Results 8,521-8,540 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 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 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: Housing Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities. The published data is based on statistical returns submitted by each local authority to my Department. This data is available until the end of Quarter 3 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021, Cost Rental is primarily targeted to deliver rents at least 25% below market levels for households with incomes above social housing limits and who have difficulty in affording to purchase or rent their own homes on the open market. Cost rental provides tenants with rent certainty and secure tenancies in long-term homes. Under the Cost Rental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 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: Water Pollution (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 26 January 2023 my Department was notified of the decision of the European Commission to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to correctly transpose the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). This decision was linked to the Commission Infringement case 2007/2238 against Ireland. The Water Environment (Abstractions and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) has an immediate focus on managing the State’s owned lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands making these available for housing in a controlled manner, which is expected to bring essential more long-term stability to the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. The Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides the statutory framework for dealing with political financing and sets out the regulatory regime covering a wide range of inter-related issues such as the funding of political parties; the reimbursement of election expenses; the establishment of election expenditure limits; the disclosure of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Office of Public Works (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is the Executive Agency within my Department with primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves. Our six National Parks, Killarney, Connemara, Wild Nephin, Wicklow Mountains, Glenveagh and The Burren are all managed as Category II National Parks...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in the Housing for All Action Plan Update (published in November, 2022), my Department has commenced a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years in the residential rental market, and will report on how our housing system can be enhanced to provide an efficient, affordable,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to holding a referendum on water, and work on the drafting of an appropriate wording is at an advanced stage. My planned course of action as outlined previously is to bring forward a referendum proposal on water ownership for consideration by Government in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing once the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in the Housing for All Action Plan Update (published in November, 2022), my Department has commissioned a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years will report on how our housing system could provide an efficient, affordable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215 and 216 together. My Department’s Foreshore Unit operates the consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933, managing the regulation of a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments. Up to 2020, the Foreshore function in my Department was part of a much broader business unit that also dealt with Marine Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to the specific project mentioned, I can confirm that the project received conditional Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding approval in 2019 for 34 social housing homes.My Department actively engages with the local authority and the Approved Housing Body (AHB) concerned. I understand that following withdrawal of the preferred bidder from the procurement process, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Regeneration Programme targets the country’s most disadvantaged communities; those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour. My Department supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects which seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these estates through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (9 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. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins the policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All. In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched as part of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. The grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum annual reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports. In determining a tenant’s minimum annual reckonable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 311 of 28 February 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Properties (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supply. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement...