Results 8,201-8,220 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: The policy objective of the First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, is to encourage greater supply of new build homes and to increase home ownership by supporting eligible first-time buyers in acquiring new homes in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The First Home Scheme is administered by the First Home Scheme Ireland DAC, which is responsible for the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) provides an upfront loan, to a maximum of €60,000 (including VAT) per unit, to owners of vacant properties that require work to bring the units up to the required standard for rental properties. Under the scheme, the local authority, or approved housing body, pays for the repairs upfront and the home is taken into social housing stock by way of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. While the reasons for vacancy are often complex, the re-use and regeneration...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 30 January 2023, I announced details regarding a third round of funding under the URDF. Supporting key objectives of Housing for All, Town Centre First, and the Vacant Homes Action Plan, this round of URDF support has been specifically designed to address long term vacancy and dereliction across URDF eligible cities and towns. It is proposed that a revolving fund of up to €150m of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects and programmes is a matter for determination by Uisce Éireann. The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Uisce Éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum time in receipt of social housing supports. The tenant or, in the case of applications from joint tenants, both tenants, must be in receipt of social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Brilliant stuff Pearse.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The pandemic does not matter, no?

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not true.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have sat here since 9.12 a.m. and listened to most of the Opposition contributions. There has been nothing new. There has been no new policy.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I think Deputy Barry has in probably the best way just explained and given an example of the simple sloganeering and vitriol that has been the main part of this debate today. I wish to turn to the facts, which are that everyone on these Government benches, and I assume everyone in this House, wants to do their level best to tackle the housing crisis. I say that as the Minister responsible...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We will not be diverted from the job we have to do because we have a responsibility as the elected Government of this country to make real strides in housing. I refer to some facts which some will not like. In the first year of Housing for All, 30,000 new homes were delivered, which is indisputable. There are more new social homes than since 1975, which is also indisputable. Affordable...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and 253 affordable homes in Ballymastone, Donabate. That is replicated across the country. I am used to that by Sinn Féin, the party of objectors. I have a lot of regard for our Labour Party colleagues and have found them constructive in the main in the past-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome Deputy Sherlock. The Labour Party should not go down that road. Deputy Bacik's claim that the Labour Party will deliver 1 million new homes over ten years and to then say they are retrofitted or refurbished homes is something people will see through. The Labour Party should not go down the road that their colleagues in Sinn Féin have.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Time and again, Sinn Féin, ably supported by the Social Democrats-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----will oppose every single measure this Government takes.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: To give an example for the serial objector and interrupter Deputy Ó Broin-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----every measure for first-time buyers, such as the help to buy grant of €30,000, which has been availed of by 37,000 households, has been opposed.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The first homes scheme, which has helped more first-time buyers since 2014 - some 1,200 already in eight months - was also opposed by Deputy Ó Broin. Inexplicably, Deputy Ó Broin and his party opposed grants of up to €50,000 to bring vacant homes back into use, which the Labour Party said it wants to do.