Results 9,341-9,360 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is continuing to work closely with local authorities and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to identify, refurbish, and bring into use, multi-unit vacant properties that may be suitable and available for accommodation purposes for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine.  The building referred to in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. As...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is the body responsible for setting water connection charges as set out in Part V of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, in particular it sets out the CRU's responsibility for the determination of the charges, including connection charges, and charging arrangements that apply to customers of Irish Water. Prior to the establishment of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 (the Act), the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies.  The register of AHBs...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The City Edge Project is a joint initiative between South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and Dublin City Council (DCC). A non-statutory Strategic Framework has been published jointly by DCC and SDCC and is available online at www.cityedge.ie. Section 12.7 of the Framework addresses the proposed funding for delivery of this ambitious project.  My Department has funded studies and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to examine defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report Safe as Houses?, and to assist owners of latent defect properties by identifying options for those impacted by defects, to access low-cost, long-term finance. In response, in February 2021, I established a...

Building Defects: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not the waiting time. It is the scale of the programme.

Building Defects: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I welcome the residents who are here this evening for this important debate and, indeed, the representatives of the Construction Defects Alliance and the Apartment Owners Network. I welcome the opportunity to debate this. It is important and I am not opposing the motion. There are elements within it that I do not agree with, specifically around the area of the pyrite resolution...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am pleased to introduce this Bill to Seanad Éireann today. I thank the Seanad for facilitating this important and urgent legislation. I acknowledge concerns about the limits on debate time and the fact that the pre-legislative scrutiny report has not been published. However, the urgency of the issues at hand to address the housing crisis requires immediate legislative action. I...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A vote has been called in the Dáil Chamber.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will check with the Government Whip, but I believe I am required to attend the vote in the Dáil, unfortunately. Beidh mé ar ais.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators for their thoughtful contributions today. To put this in context, it is about urgent interim measures regarding An Bord Pleanála. Senator Moynihan and other Senators raised issues about the need for a consolidated planning Bill; we are doing that. We are bringing forward consolidated planning legislation, which I intend to bring to Cabinet on 13 December. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Risk Management (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the body responsible for flood risk assessment and mitigation of flood risk. OPW work directly with local authorities in relation to flood risk management projects.  When flooding occurs, the Government approved Framework for Major Emergency Management (2006) designates responsibility for coordination of the local response to the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs.  The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Ethical conduct in public office continues to be governed by the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 (‘the Ethics Acts’), and, at local level, by Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended. Part 15 of the 2001 Act provides an ethical framework for local government, which imposes a statutory duty on all in the service to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 Dec 2022)

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, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 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: Departmental Funding (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Established under the National Development Plan and a key element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched in 2018 to support more compact and sustainable development within the existing built-up footprints of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns.  In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework, the URDF is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Pathway 1 of Housing For All, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”, I have introduced the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme to assist first-time buyers purchasing new homes delivered by Local Authorities. The scheme operates by providing an equity support to bridge the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

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. 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 Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins...