Results 9,081-9,100 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Social housing construction is funded through a range of delivery streams such as local authority direct construction, Part V, turnkey developments, regeneration programmes and through direct construction and turnkey developments delivered by Approved Housing Bodies. The funding provided by my Department to Kildare County Council in respect of social housing construction programmes in each...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Statistics are published by my Department on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery by all local authorities across the range of programmes, including local authority build. This data, including that in respect of Kildare County Council, is available to the end of Quarter 3 of 2022 at the following link: . Data up to Q4 of 2022 will be published as soon as it is assembled. In addition,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. My Department has oversight of a number of supports under Pathway 1 of the Government's Housing For Allstrategy, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”. I have introduced the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) to assist first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 103 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 327 of 24 January 2023 which set out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2009 the Department issued guidance to local authorities on the use of unsold affordable properties (USAs) to provide social housing. Whilst the original intention was that these properties would be sold on as affordable homes once demand increased to a level that would stimulate a sale, following the financial crash, developments in the housing market resulted in significantly reduced...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department, through local authorities, makes a number of funding programmes, including the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS – closed to new applications since 2011), leasing, P&A-CALF available to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the provision of housing for social housing use. As we have moved to the statutory regulation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tourist Accommodation (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: All development, unless specifically exempted under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. This includes the material change of use of land or buildings. It should be noted that exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (25 Jan 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 scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures. The Programme for Government commits to funding Uisce Éireann's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I assume that the Question refers to waste water treatment plants in housing estates that are not in the charge of local authorities, and are dependent on developer provided water services infrastructure for the provision of their waste water services. I can confirm that all local authorities have, under legislation, the appropriate powers of inspection and investigation, and where issues...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. On overdue decisions within the board, I met with the new board of An Bord Pleanála last week and have asked it to come forward with a plan for the backlog, particularly but not exclusively in areas of residential development. We have provided over the past 12 months sanction for an additional 59 staff so far. This Thursday I will publish the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. The issue of outages in Galway has been raised by the Deputy and by some of his Dáil colleagues. I will contact Niall Gleeson, the chief executive of Irish Water. I am in regular contact with him. It is important Deputies are aware that Irish Water now has a €6 billion capital programme to deal with legacy issues we have had for decades....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q3 2022, over 106,700 HAP tenancies have been set-up since the scheme commenced, with almost 59,700 active tenancies being supported under the HAP Scheme. Over 31,890 landlords or agents were providing accommodation to households...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála is a quasi-judicial body which carries out its statutory functions independently of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Contracting of hotel accommodation for both refugees and beneficiaries of temporary protection is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. My Department has no function in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan was launched in January 2022. It is a Government backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It is available to first-time buyers and fresh start applicants to purchase a new or second-hand property, or to self-build. The Local Authority Home Loan has a maximum annual gross income limit for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations require local authorities, subject to certain conditions, to process applications within 12 weeks of receipt. However, different timeframes can apply where a local authority requires additional information from an applicant, with a potential extension to the 12-week deadline for completing the application and assessment process in such cases. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. In order for a household to qualify for HAP, they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP and those households must source their own accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tenants in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 587 of 18 January 2023, which sets out the position in this matter.