Results 7,281-7,300 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Sep 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: Defective Building Materials (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 512 together. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) as Ireland’s Official standards body, created and developed the appropriate standards that currently apply in determining whether a building has been damaged by concrete blocks containing certain excessive amounts of deleterious materials (such as mica). That standard is I.S. 465...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that funding of €68.5 million has been allocated, under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, to address legacy water services issues. 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 and are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (20 Sep 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (20 Sep 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 housing authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (20 Sep 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 a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service directly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 to 521, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme, carrying out of responsive repairs and ultimately the regeneration and replacement of social housing, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. My Department currently funds...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Strategies (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is strongly committed to the Government’s National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy and to supporting staff who are members of LGBTQIA+ communities. Our People Strategy was developed in partnership with staff and sets out the strategic priorities, objectives and actions through which we wish to engage, support, develop and lead our staff. Actions include a commitment to enhance...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 7 March 2023, the Government agreed to develop legislation to give tenants the opportunity to buy their home including the development of a legislative based “first right of refusal”. Detailed and complex work has been ongoing in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General to progress the implementation of the Government decision. I updated Government on the progress...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan 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. Applications...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Recycling Policy (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities have installed drinking water fountains within their functional areas over recent years. My Department does not hold data on the specific number of public water fountains currently in place across the country. Uisce Éireann is engaging directly with local authorities on the installation of new water fountains as part of a pilot project. A review of the installation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There have been a number of engagements between my Department and the the Banking and Payments Federation (BPFI) on specific issues raised by Defective Concrete Block homeowners to see what can be done to address their concerns. In this regard I met with the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland on 2 February 2023. At the meeting, I stressed the need for a fair and consistent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (20 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property...