Results 6,041-6,060 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191, 192 and 193 together. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: House Sales (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department doesn't track the purchase of houses by individual or institutional purchasers, whether domestic or from overseas. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) captures and publishes data on house purchases by household and non-household buyers, including by institutional investors. The data can be accessed via tables HPA02 and HPA12 on the CSO website data.cso.ie/

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 196, 197, 198 and 212 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Data on the commencement of residential dwellings, at local authority level, are published monthly on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts / The data show 686 commencement notices for new homes were received in Fingal County Council in October and November 2023, the second highest for this period since records began in...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is not held by my Department. The data may be sought from the local authority directly. The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is solely a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons....

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

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, which launched on 7th July 2022, supports first-time buyers and other eligible homebuyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, and now self-builders, through the use of an equity share model. Details, including in relation to the application process, are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie. In addition, the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Part V provides for the State to capture a portion of the increase in land value resulting from the granting of planning permission for residential development and refers to Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2021. The Affordable Housing Act 2021 made a number of changes to Part V. These changes came into operation on 3 September 2021. Any planning applications processed...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. Under Housing for All, the Government has targeted the delivery of 28,500 new affordable homes from 2022 to 2026, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. Mayo County Council has prepared and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 provides for grants of up to €420,000 to remediate homes under the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme. This includes ancillary grants for approved applicants in the amount of €25,000 to assist homeowners at remediation stage to meet costs relating to temporary accommodation, storage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks grant scheme provides that a homeowner may apply to the designated local authority for a payment of a remediation option grant approved either in whole or by way of stage payments as works progress. The form and content of interim valuation certificates is prescribed in the Regulations and must be furnished by the homeowners competent building...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Following a review conducted by my Department in 2022, the Government agreed to my recommendation to increase the baseline social housing income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Notwithstanding these recent changes, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Details are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie. The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home Scheme DAC), on behalf of scheme founders (the State...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 2023 Housing expenditure, including for the delivery of social and affordable homes, is currently being finalised and will be published in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The AHB Unencumbered Units Working Group Report was published on my Department's website on 19 October 2023. This report is available at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/publication/776db-ahb-unencumbered-units-worki ng-group-report/ .

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department approves an annual budget for the Housing Agency in respect of its role in the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks scheme. This funding is to cover the operational costs of a regional office, payments due to framework consultants and professional support and costs. My Department is committed to ensuring that the Housing Agency will continue to have the appropriate level of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I announced the successful applications under a new funding measure for waste water collection and treatment needs of villages without access to public waste water services on 7 December 2023. I can confirm that my Department will be writing to the local authorities concerning all the applications shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Addressing vacancy is a key priority for this government. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which was 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 as many vacant properties back into use as possible. There are now a range of schemes and supports in place to support addressing vacancy....