Results 7,881-7,900 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is being expanded from 1 May to build on the success of the scheme to date and further increase the number of vacant and derelict properties brought back into use. Details of the expansion are as follows:The inclusion of one property which will be made available for rent, by the owner, in addition to one grant for a property which will be a principal...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Projects (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The State portfolio of heritage properties commands considerable resources in terms of both funding and personnel. Nevertheless, in the interests of ensuring the portfolio includes a representative sample of natural, built and archaeological heritage, my Department acquires certain additional heritage properties and monuments from time to time as resources and opportunities permit. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. The Housing Agency provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Stakeholder engagement was undertaken during the drafting of the General Scheme for the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill, including with representatives of local authorities and State agencies. To facilitate this process, my Department established a working group consisting of representatives from South Dublin, Limerick, Cork City and Waterford local authorities as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government's Housing for All plan aims to deliver 54,000 affordable homes by 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. Subvention from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) has been approved to support the delivery of cost rental homes at St Michael's Estate,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The maximum level of subsidy available to local authorities under the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) has been raised to €150,000 per unit to support high density cost rental housing in cities. This will facilitate greater direct delivery of this tenure and type of housing where acute affordability challenges occur.    Local authorities were notified of this enhanced level...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the receipt of Government approval in January to draft legislation to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013, I have been working to progress the various programmes of work that are required to place the remediation scheme on a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: This project proposal was not advanced by the AHB in question. Instead, it was advanced by Wexford County Council who reported it as completed in Q3 2019 with 10 new social homes delivered. This project received funding of over €2.3 million from my Department. There was no official opening of the project. My Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Following my Department providing initial approval in principle for this project in July 2015, I understand from Wexford County Council that it was unable to proceed at that time as it could not obtain a discharge license to cover the site due to issues with waste water in the area.  I further understand that the Council and AHB are now hopeful these issues are being addressed and they...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tipperary County Council reported this projected as completed in Q4 2022 for nine new social homes.  This project received funding of just over €2 million from my Department. I officially opened this housing development on 20 February 2023. My Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department was notified by the local authority that the AHB involved in these proposed sheltered housing projects subsequently decided not to advance them.   As the sites were owned by the AHB, the local authority did not have the option to develop them directly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tipperary County Council reported this project as completed in Q3 2020 for 5 new social homes. This project received funding of €1.15 million from my Department. The project was not formally opened by a Minister. My Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing developments that have been completed, are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department gave funding approval under the CALF Scheme for the project referenced.  Approval for 43 social housing homes was given in 2017, with additional funding for a further 22 social housing homes approved in 2019. 65 homes were completed in December 2021. The total cost of the project was €15,619,980 with CALF funding approved by my Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future- contains a specific commitment to "Examine the Scottish experience of reducing the voting age to 17, in order to draw conclusions" within the lifetime of the current Dáil. The Programme for Government also committed to the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission. This was established on the 9 February this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2015, my Department granted Stage 1 Capital Appraisal approval to Fingal County Council for this project, following which the project was progressed through the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) 4 Stage Preconstruction process.  The project is now delivered and further details are set out in the table below. The scheme was not officially opened by a Minister. ...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Culture Ireland (9 May 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus go háirithe leis an Seanadóir Fitzpatrick as a ceist agus an tsuim atá aici in ionad na bPíobairí Uileann freisin. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Senator for her question and for the interest she has shown in na Píobairí Uileann. As she has rightly said, I paid a visit there with her not so long ago,...