Results 9,841-9,860 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay. Local discretion and flexibility are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has made significant advances in the development of marine policy over the last number of years, culminating in the launch of the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) in June of last year, and the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning Act in December 2021, elements of which have already been commenced. The NMPF creates an overarching framework for decision-making that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There are 12 staff in my Department’s Communications Team who have a wide range of responsibilities including dealing with media queries and other standard press office duties related to the broad range of responsibilities within my Department. Their duties also include working with social media as well as other communications functions such as public and stakeholder engagement and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will 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 State and retail banks. 2022 represents the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. Significant funding has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on social housing delivery in all local authorities on a quarterly basis, including information on social housing acquisitions. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provis ion/.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301, 311, 319, 322, 323 and 324 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not currently have plans or funding available to fund a role of the nature outlined; policy responsibility for disability issues lies with my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth. Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I have recently approved proposals to scope and develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency who have been tasked with commissioning it and I expect that the work will complete by end Q4 2022. Pending completion of this work, I have approved changes to the social housing income...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Along with my colleague, Ms. Anne Rabbitte, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability and relevant officials, I met with a delegation from the association referred to in the question on 12 October 2022 in relation to the Building Regulations and I intend to meet with them again in due course. This followed a meeting with the same association on 8 March 2022 by my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the planning, delivery and operation of water and wastewater services at national, regional and local levels. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 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 Working...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand from clarifications my Department have received from the Deputy’s Office that the Deputy is requesting details of private housing estates that are not in Local Authority ownership. My Department does not retain records on private housing estates and as such is not in a position to provide the information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (25 Oct 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 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. Under the Housing Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Environment (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Achieving an expanded and effective network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Irish waters continues to be a priority. In this regard, the Government remains committed to achieving 30% coverage of MPAs in our Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN post-2020 Global...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Constitutional Amendments (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A Framework for the future delivery of water services was identified with unions at the Workplace Relations Commission on 24 June 2022. My Department also hosted parallel engagement with unions on a number of policy matters of relevance to workers in the context of the overall water transformation programme, including a referendum on water ownership. A paper entitled Irish Water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Action 18.5 of Housing for All aims to legislate to increase the borrowing capacity of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), with a review in two years, to support the Local Government sector in land acquisition and delivery of social and affordable homes. The HFA plays a leading role in the financing of Local Authorities. Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) and the education sector to deliver housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A Framework for the future of Water Services was identified on 24 June 2022 following a comprehensive process of engagement with unions under the aegis of the Workplace Relations Commission. The Framework enables Irish Water to work in conjunction with local authorities and current water services staff to complete the integration of public water services into its own organisational...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The day-to-day operation of the social housing system, including the oversight and practical management of the lists of qualified households awaiting accommodation, is a matter solely for each local authority. Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants...