Results 6,661-6,680 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I, together with Minister O’Donnell, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, published Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (SCSGs) and associated environmental reports (SEA and AA) for public consultation on the 30 August 2023. The draft guidelines are available to view on gov.ie - Public Consultation on the Draft Sustainable and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grúpaí Idir-Rannacha (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá Grúpa Idir-Rannach (ina bhfuil oifigigh ón Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta; An Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán; agus Údarás na Gaeltachta) ag leanúint lena chuid oibre maidir le treoir phleanála ar leith a fhorbairt do cheantair Ghaeltachta. Tá Grúpa...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 129, 143 and 149 together. In July 2022 my Department launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. On the 1st May 2023, I announced a revised grant rate of up to a maximum of €50,000 available for the refurbishment of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In May 2021, guidelines were issued to planning authorities advising that conditions should be imposed on planning permissions to prevent multiple housing and duplex units being sold to a single buyer. Under this measure, all houses and duplexes would have to be made available to sale and for first occupation by separate, individual households for a period after completion of the unit. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to work proactively with both Galway City and Galway County Councils. Quarterly meetings are held between representatives from my Department and the Councils housing teams to cover a range of issues relating to the Councils' social housing programme, including reviewing progress in advancing individual projects and to seek to resolve any challenges arising. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Act 1966 provides for the charging of rent by local authorities on social housing tenancies. Rents are based on household income levels, with those on lower incomes paying lower rents. This system is known as the ‘differential rents’ system. It is a critical piece of State’s welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. When a household has been assessed as homeless,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the purposes for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 159 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 by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 which contains the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme commenced on 22 June 2023 and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The enhanced scheme provides very considerable enhancements over the old Scheme for eligible homeowners. Since the commencement of the enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to private domestic water services in rural areas where there are no public (Uisce Éireann) water services. It provides operational and management subsidies for the group water sector and also provides capital investment in the wider rural water sector. The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides capital...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Zone Management (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In response to the developing risks associated with climate change - including changing weather patterns and an estimated sea level rise of up to one metre by the year 2100 - the Government established the Inter Departmental Group on Managing Coastal Change Strategy chaired by my Department and the Office of Public Works. The purpose of the Group was to scope out an approach for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Agriculture Industry (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Good Agricultural Practice – GAP- Regulations allow for an extension of the slurry spreading season up until the 15th October provided there are suitable ground and growth conditions and a favourable weather forecast to ensure that the slurry spreading will not impact water quality. This year I approved the maximum extension allowing farmers more time to empty their tanks before...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q2 2023, over 112,900 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were over 58,200 households actively in receipt of HAP support. At end Q2 2023, nearly 4,200 new HAP tenancies had been created this year, which is an average of 161 new HAP...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Pollution (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Blessington Reservoir, also known as Pollaphuca Reservoir, is monitored by the EPA to assess its ecological health for the Water Framework Directive. The most recent full assessment, using data from 2016 to 2021, classified the lake as being in satisfactory ecological condition (Good Ecological Status). Algal blooms (phytoplankton over-growth) in lakes are a natural phenomenon that can...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The increase in homelessness is a serious concern for Government and is being actively addressed. There is no shortage of will or determination to deal with the issue of homelessness. It remains a top priority for our Government. Resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts required. Reflecting the importance placed on Housing for All, a record €5.1bn capital...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 will greatly improve community participation and social inclusion for people with complex care needs. The key objectives of the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 are to increase the provision of changing places toilets in certain new buildings, and to improve the accessibility and usability of existing...