Results 241-260 of 10,466 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 48 together. My Department is currently, as a matter of priority, preparing legislation to put in place on a statutory basis, a 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2023, my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth launched the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024 – 2026 which is available at the following link gov - Action Plan for Disability Services 2024 – 2026 (www.gov.ie). Action 9.2 of the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 outlines that the HSE will establish a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 73 together. 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 94 together. The Government has recently approved an increase in the mandatory retirement age for certain members of the uniformed services. Following this, my Department has commenced a review to explore a similar extension to the mandatory retirement age for all firefighters with a view to providing consistency in the uniformed services. This...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Government’s Housing for All plan is focused on tackling supply and affordability issues in the rental market. The plan contains targets, actions and guaranteed State investment aimed at increasing supply, which in turn will help increase access to affordable rental housing. The Government is providing a range of measures to support renters, which include: Budget 2024 increased...

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

Darragh O'Brien: An Interdepartmental Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, 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 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Galway Social Housing Task Force had its first 2024 meeting on 9 April. My Department participates on the Taskforce and over and above that, is in ongoing contact with both Galway local authorities in respect of housing matters. In between the final 2023 meeting in November last, and the meeting earlier this week, the previous Taskforce Chair, Ms Geraldine Tallon, stepped down from...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The social housing build targets for Mayo County Council, including delivery completed to date, are as follows - 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Total Target 90 151 154 166 169 730 Delivered 89 61 - - - - In relation to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 71, 74 and 88 together. Addressing vacancy is a key priority for this government. 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 properties back into use as homes. Under the Action Plan,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the efforts that are being made by Clare County Council to develop an affordable housing delivery programme that will respond effectively to localised affordable housing needs that it has identified in its functional area, and in particular the key urban centres of Shannon and Ennis. Clare County Council has prepared and published its own 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plan to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Dáil Question No. 630 on 9 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

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

Darragh O'Brien: The First Schedule to the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that planning authorities may include objectives in their development plan facilitating the provision and siting of facilities necessary for the community, including open spaces and sports grounds. While the making of a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members, the Development Plans Guidelines for...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Carlow. 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: Housing Policy (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Following a review conducted by the Department in 2022, the Government agreed to my recommendation to increase the baseline social housing income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities effective from 1 January 2023. The thresholds increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In addition, my Department recently received...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA provides a breakdown of categories such as age, household size and basis of need. In 2023, there were 58,824 households qualified for social housing whose need had not yet been met. ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Government’s vision for water services – whether publicly supplied by Uisce Éireann or otherwise delivered under the Rural Water Programme - is set out in the Water Services Policy Statement 2024 to 2030, which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/443cc-water-services-policy-statem ent-2024-2030/ Factors...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Apr 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. Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. The...