Results 2,461-2,480 of 26,021 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites (23 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 417 together. Under the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were required to establish a register of vacant sites in their functional areas, beginning on 1 January 2017. The Act empowered planning authorities to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (23 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: My Department has no specific remit in relation to Traveller Culture, Heritage and Identity. In relation to Traveller accommodation, the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Such a scheme is in place in terms of the rural site scheme, which is administered through the local authorities. It is something that I can discuss with the Deputy at a later date. I know it is something he is very interested in.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy for his question. Under Housing for All, in the period 2022 to 2026, the Government will deliver: 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing; and 28,500 new affordable homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of more than €4 billion per annum, through an overall combination of €12 billion in direct...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We have many measures that provide additional supply, including 30,000 new homes last year. The Minister referenced record commencements and completions in the first quarter of this year. Nearly 1,800 applications to date have been made to the Croí Cónaithe scheme. The target was 2,500 applications up to 2026 but 1,800 have come in to date, of which 702 have been approved. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are always open to good ideas. If the Deputy could flesh out his suggestion a little more and come forward with the actual proposal, the Department will consider it. We very much take that on board. Deputy Gould has left the Chamber. It is open to local authorities to build extensions, although they may take different decisions. It is something local authority members should take...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We want houses to get commenced.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Housing for All - A New Housing Plan for Ireland is the Government's housing policy to 2030 and the most effective way of accelerating housing supply. Pathway 4 of Housing for All specifically looks at making the most efficient use of our existing housing stock. My Department provides private housing grants to assist older or disabled people who wish to stay in their own homes or those...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Gould for bringing forward this question. My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability which supports older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their homes to meet their needs. Housing for All commits to reviewing the grants scheme and a report on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: There are obviously two aspects. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is the senior Minister so he obviously received the report as well. Looking at housing adaptation grants falls under my specific remit. The Deputy will have to take my word. I have only recently received the review. I am actively working on it. I am actively meeting officials to see how we can progress it. I take...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are looking to have the review concluded very quickly. It would then become a budgetary matter in regard to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. We will progress it. We do not want to see that situation such as the Deputy's example happening again.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I see it on the ground. For me on the ground the housing adaptation grant is a very good scheme. It has not been reviewed since 2014. I take that on board. We now have a report from the officials and we are working with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to go through it forensically. From that we want to bring forward a proposal that we will have to bring to the Department of Public...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Which council is this?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The tenant in situscheme is hugely successful. Going back to the Deputy's case, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council provides an exemption for social housing units provided by a co-operative body. The Deputy’s councillor colleague is correct. The measure relating to development contributions and refunds is an activation measure and is about getting sites under construction...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Many local authorities, including Limerick City and County Council, Sligo County Council, the already-mentioned Dublin City Council, Galway City Council and South Dublin County Council, effectively provide exemptions from development contributions for all forms of social and affordable housing. The Deputy’s colleague is obviously a member of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Bacik for the question. Section 48(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that the level of contribution, and the types of development to which development contributions should apply, including any exemptions from charging in specific circumstances if that is deemed appropriate, are determined at local authority level. Local authorities'...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Government is committed to increasing housing supply generally, including rental accommodation and to protect renters while retaining landlords in the system. In particular the Government is committed to the introduction of a meaningful and effective Budgetary package for the rental sector to include both taxation and expenditure measures. Over the coming months, my Department and I will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report was published in July 2019. The Report reviewed the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of accommodation for Travellers. The Expert Review report, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of the arrangements for providing accommodation for members of the Traveller...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Under Housing for All, the Government aims to deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme. The LDA is tasked with managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Areas of Conservation (17 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this very important matter of the protection of our European sites and the nature directives. Obviously, his issue is specifically around Killarney National Park and the Burren National Park, which have enjoyed the full protection afforded to special areas of conservation for several decades. From the date of public notification, sites proposed for...