Results 7,641-7,660 of 15,018 for speaker:Eoin Ó Broin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing Provision for Older People: Discussion (10 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: Before Dr. O'Connor or others come in, I want to ask a further question. In other areas of housing policy with this Department, there is often a cross-sectoral group that oversees or reviews those implementation reports that would involve the local authorities, other Government agencies, NGOs, academics, etc. Would we benefit from something like that at this level, even on an annual or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing Provision for Older People: Discussion (10 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: On that point, the Housing Finance Agency was before the committee recently on a separate issue and it stated, albeit in the context of social and affordable cost rental, that it would be more than open to providing low- or no-cost bridging loans in that context. Given that it is the primary conduit of funding for the local authority loan you could even look at something which has a low cost...

Accommodation Needs of Those Fleeing Ukraine: Statements (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I wish to make clear the full support of Sinn Féin for the efforts of the Government to bring about an end to the war in Ukraine, but also to ensure that all Ukrainians who are forced to flee their country and seek refuge here receive every possible support. I commend, as did the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, the generosity and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I thank the Chair for his indulgence. I am looking at the circular again. One of the conditions is where the property is one of the priority categories in Circular 02/2022, which was one-bedroom and four-bedroom properties or properties for disability adaptations. Does that mean two-bedroom or three-bedroom properties would be excluded under the revised circular? Clarification would be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I ask the Minister to confirm that all of the regulations underpinning the affordable housing schemes have been laid before the House and if not, can he tell us which ones are outstanding and when they will be laid.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: It was done last week. My question is whether that is all of them.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I ask the Minister to also provide an update on the Croí Cónaithe cities fund. Will it be up and running this year? Has the Government decided whether the fund will be an equity stake in the new-build apartments, grant aid to the purchaser or a subsidy to the developer?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: 52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the terms of reference for his senior-counsel-led report on alleged conflicts of interest at An Bord Pleanála cover all three sets of issues now in the public domain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22550/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: As the Minister knows, there have been a number of very serious allegations of potential conflicts of interest made in the public domain against an individual member of An Bord Pleanála. My question relates not specifically to the allegations, because I realise the Minister is not in a position to comment on those, but to the terms of reference for the senior counsel review that the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: In order for An Bord Pleanála to fulfil its functions, it has to have the confidence of the public. It is the view of many of us that this confidence has been eroded over the past several years, in part because of some very controversial decisions in contravention of local city and county development plans and, in many cases, the advice of its own inspectors. This has led to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I thank the Minister for that. One of the most important recommendations of the 2016 review of An Bord Pleanála that is as yet unimplemented is the recommendation that all future appointments to the board be made through the Public Appointments Service. Particularly in the current context, it would be a very wise move. Could the Minister commit to doing that during his time in office?...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I do not wish to cut across the Minister but am wondering whether that involves a "Yes" or "No" on committing to implementing the specific recommendation of the An Bord Pleanála review.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: That is a maybe.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: Will the Minister publish the Mulcahy report?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: 51. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the March 2022 homelessness report of his Department. [22549/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: Since the Minister ended the blanket ban on evictions in April of last year, the number of adults and children in Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage-funded emergency accommodation has increased almost every month. The latest figures for March show that we have almost 10,000 adults and children in emergency accommodation. Can the Minister give his response to the latest...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I thank the Minister. Part of the problem is that many of the things he is outlining are not going to be coming on-stream, particularly for those who are in emergency accommodation for very long periods. The driving causes of homelessness are the shrinking nature of the private rental sector, increasing numbers of vacant possession notices to quit, increasing presentations and a dramatic...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: The difficulty with the circular is twofold. First, the language indicates that it applies only when the household is deemed to be at risk of homelessness, for example when they are eligible for homeless HAP, which would be six weeks out from their notice to quit. That is far too late in the day to intervene. Second, under the previous tenant in situscheme there was greater flexibility....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Regulatory Bodies (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: 118. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has carried out an examination of the structural factors as to the reason that persons are reluctant to switch energy supplier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22483/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (5 May 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: 119. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the IPCC AR6 WGIII report which states that the Energy Charter Treaty and its inclusion of Investor State Dispute Settlement is protecting the interests of fossil fuel investors from national policies that could lead to their assets being stranded; and if he will set a deadline for progress on the...