Results 7,741-7,760 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: To conclude, it is really important that residents know - and many developments have been fully remediated - that where works have started, those works will be covered. Where they are entering into contracts and where they have funds, they should continue with those works. All those works will be covered.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Specifically with regard to the tenant in situscheme, it has been a real success so far. To update the House, approximately 1,800 properties are going through the sales process right now. The targets that were set across local authorities were baseline targets and I have said that to everyone on numerous occasions. Additional funding will be required. If we can do more than 2,000 this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I have every sympathy and empathy for that lady and for the difficulties that people find themselves in. There are two issues here. We need to get the supply of social housing up. Our new-build programme is happening and we will build more this year than we did last year. Specifically in relation to the case the Deputy has referenced, we have given flexibility to the local...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The suite of measures is in place, and not just for HAP and RAS tenants. There is the cost-rental purchase scheme for tenants in situ. As I said, we have had our first approvals in that space and that has been managed by the Housing Agency. The other piece of work we have to do is the right of first refusal, about which we will bring forward legislation to the House in advance of the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for this important question and colleagues for their input into this. Since receipt of Government approval in January to draft legislation to establish supports for remediation defects in apartments, I have been working to progress the various programmes of work required to put a significant remediation scheme on a statutory footing. A key aspect of this work is...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I know.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Colleagues across the House have worked together on this and I want to continue in that vein. I meet residents regularly. I have had a number of webinars with them and met the representative groups as recently as 10 May. The legislation is complex and we need to get it right. It is important residents know where work has been done already. An important decision was made by the Government...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase housing supply to the required average of 33,000 homes per annum over the next decade. This includes 54,000 affordable home interventions. They will be delivered between now and 2030. They will be facilitated through local authorities, approved housing bodies, AHBs, the Land...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is interesting the Deputy likes to dismiss the first home scheme, which, by the way, has had an excellent start. We have issued more eligibility certificates and approved more people to buy their homes in the first three months of this year than we did in the last six months of last year. It is a real way that people, many of whom are renting, bridge the gap between the finance that they...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----which is people's own tax back. Thirty-seven thousand households have used that to attain it. In relation to delivery streams, I have been clear on this. Our overall target for this year is 5,550. In relation to affordable housing, we have a number of streams, including Project Tosaigh and Croí Cónaithe cities, on which, by the way, I intend to make announcements next...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, this year. There are challenges within that, as with the overall target. In social housing last year, we were able to deliver 10,253 new social homes - the highest amount since 1975.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a simple question and as the Deputy might understand as well, delivery can be complex. However, we have a number of delivery streams. The LDA will deliver through Project Tosaigh this year as well.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It has already delivered its first cost rental also. The LDA, by the way, which the Deputy opposed, is a development agency to deliver homes on State-owned land.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Right the way across our delivery through the local authority affordable purchase, and the local authority, LA, cost rental, in which we are targeting 200 this year. We broke ground in Tallaght recently on a significant scheme with South Dublin County Council of 134 cost rental through the local authority.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Sorry, Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy asked his question and I am answering it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is impossible to answer with continuous interruption.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What I will do is supply the Deputy with the details that I have. The Deputy should then highlight the schemes that he does not support-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----such as the first home scheme, the Land Development Agency and cost rental, on which we are making changes.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I do have the answer.