Results 9,481-9,500 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 272 together. The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy and progressing legislation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is acutely aware of the difficulties and challenges that the rising cost of living is placing on households and, with this in mind, introduced a suite of measures in Budget 2023 to assist households, and those on lower and fixed incomes in particular, in meeting these challenges. This includes tenants in local authority social homes who are largely shielded from the recent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 Nov 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In May 2021, I requested the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management to undertake a review of the model of local authority ‘Retained’ fire services delivery. This review has a particular emphasis on the recruitment and retention of staff, with the proviso that due consideration also be given to input from the County and City Management...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department, primarily through the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has appointed three Access Officers. These Officers have responsibility for providing and coordinating assistance for, and guidance to, people with disabilities accessing my Department's Services, as required by section 26 (2) of the Disability Act 2005. Specifically, these roles are divided across three areas; Physical Access, ICT Access and Publishing Access. These services...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. Applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports, to be eligible. The tenant or, in the case of applications from joint tenants, both tenants must...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Draft documentation in the form of revised draft Building Regulations (Part B Amendment) Regulations, Technical Guidance Document B – Fire Safety, and a Regulatory Impact Analysis are currently being finalised. My Department intends to bring these forward for public consultation in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V properties secured for social housing are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme to ensure the original policy intent is not eroded over time and the properties remain available for people most in need of social housing support. Detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2021, is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/f6119-summary-of-social-housing-as sessments-2021-key-findings/. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Data in relation to levels of vacancy, average turnaround times and reasons associated with this are not routinely collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. Under HAP, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. However, additional supports are available under HAP for homeless households or households at risk of homelessness. While eligible households or individuals may source accommodation for themselves...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (29 Nov 2022)

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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government’s Housing for All strategy introduced a new ‘Fresh Start’ principle targeting support at those who have experienced a relationship breakdown or an insolvency. Whilst these schemes are not aimed at supporting mortgage repayments on current homes, they do provide support to divorced persons in acquiring new homes. Under the provisions of the Affordable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Staff (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: No civilian drivers in my Department have been replaced by official Garda drivers at this time.