Results 9,241-9,260 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), would be increased from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022. This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that VHOs are full-time. The provision of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 588 and 589 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. The scheme is overseen and managed independently by the First Home Scheme DAC. The rules of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The responsibility to bring forward proposals for site acquisitions and potential development sites is a matter for local authorities and all queries in relation to this should be submitted to the relevant local authority in the first instance. My Department has no involvement until such time as it receives a capital appraisal for consideration. Each application will be considered on its...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Decisions on eligibility for social housing support, including the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), are a matter solely for local authorities with reference to eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. The Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collate the information requested. In this connection, arrangements have been put in place by each Agency under the remit of the Department, including An Bord Pleanála, to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie...

Income Eligibility for Social Housing Supports: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We will deliver this year about 10,500 new social homes across the country. I think even Deputy Boyd Barrett may say that is a significant uplift and it is welcome to the 10,500 households, many of whom I have the pleasure of meeting right across the country, who are getting their safe and secure home for life. What is important as well is that, for the first time in nearly a generation,...

Income Eligibility for Social Housing Supports: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will address that. Also, just this week, I approved another 142 cost rental tenancies which will be delivered late this year and early next year. There is a really strong pipeline coming through. We would always look at acquisition, which is important, where appropriate. We are looking at schemes at the moment. I have already mentioned dormant or stalled planning permissions, where we...

Income Eligibility for Social Housing Supports: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish the Ceann Comhairle and all the staff of the Houses a very happy Christmas. I hope they get time to enjoy it with family and friends. I wish Deputy Ó Broin, his colleagues and all colleagues a happy Christmas. This is probably the last housing debate this side of the new Government. We wait to see what Saturday holds. I wish colleagues a very happy and peaceful Christmas and...

Defects in Apartments - Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing Report: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the opportunity to once again address the House on the issue of the report of the Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing and to inform Deputies of the steps this Government is taking to provide support to homeowners who find themselves in a difficult situation through no fault of their own. I thank Deputies across the House in this regard. We will sometimes have charged...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A dedicated MARA Establishment Unit is in place within my Department leading the critical work enabling the timely establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA). The unit is directing a detailed Implementation Plan along three workstreams - governance, corporate development and operational development and is on track to have MARA formally established in March 2023. I hope...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 90 of 30 November 2022 which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 223, inclusive, together. The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments. Amendments on foot of the review came into effect on 1st February 2022. The amendments include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 been provided through my Department's Voids...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: International Protection (15 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is the Department with lead responsibility for the provision of accommodation for refugees and International Protection applicants. My Department is supporting the whole of government response to the war in Ukraine and has taken responsibility for some elements, in order to provide support and assistance to...

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 49: In page 5, line 7, after "Pleanála" to insert the following: "and, in order to facilitate and accelerate the provision of housing on lands owned by local authorities and certain state authorities, to provide that certain housing development on such lands be exempted development,".

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 41: In page 10, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 111 of Act of 2000 11. Section 111 of the Act of 2000 is amended by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (7): “(8) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act, a meeting of An Bord Pleanála, including a division of the board, may take...

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 42: In page 10, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 179 of Act of 2000 12.Section 179 of the Act of 2000 is amended in subsection (1)(a), by the insertion of “, other than development to which section 179A applies,” after “a development or a class of development”.”.

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 43: In page 10, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “Local authority own housing development 13.The Act of 2000 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 179: “179A.(1) This section applies to housing development— (a) that is carried out by, on behalf of, or jointly or in partnership with, a local authority...

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy got the right sense of where we are at. I will not accept the amendment but I will not delay the House either. Section 5 of the Bill puts in place the appropriate provision for the appointment an interim chair. The Deputies will know from our earlier discussions that there is a valid reason for that to happen and in fairness, most Deputies agree. In appointing a deputy chair, a...

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I was talking about you stirring the pot.