Results 7,721-7,740 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (23 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The State acquired the national monument at no's 14 to 17 Moore Street as well as part of number 18 from NAMA in 2015 in order to create a 1916 Rising commemorative centre at a cost of €4 million. Further funding has been secured to carry out the necessary works to have the buildings stabilised, refurbished and ready for public tours. The Department is not in a position to estimate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (23 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no specific remit in relation to funding for Roma Culture, Heritage and Identity.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not hold the details requested. A breakdowns of housing application refusals based on the parameters requested may be sought from relevant Local Authorities directly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (23 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Domestic Violence (23 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Generally, is not possible for a household previously on one social housing waiting list to carry the time spent on that list when applying to another local authority. However, local authorities may provide for exceptional or emergency cases to qualified households, allowing immediate housing outside of normal waiting lists priorities, should circumstances require. They may also reserve a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home DAC), on behalf of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 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 help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We have been specifically discussing cost rental but there has also been a significant expansion in the first home scheme for first-time buyers. As I referred to earlier, one in two new-built homes bought last year was bought by a first-time buyer. Between help-to-buy and shared equity, the average equity we are providing is between €69,000 to €100,000 to first-time buyers and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The cost-rental viability measure will be available to AHB and across the sector. It will also be available to private developments if they are designated as cost rental and part of the condition will be that they will be designated as cost rental on an open book basis. We are working through those changes with the AHB sector also. It will apply and that is absolutely the intention. On the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, we are looking at that and I believe they can work together. We have done that with regard to the AHF funding that local authorities can access at the moment. For example, with regard to South Dublin County Council and a new scheme we have started there, that is just about viable and we can get that out there. We will look at the combination of both and how that can practically work....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question and his support of Government in its rolling out of these measures. As he knows, cost rental did not exist 18 months ago. We have rolled it out and well over 1,000 tenancies have been approved. The Deputy referenced Shanganagh Castle, which is a very important and significant site, where ground has been broken. It is the largest social and affordable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The waiving of development levies and the refund of Uisce Éireann connection charges apply to all, including the single one-off homes of families who have saved and want to build their own homes as well as small developments. I will provide an example. We were contacted by a 44-home scheme in a rural village that was not going to start but will now do so because of these cost-saving...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Fundamentally, this is an activation measure to increase supply. I thank Deputy O'Dowd for his kind comments. This measure is taking effect on the ground. Consider the measures the Government has introduced to support first-time buyers in buying at affordable rates. The help-to-buy grant gives them back €30,000 of their own taxes. I cannot imagine why anyone would be opposed to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Actually, it does not. The equity under the first home scheme is not a second mortgage, which is what others claimed. Under it, we are providing approximately €69,000 in equity. Combined, these come to nearly €100,000. People who have been renting or living at home have a real way now to buy their homes at an affordable rate, with mortgages of €1,000 or €1,100...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We have already seen new schemes starting because of this measure. The commencement figures for quarter 2, which will be published this afternoon, are the highest in ten years. The commencement and completion figures for quarter 1 were the highest since we started collating these records. Everything is not perfect, but momentum is building, and we will take measures like this if they...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputies do not want houses at all. They want to take away every support from first-time buyers.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputies will take people's tax back off them and abolish the first home scheme.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 104 and 109 together. Section 48(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that a development contribution scheme applied by a planning authority in respect of its functional area may make provision for payment of different contributions in respect of different classes or descriptions of development. The level of contribution and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I would like it to happen in early 2024. I will come back in again.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not know that it is the third time the Deputy has asked about that. I have formally engaged with industry, both Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, BPFI, and Insurance Ireland. I have met them and we are continuing that engagement. Homeowners have been too. The code of practice is very important because it will underpin what interim works can take place and what the standard of...