Results 9,161-9,180 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates a consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended), managing a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments. Section 3 of the Act provides for the granting of a licence for the removal of or the disturbance of beach material on the Foreshore. Beach material is defined in the Act and includes in its definition “seaweed whether...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme is managed and operated by the First Home Scheme DAC, and responses to specific queries in relation to activity and spend are a matter for the Scheme. Whilst data on activity by individual area has not to date been published by First Home, the scheme has confirmed 750 approvals nationally from launch in July 2022 to the end of December 2022. At its launch, the First...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 gives legal effect to the proposed reconfiguration of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network arising from the 2014 review of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network. The Bill had completed all stages in the Dáil and the Seanad, and had been returned to the Dáil for consideration of the various amendments made by the Seanad when the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together. The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Further information is available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie. At its launch, it was announced by the First Home Scheme DAC that a review of price...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the Question refers to housing estates that are dependent on developer-provided water services infrastructure for the provision of their water services. My Department operates a multi-annual programme, the Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI), to provide funding for the progressive resolution of housing estates with legacy developer...

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

Darragh O'Brien: A survey conducted by my Department in September 2022 identified that more than half of local authorities operate a Choice Based Letting (CBL) system, with 14 of these using an online system. I understand Laois County Council plans to introduce an online CBL system in the near future. While Offaly County Council has no immediate plans to introduce CBL, my Department continues to liaise...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The pine marten has lived in Ireland for thousands of years. However, following decades of persecution and habitat loss, the pine marten was almost extinct by the 1960s. The protection of the pine marten under the Wildlife Acts and then the EU’s Habitats Directive, together with the banning of strychnine and the expansion of forest habitat, has allowed the species to recover. The pine...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes, on average, per year over the next decade. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Details of the pilot funding schemes offered by my Department, including details of participating local authorities are set out in the table. Scheme Local Authority Details Caravan Loan Scheme Pilot All Local Authorities The pilot Caravan Loan Scheme was introduced to support the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation through...

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 grant scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Pending commencement of the DCB Act and the enhanced grant scheme, applications can continue to be made to local...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 526 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 by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. A breakdown by delivery scheme of the total number of social homes delivered under SHCEP to end Q3 2022 can be found in Table 1 below: Table 1: Social Housing Leases delivered to end of Q3 2022 ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: On 13 December 2022 the Government approved the General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2022. The General Scheme was published on 16 December 2022 and is available via the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2fd71-general-scheme-of-marine-pro tected-areas-bill-2022/ Drafting is now commencing with a view to publishing the Bill at the earliest opportunity in 2023. With this in...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 and 542 together. The Government approved the General Scheme of a Bill providing for a directly elected mayor for Limerick at its meeting of 20 April 2021. The Government also approved the publication of the General Scheme and its referral both to the Oireachtas for pre-legislative scrutiny and to the Office of the Attorney General for priority...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 583 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 by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

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. Under Housing for All, the Government aims to deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 582 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: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to bridge the current “viability gap” between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). The scheme is targeted principally at activating planning permissions already in place for such homes. The...