Results 2,821-2,840 of 26,228 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The ban was always going to be temporary and we wanted to ensure that we had further policies to bring landlords back into the market and have them stay in the market. With due respect to Deputy McDonald, her party is seeking a three-year ban on rent increases. What will that do to the landlord market? Furthermore, her party is looking to levy €400 on a second home, so that cost...

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: There were 30,000 units built overall last year, which was a record. What might also be missed is that since this Government has come into being, 10,900 people have been taken off the social housing list. That has to be positive.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is a net decrease. There were 68,000 people on the housing list back in 2019 and there is just short of 58,000 now.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Sinn Féin wants to do away with HAP and with due respect to the Deputy, he is selling something that is not based on reality. His party is scaring people in respect of evictions.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy needs to understand that we have 1,500 people-----

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----received extra HAP in the final quarter of the past year and, furthermore, 19,000 tenancies were created in January and February of this year. It is not all bad news. We understand that it is difficult for people but we want to ensure that we continue to have extra supply for people who are in social housing and on HAP; that councils will continue to purchase at pace under the tenantin...

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: They work for tenantsin situ. Their rents have gone up by just short of 4%-----

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----over the past number of years.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The problem is that there is not enough supply. For new rentals, the rents are too high. For existing tenants, however, it has worked. That is completely overlooked. When the Deputy speaks about rents becoming higher, they are. I accept that. He does not qualify that comment by saying that it is new tenancies.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy does not. He gives the impression that it applies-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy, who has made practical points that I take wholeheartedly. If people in a property have young children who are in a local school, the property in question is their home. That is the logic of it. The Deputy referred to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council. A body of work is under way there. Obviously, the Deputy will allow the councils to do that work and see...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Community (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: 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 framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Local Authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department providing information on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in their functional areas. The derelict sites returns have been collected in Q2 of the following year. My Department recently issued Circular Letter PL 02/2023 requesting the submission of returns on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act in 2022 by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act), as amended, and certain other Acts. Section 126 of the Act provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The planning process is open and transparent and allows for the public to participate regarding any planning applications lodged to a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) and it supporting Regulations. When a planning authority makes its decision on a planning application including those...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Following extensive engagement by my Department in this longstanding matter, the case is no longer a matter to be dealt with under the Foreshore Act 1933. Instead, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has approved the granting of a State Property Lease, pursuant to the State Property Act 1954 (as amended), to the sports club in question. My Department is assisting that Department to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will make a couple of points, the first of which is that I have no doubt the Deputy has engaged with Clare County Council on this particular matter. I suggest that he sends a proposal into the Minister to get a formal response on the particular issue of Carrigaholt. That is his prerogative as a Deputy representing the constituency. I will take the matters he highlighted back to the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am familiar with Carrigaholt. I spent two years in Irish college in Carrigaholt and I know it well. Many of my constituents holiday there on a regular basis. It is a lovely part of Clare. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and providing me with the opportunity to address the matter. The programme for Government supports the uptake of Uisce Éireann's Small...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputies Colm Burke and Tully for affording me the opportunity to address the House on this important issue, which is of great concern to the parents involved and has a big impact on their children. CORU was established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education and training among...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (9 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Establishing a register for the psychology profession is a strategic priority to which the Minister for Health is fully committed. He has asked his officials, along with the PSRB and CORU, to progress this work as soon as possible to deliver regulation of this important profession. His Department and the two organisations are actively engaging on the matter. On the issue of the public...