Results 141-160 of 10,290 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Electoral Reform Act 2022, (www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/act/30/enacted/en/pdf) delivers the legislative underpinning for a range of significant electoral reforms set out in the “Programme for Government – Our Shared Future". As part of progressing the commitment to developing a national shared database, as provided for in the legislation, I signed SI 460 of 2023...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department conducts information campaigns to ensure that the public are aware and up to date on the many supports and services that are available to them. Professional media buyers are used to ensure value for money and the best possible reach to the public. Community radio is defined as non-profit but licensed radio. To date my Department has not used these radio stations for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The administration of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and HAP application processing times may vary across local authorities. Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is entered on the system by the local authority and then submitted for processing and payment by the HAP...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. Regulation 12 of the 2011 Regulations prescribes the timescales for the processing of applications by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority houses which are available for sale under the scheme. All applications for the Scheme must satisfy the requirements outlined in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. Changes to the scheme took effect from 29...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages recruitment competitions for local authority Chief Executives and is independent in the performance of its functions. Following the completion of the PAS process, the appointment process of a Chief Executive is governed by S.I. No. 589/2014 - Local Government (Appointment of Chief Executive) Regulations 2014. (irishstatutebook.ie). Beyond...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. I understand from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Limerick City and County Council operates the HAP Shared Services Centre (HAPSSC) on behalf of all 31 local authorities across the country as well as the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The administration of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and HAP application processing times may vary across local authorities. Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is entered on the system by the local authority and then submitted for processing and payment by the HAP...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Part 8 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 amended the electoral codes to provide for same-day island voting at all elections and referendums. Section 202 of the Act amends the Referendum Act 1994 and provides that the Minister may make an Order, taking account of advice from the local returning officer, to shorten polling hours on an island at a referendum where it would be unnecessary or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations (S.I. 605 of 2022) were introduced to assist the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (MCEDIY) in meeting Ireland’s legal obligation to provide accommodation to international protection applicants. The Regulations amend Part 1 of Schedule 2, entitled ‘Exempted Development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 681 together. I announced on 11 December 2023 the opening of the Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme) for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. The Scheme, which is being administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis, is open to applications from apartment Owner...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Recognising the need for increased capacity and expertise in the public sector planning services, in addition to the staffing needs of relevant agencies, organisations as well as in the private sector, analysis is being undertaken with a view to developing a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources incorporating a specified set of actions to respond to the capacity challenges faced. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Private Partnerships (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together. During the life of the PPP contract (typically 25 years after construction), a portion of the unitary payment is adjusted annually by an inflation factor to reflect changes in a general inflation index specified in the contract (the Consumer Price Index or the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices). This indexable portion represents costs...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling 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. My Department will publish the Plan's 2023 Progress Report in April, setting out what has been...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Each designated local authority is responsible for the detailed administration of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme within their local authority area. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's determinations on the damage threshold, the appropriate remediation option and grant amount, determination of the grant payable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mayoral Election (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 658 together. The 2022 Dublin Citizens’ Assembly was asked to consider the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. Its final report was presented to the Taoiseach in January 2023. In June 2023, the Houses of the Oireachtas referred the report to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Bill 2023 was published in November 2023 and has been subject to intensive stakeholder engagement as part of the Planning Advisory Forum as well as an extensive pre-legislative scrutiny process in the Oireachtas. As one of the largest and most complex pieces of legislation in the history of the State, the Bill has been continuously reviewed by the Department, in...