Results 9,141-9,160 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department cannot advise on the specific situation outlined in the details supplied. However I can advise that my Department’s Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public (Uisce Éireann) services. Grant assistance is available, through local authorities, under the Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability scheme provides a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability. These schemes cover works reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fishing Industry (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Certain activities such as scientific research, fishery development or restocking, require a Section 14 Authorisation, under the Fisheries Act, from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Where the proposed activity requires such consent, further consent, or ARC 02 as referred to in the Question, under Regulation 30 of the Birds and Natural Habitats Directive, does not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2021-2030. Investment is primarily delivered through Uisce Éireann, while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. Since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Fire services in Ireland are provided by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. 31 authorities provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Approximately 3,300 local authority staff, engaged at 217 fire stations nationwide, deliver local authority fire services. 16 of these...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A range of individuals or households are eligible to avail of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, including applicants who qualify under the ‘Fresh Start’ principle. This includes previous homeowners who have experienced divorce or separation, or insolvency or bankruptcy, and who no longer have a legal interest in the previous home. Applicants should contact the Vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched in July 2022 as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages. As of the 15 November 2022, the grant was expanded to also include...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding for the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, which is a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses, in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability. These schemes cover works reasonably necessary for the purposes of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Details of sections of Acts, falling under the remit of my Department in the past ten years, for which a commencement order has yet to be signed, are set out in the attached table. Details of Acts, falling under the remit of my Department in the past ten years, which have review periods, are also set out at the link. /ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/202...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 an average of 10,000 new build social homes each year in the period to 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 475 together. The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 October 2022. The Act makes emergency provision to defer the termination dates of certain residential tenancies that fall, or would fall, during the 'winter emergency period', beginning on 30 October 2022 and ending on 31...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It was agreed previously by Government that with effect from 1 January 2011, starting pay on recruitment from open competition for all posts within the public service should be at the minimum of the relevant salary scale. My Department issued Circular EL 02/2011 to all Chief Executives in the Local Government sector, following receipt of the Department of Finance instruction. Circular EL...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 478 together. I would like to make the Deputy aware that no such meeting took place.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As with all locally delivered social housing, the management of the project at Colmcille Terrace, Granard is being overseen by Longford County Council, in this case working with Tuath Housing Association. My Department has met with both Longford County Council and Tuath on this project and we issued pre-tender funding approval in July 2022. I understand that the tender process has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. While responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the DCB Act) is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Pending commencement of the Act and the enhanced DCB grant scheme, applications can continue to be made to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 to 485, inclusive, 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....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 491 together. 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. Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 to 490, inclusive, 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....