Results 1-20 of 10,640 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (13 Jun 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 end,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (13 Jun 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: Straitéisí Ranna (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An Interdepartmental Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of my Department, the DTCAGSM and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Allotments Provision (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In terms of planning, providing, enabling and supporting allotments, legislation is in place in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended) to identify locations in development plans for allotment development, and to establish allotments as a part of local government’s role in promoting the interests of local communities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently no proposals under consideration to reintroduce town councils as Government policy is to strengthen the country's 95 municipal districts. The 2010 report 'Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government' recognised that town councils led to duplication of administrative work in areas such as planning, housing and roads. The Local Government Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (12 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There may be avenues available to Uisce Éireann to intervene such as back yard service replacement, first fix free, or potentially through legislative or way leave authority. However, it needs to be established if this matter falls to Uisce Éireann to regularise in the first instance. In this regard, Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: EU Meetings (12 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Environment policy issues are dealt with at EU level under the Environment Council. The Government is generally represented at Environment Council by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, or a delegated representative. Matters in relation to the environment that fall within the policy remit of my Department, inter alia biodiversity or water quality, generally arise...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department formally launched its Blended Working policy in July 2022, which was developed in line with the central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service. Under the Blended Working policy, staff of my Department with suitable roles, performance and remote workstations may apply for a blended working arrangement. 92% of all staff eligible to apply for Blended Working...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cross-Border Co-operation (12 Jun 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: Tourism Industry (12 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (12 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All commits to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence, including the development of a policy on rightsizing. The Housing for All policy objective to make more efficient use of existing housing stock includes tasking my Department with the development of a national policy on rightsizing and to explore...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. The aim of the review is to strike an appropriate balance between addressing the concerns of local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (11 Jun 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 end, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 395 together. I received the Report of the Housing Commission on 8 May and published it in full very soon thereafter on 22 May. The Commission’s work has taken two-an-a-half years to conclude, culminating in a 400 plus page report (including appendices), and 83 recommendations and 540 or so actions and sub-actions. Accordingly, it requires...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s grant scheme for the renewal or repair of a thatched roof provides funding of up to €6,350 or up to 80% of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland where the private owner holds a medical card. A higher level of assistance of up to €8,252 is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace that protects the rights of all employees. To demonstrate our commitment to providing a fully inclusive culture my Department is currently developing an internal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy, in collaboration with staff. This work is in line with commitments made in the Civil Service...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The General Services Supervisor (GSS) is the most senior grade within the general operative and related grades structure in local authorities. It is of its nature therefore primarily a supervisory grade which operates across all of the key functions including Roads, Water and Environment. The duties assigned to a GSS will vary according to the nature of the role, the number of staff...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The equity share in an affordable home purchase arrangement is a function of the gap between the purchasing power of the approved affordable housing purchaser and the open market price of the property concerned. The provision of affordable purchase housing by local authorities is supported by a capital subvention of €50,000, €75,000 or €100,000 per home from the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government Legislation Programme for the Summer 2024 Session, which was published on 16 April 2024, sets out my Department's priority legislation and can be accessed at the following weblink: www.gov.ie/en/publication/edb3c-government-legislation-progr amme-2024/ Importantly, the Planning and Development Bill 2023 remains a top priority for me and the Government, and commences Report...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 376 and 377 together. Statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in the Local Authority Performance Indicator Report. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the number of dwellings in local authority ownership and the percentage...