Results 7,421-7,440 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (13 Dec 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. Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (13 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together. It is of the utmost importance in the first instance to point out that provision for the handling and consideration of appeals where considered vexatious is currently already legislated for under section 138 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), under which An Bord Pleanála has powers to dismiss appeals where it...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (13 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Record State investment of over €5bn is available to support capital investment in housing in 2024. This funding will support the delivery of 9,300 new build social homes and 6,400 affordable homes. Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (13 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Question No. 407 of the 12 December 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) (No. 2) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Ó Broin for tabling the Private Members' Bill again. Much of what we are discussing this evening was discussed last week, though the Sinn Féin motion did not include this proposal to reintroduce a temporary moratorium on evictions over the winter period. We have to make sure anything we do in the private rental sector does not make the situation worse. I have said...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) staffing figure for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was 494.49 at the end of October 2023. The information requested is set out in the table below: Grade Stream Grade Equiv. Grade WTE General Service PO PRINCIPAL 7.00 AP ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (12 Dec 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: Departmental Data (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The correspondence in question was received by my office who subsequently issued a reply on 19 October and 6 December. Additional correspondence was received on 6 December and a response is currently being drafted and will issue within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Based on the current pay levels, the estimated cost of recruiting an additional two WTE Senior Archaeologists and seven WTE Archaeologist is €434,914 per annum.My Department is currently engaged with the Public Appointments Service in recruiting additional Archaeologists.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (12 Dec 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 provides for the enhanced grant scheme, and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. Section 5 of the Act contains details on the process for the inclusion of additional local authority areas into the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Consistent with the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households in receipt of a payment under the scheme are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. Ministerial directions have issued to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP recipients can...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (12 Dec 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: Traveller Accommodation (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together. The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address the challenges facing the Rural Water Sector and in particular by Group Water Schemes. Under the programme, funding is available to address infrastructure deficits that are having an impact on the provision of safe and secure drinking water supplies. My Department undertook and has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Dáil Question no. 220 on 7 December which sets out the information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 403 together. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes, by 2030, 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 404 together. Cost rental is a new form of tenure which was introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021, where rents are set only to cover the cost of financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes. Under various schemes, the State may provide a subvention to reduce the initial capital cost and make the starting cost rent more...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405, 408, 409, 412 and 443 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...