Results 41-60 of 10,273 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Apr 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans to address social and affordable housing needs in their areas over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. A copy of each Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their individual websites. Sligo and...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Apr 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All. In December 2022, funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Apr 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 77 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: Housing Provision (11 Apr 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: The regeneration of Poolbeg West is an important step in the transformation of the Dublin Docklands area, with the potential to provide for 3,500 homes. A condition of the planning scheme for the Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone, as modified by An Bord Pleanála on 9 April 2019, is the provision of 15% social and affordable homes on this site in addition to the 10% statutory social...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Sewerage Schemes (11 Apr 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: In December 2023, I announced the successful applications that are approved funding under the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages without access to Public Waste Water Services. Following the announcement, my Department wrote to Clare County Council confirming approval of funding for projects in the villages of Broadford and Cooraclare and outlining the next steps...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Apr 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the nine year period of the plan to 2030. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes to be facilitated by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pleanáil Teanga (11 Apr 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Tá Grúpa Idir-Rannach (ina bhfuil oifigigh ón Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta; ón Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán; agus ó Údarás na Gaeltachta) ag leanúint dá obair maidir le treoir shonrach phleanála a fhorbairt do cheantair Ghaeltachta. Tá...
- 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...