Results 7,081-7,100 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Office of Public Works (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the Office of Public Works (OPW) have confirmed that they have no involvement with Baltimore Station House and have not expressed any interest in acquiring it. Requests in respect of the OPW's involvement in respect of the property should be addressed to the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform who has responsibility for the Office. The Land...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The raising of the ratio of mortgage to income from 3.5 to 4 times for first-time buyers, as mandated by the Central Bank of Ireland, came into effect on 1January this year. With regard to the First Home Scheme, this change was carried over on the same date. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at:www.firhomescheme.ie. The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for Alldelivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and putaffordabilityat theheartof the housing system. There are two equity schemes currently available to support the affordable purchase of homes to eligible applicants. The First Home Scheme is operated by a Designated Activity Company (DAC), governed by a Board of Directors comprising...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those 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. Local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme is operated by a Designated Activity Company (DAC), governed by a Board of Directors comprising representatives of the scheme funders, i.e. the State, AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB. First Home does not apply an interest rate. A service charge applies to the percentage value of unredeemed equity from year 6 in order to cover administrative costs associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Maximum rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. In prescribing these limits, household size and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 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.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 available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: During the Covid-19 emergency, the HAP Debt Management Process (DMP) was suspended from March 2020 and partially re-commenced in October 2020. This meant non-payment of differential rent by a tenant during that time did not affect payments to HAP landlords. Tenants were, however, expected to continue to pay their rent with supports available for those financially impacted by Covid. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that the monument in question is a protected structure (Record of Protected Structures ID 02348). My Department provides financial support to owners of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures to assist in their conservation and protection through two grant schemes, the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). The HSF is for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Sep 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: Housing Policy (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, as amended. The regulations provide for specified classes of houses to be excluded...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The structure in question may be eligible for an application under the Community Monuments Fund grant scheme of the National Monuments Service of my Department.The Community Monuments Fund was established in 2020 to provide investment in Ireland’s archaeological heritage. This funding is prioritised for local authorities, private owners and custodians and community groups for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The recent Public consultation on the Open Seasons Order contained several useful recommendations and suggestions, many of which will be actioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department in the coming months. These include: - the need for collaboration across various groups and agencies - the need for collation of good quality, current data on bird populations and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Harbours and Piers (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Licences and leases in respect of properties such as the marina identified are managed by Waterways Ireland, a North South body sponsored by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. While it would be inappropriate to comment publicly on any individual marina in a manner that might potentially prejudice any current or future legal proceedings, arrangements have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The registration, licensing and operation of marinas is managed by Waterways Ireland, a North South body sponsored by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. In 2021, Waterways Ireland established a dedicated land recovery and first registration team to research, lodge and register its property portfolio. As part of that process, Waterways Ireland is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (27 Sep 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: Water Services (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Departments' Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI) is focused on housing estates which do not have their water services connected to the public network but instead rely on infrastructure provided by developers. The aim of the DPI programme is to provide funding to local authorities to assist them in implementing solutions that resolve the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Parking Provision (26 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The planning and development of new areas for tourism and recreational purposes is a matter for local authorities, within the context of their role as planning authorities in the Irish planning system. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001, provides that a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. A core function of local authorities, as planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (26 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that my Department is in the final stages of completing comprehensive Framework documentation that will assist and support the launch of the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme. Extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Rural Water Working Group, was a valuable and necessary requirement to allow my Department finalise this work. I expect to...