Results 7,661-7,680 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Specifically in relation to the retained firefighters-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have only a minute to answer and I want to answer on the retained fire service, because I commissioned the report on the retained fire service in Ireland back in May 2021. We had 1,000 submissions to it, many from retained firefighters. I regularly meet retained firefighters from across the country, including in our constituency. Proposals have gone forward through the Local Government...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue on healthcare in Ireland. On behalf of the Government, and I am sure all Deputies in the House would share this, we commend all the staff within the HSE and the health service who work so diligently 365 days of the year, are totally committed to our people and are providing as best a service as they can. The Government is committed to...

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Shortall can make whatever excuse she wants for objecting to homes but the record is there.

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The record is there. Then we look at how we can activate idle State lands. The Land Development Agency, LDA, has been in place for a number of years. I legislated for it and I capitalised it. The agency has delivered its first homes. It has broken ground and is building in Shanganagh, on the largest social and affordable housing site in the county. The agency is capitalised to the...

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I do know and I know how many Deputy Shortall objected to as well.

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It would make a big difference if we had Oscar Traynor, would it not?

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Cian O'Callaghan for affording me the opportunity to have a debate on homeownership. I have heard some comment that the motion is constructive, although it lacks policy and lacks any type of suggestion as to what to do, with the exception of supporting an Ó Cualann-type model, which we do support. The delivery of Ó Cualann is supported through the State’s...

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Let Deputy Barry in.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (31 May 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 assist the achievement of the housing delivery targets set in Housing for All, while also addressing cost and viability issues faced by the construction sector. These measures included the introduction of temporary time-limited...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (31 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand the Question is referring to the new funding measure which I announced in April 2022, as an advance stage of the upcoming Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme, for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services. All rural local authorities were invited to submit two priority applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (31 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Regulation 49(2) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 makes it an offence to disperse, allow or cause to disperse, spread or otherwise cause to grow any plant, including Rhododendron ponticum, listed in Part 1 of the Third Schedule to those Regulations. Occasional reports on the presence of invasive alien species in retail outlets and garden centres...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (30 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Electoral Area (LEA) referred to was designated as a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) on 20 September 2017 under section 24 of the Residential Tenancies Acts, as amended. New LEAs and Municipal Districts were signed into law on 31 January 2019, for the County of Louth, for the May 2019 local elections.  The County of Louth Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (30 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It should be noted that the licence regime under section 254 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) does not constitute planning permission. Section 254(7) provides that development carried out in accordance with a licence under this section shall be exempted development for the purposes of this Act. There is no time limit on taking an appeal under 254(6) of the Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Strategies (30 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), threshold values for sea floor integrity have been developed by experts across the EU. Ireland, represented by officials of my Department, was involved the development of these thresholds. These threshold values support technical criteria for adversely affected and loss of habitat type. A threshold value of 25% has been proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Quarrying Sector (30 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in the Official Journal of the EU, the applicability date for EN 12620:2002 was 1 July 2003, subject to a co-existence period end date of 1 January 2004 for the purposes of the implementation of the Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to construction products. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Council (30 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 397 to 400, inclusive, together. The Board of the Heritage Council comprises members from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and experiences, ensuring leadership and governance oversight for the organisation, and the delivery of its core goals, including the promotion of interest, education, knowledge and pride in Ireland's national heritage. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (30 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) programme was launched in 2016 by the Heritage Council to gather information which would support the regeneration of historic town centres. In 2019 Local Authorities became directly involved in the programme, which has very successfully analysed a number of towns across Ireland in aspects such as land use, vacancy, surveys of businesses and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (30 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Barrow Blueway Project is a significant initiative, which will support communities and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives. Waterways Ireland obtained planning permission for the entire Barrow Blueway Project including the canal side works and the roadside works from Lowtown to Athy, a distance of approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (30 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 429 to 432, inclusive, together. The local authority biodiversity officer programme is coordinated by the Heritage Council, utilising funding provided by my Department. My Department also sanctions the recruitment for new posts as requested by individual local authorities. The Heritage Council manage this programme centrally and so hold the detailed...