Results 441-460 of 5,844 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (25 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I again thank Deputy O'Sullivan for this important matter and providing us with the opportunity to respond with the script that has been provided by the Minister, Deputy Foley, and her Department. While it is extremely regrettable that a number of contractors had issues delivering a service at short notice, Bus Éireann is prioritising the establishment of a new service for the small...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Sports Facilities (25 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important matter. I know how passionate he is about the delivery of sporting facilities in conjunction with the schools building programme. I thank the Deputy for allowing me to provide information on the provision of sports facilities at the Carrigtwohill school campus in east Cork. The Carrigtwohill school campus project, as the Deputy said, is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (25 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. Before I address the specific issue raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023 - 2024 school year over...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: These references must be updated and the Department has undertaken significant work in recent months, in consultation with other Departments with responsibility-----

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I will address the Aarhus Convention again later.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Senators for their input. I will first address amendments Nos. 26, 27, 31 to 38, inclusive, 42, 43, 50 and 51, tabled by Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn, which all relate to Part 2. Amendment No. 26 seeks to amend section 7, which relates to change of use. The amendment seeks to provide that a change in use of an artistic or cultural premises to a primarily retail or...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: It is great to be back in the Seanad. I hope everyone had a lovely recess. I will address amendments Nos. 1, 6 and 16, as tabled by Senators Boyhan and McDowell, and amendments Nos. 17 and 22 to 25, inclusive, as tabled by Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn. These amendments all relate to Part 1, which contains the general provisions, including the Long Title, commencement and...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: These references must be updated and the Department has undertaken significant work in recent months, in consultation with other Departments with responsibility for each enactment identified, to finalise the required amendments. These consequential amendments are to maintain the status quo by the insertion or substitution of references to the relevant provisions of the Bill and do not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for his question. We understand the importance of housing adaptation grants for people with disabilities, mobility aids and housing aids for older people. These grants are 80% funded by our Department. The Exchequer funded the provision of €74.5 million for the housing adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability scheme, which has increased by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for his question. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new-build social homes in the period 2022 to 2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new-build projects delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies. For 2023, the Government agreed increased provision for social housing acquisitions. This has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for his positive feedback on the scheme. I re-emphasise that local authorities have been asked to focus on RAS and HAP properties where the tenant has been issued a notice of termination. There is no ceiling in the sanction of acquisitions. Properties already in social housing help to mitigate against the risk of a negative impact on the tenant in ensuring we can address...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I will talk to the Deputy about the case he mentioned offline. In July, the Minister wrote to local authorities about this matter. We worked closely with local authorities, which can be seen in the feedback. There is a cross-sectional team and steering group on acquisitions in place to support households and local authorities in acquisitions. Any request for additional acquisitions above...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a key support, introduced by this Government, to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: Under the Housing for All strategy, the Government plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 new build social homes. As new build supply of social housing ramps up, there will be reducing reliance on the HAP and RAS schemes. For example, 4,614 households exited HAP in 2023 following receipt of a Social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: Housing for All aims to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year up to 2030. This includes an average of 10,000 new build social homes each year over the lifetime of the plan. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing. Amendments to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 were introduced via the Affordable Housing Act 2021 which was passed by the Oireachtas in July 2021. These amendments were on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (18 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: 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 the...