination paper must state the name, address and occupation (if any) of a candidate at an election. A ballot paper must contain the name and description of the candidate standing nominated, as shown in the nomination paper. This requirement is intended as a means of identifying a candidate and ensuring the transparency of elections. In ruling on the validity of a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As referenced in my reply to Question No. 430 of 16 April 2024, a cross-departmental group is currently tasked with reviewing the feasibility of Cathal Brugha Barracks for residential and/or other uses. The composition of the group is made up of officials from the following organisations: Department of Defence Department of the Taoiseach Department of Housing, Local Government and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under Rebuilding Ireland individual local authority social housing delivery targets were set for the period 2018 - 2021. For Kerry the Build, Acquisition and Leasing Target was 1,544 social homes. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (2 May 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: Regeneration Projects (2 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2021, as one of the successful applications under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund's (URDF) second call for proposals, I announced a preliminary allocation of €7,140,000 towards Wicklow County Council's proposal for the regeneration of the Bray Harbour Area. This allocation represents the maximum 75% URDF support available based on the estimated costs of €9,500,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (2 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was one of four new funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027. Launched in 2018 with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion the review of the NDP in 2021 extended the URDF to 2030. To date, there have been three rounds of funding provided under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (2 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 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on the 29 June 2023. Under the Scheme, temporary alternative accommodation for defective concrete block homeowners is addressed, whereby vouched accommodation costs are an allowable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (2 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 183 together. I refer to my answer to Question No. 388 on 30 April which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (2 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (2 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pledge a Spare Room Scheme is managed by the Irish Red Cross (IRC) on behalf of the Department of Children, Equability, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY) which is the lead Department in the provision of accommodation and associated supports for Beneficiaries of International Protection (BoTPs) from Ukraine. Social housing is a long-term support intended to support households...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 State and retail banks. Local authorities have published 5 year...