Results 8,261-8,280 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Office of Public Works (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), as are the roles of local authorities and owners. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage in their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Framework for future delivery of Water Services (June 2022), identified following a comprehensive process of engagement with unions under the aegis of the Workplace Relations Commission, now enables the integration of public water services into Uisce Éireann's organisational structure, as envisaged in the Government’s Policy Paper on Water Sector Transformation (February,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together. In 1985, a compulsory retirement age of 55 years for retained firefighters was introduced at national level as a result of a lengthy negotiation process engaged in by the then Local Government Management Services Board representing local authority managers and the trade unions representing the retained firefighters. This national...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There are a number of reviews of standards (including the review of I.S. 465:2018) with respect to defective concrete blocks (DCB), which are currently being carried out by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), which is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. My Department has requested NSAI to identify the necessary research...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not awarded any contracts to the seven named companies in the period 2016 to present.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Official Travel (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas, with levels of publicity and media attention unmatched by the national day of any other country. This year I travelled to the United States of America for the St. Patrick’s Day period, where I undertook a comprehensive programme of political, economic and civic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (28 Mar 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: Planning Issues (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act), as amended, and certain other Acts. The Board is the competent authority with responsibility for making decisions in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Mar 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 Loan is available for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Reviews (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 2 of the Housing Act 1988 outlines how local authorities can form an opinion on whether or not an individual/household shall be regarded as homeless, while section 10 outlines the actions that a local authority may take regarding the accommodation of those regarded as homeless. My Department undertook review of sections 2 and 10 of the Housing Act 1988 in recognition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 308 and 321 together. 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. The Croí...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the conditions associated with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, there is a requirement that the applicant(s) will live in the qualifying property for a period of at least five years from the date of payment of the Grant. If at any time they sell the property or it ceases to be their principal private residence within ten years, they must reimburse the local authority an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of the recent report by an animal welfare organisation in relation to badger baiting in Northern Ireland. I strongly condemn the unlawful killing or injuring of any badgers which are a protected species in Ireland under the Wildlife Acts. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff of my Department are working across all regions of the country to address wildlife crime....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: When a site is designated as part of the Natura 2000 Network under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, it becomes a European Site in legal terms. The site is publicly notified and transmitted to the European Commission for inclusion on the Commission’s list of Sites of Community Importance (SCI). Sites accepted by the Commission as SCIs are published...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for social housing support are assessed by local authorities in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. Decisions on the qualification of households for support, the awarding of medical priority, the most appropriate form of support and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 298, 299, 300 and 301 together. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for housing support through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302, 303, 304 and 305 together. I can confirm that the planned cost rental homes at Archers Woods, Delgany will be delivered, managed and maintained by the Land Development Agency (LDA). LDA has indicated it plans to deliver 142 cost rental homes in Delgany and I can confirm that to date, 48 of these homes have been formally Designated as Cost Rental under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 307, 310, 323, 324, 325 and 327 together. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Rent Supplement is a short-term housing payment, for eligible people living in private rented accommodation, which would be discontinued where an applicant receives long-term social housing support. Therefore, local authorities may disregard rent supplement when assessing a social housing application.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act), as amended, and certain other Acts. Section 126 of the Act provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to...