Results 6,861-6,880 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Waterways Ireland is proposing to update the Shannon Bye-laws and Canal Bye-laws which are more than 30 years old and no longer fit for purpose. The needs of users have changed, environmental landscape and health and safety considerations have developed significantly and the waterways themselves have been transformed over the past thirty years. The purpose of updating the Bye-laws is to make...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traffic Management (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traffic Management (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Overall responsibility for roads policy and funding for the implementation of transport strategies is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport. Kildare County Council as the Roads Authority, is responsible for the management of the road network in its jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the above, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is providing part-funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2 (BER)/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Consultations (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: During the period under question, my Department has facilitated two remote and one in-person briefings from BelongTo. My Department has not facilitated any in-person or remote briefings from Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) during the same period. The information requested has been outlined in Table 1. My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The programme to provide funding for Biodiversity Officer roles within local authorities is being delivered by the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 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 not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme was introduced, on an administrative basis, to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 31 March 2023. This scheme is available where a tenant faces the termination of a tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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, as amended, and certain other Acts. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together. Section 28 guidelines for planning authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (the ‘Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines’), were issued in 2009. Section 28 of the Act provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála (ABP) shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the challengeof vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Functions (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The protection of nature and the environment in Ireland is a responsibility shared by all of society. Various sectors and organisations, including several different Government departments, agencies and bodies all have key responsibilities in this regard. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is an executive agency within my Department with primary responsibility for nature...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In respect of acquiring or accepting properties, my Department acquires heritage structures and monuments, which are either of national importance or strategic importance, from time to time as resources and opportunities permit. Usually this is in the interests of the protection, preservation, conservation and management of monuments or sites. Such acquisitions are considered within the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including a minimum annual reckonable income. The Tenant Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021, with a number of amendments implemented from 1 February 2022. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently three Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS) grant schemes, commonly known as Septic Tank Grants, available to householders. The purpose of the grants is to provide financial assistance to householders to repair or upgrade septic tanks including those that fail inspections by a local authority. I can confirm that my Department, in consultation with key...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including a minimum annual reckonable income. The Tenant Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021, with a number of amendments implemented from 1 February 2022. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Oct 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 social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no function in this matter. My Department does not have direct involvement in the executive functions such as procurement, carried out by a local authority. Under Section 149 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for the executive functions of the local authority, and for that purpose to manage and control generally, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 328 of 17 October 2023.