Results 11,001-11,020 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Social and Affordable Housing Supply: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett and his colleagues for tabling this motion. I fully accept the bona fides of what is in the motion and of the Deputy Boyd Barrett's perspective. I do not agree with everything in the motion, although there are parts with which I do agree. I will say to Deputy Connolly that there is nothing in the five-page counter motion that is incorrect. That is factual. She...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 94 together. A copy of the correspondence referenced has been received by my Department and a response will issue in due course. The table below sets out detail of open cases where the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have issued judgments against the State in areas that fall within the responsibility of my Department. CJEU...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Oct 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 88 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 304 of 25 October 2022 which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Departments Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to private domestic water and waste water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public (Irish Water) water/waste water services. During the 2016-2018 funding cycle, Kerry County Council were allocated funding of €1,957,550 and €739,824 was paid to the Council by my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Kerry County Council has been allocated funding of €53,550 under my Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme for the Community Water Connection referred to in the details supplied. It is now a matter for the local authority working with the community to arrange completion of the project. I understand that the local authority have completed the process of planning the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In Ireland, we currently have an array of sites that have been designated for the conservation of species and habitats listed under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the Wildlife Acts. In the sea, such sites amount to currently 2.1% of our extensive Maritime Area, with a high proportion of the conserved sites being situated around our coasts and offshore islands, and in numerous bays...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Oct 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 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: Homeless Persons Supports (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department currently publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not have any function in relation to the Blue Green City project. The initiative is a matter for the Southern Regional Assembly who is the Irish partner on this InterReg Europe project. Further information in relation to the initiative is available at: www.southernassembly.ie/eu-projects/blue-green-city.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The main sources of funding provided by my Department to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the provision of social housing, including community housing projects, are made through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility Scheme or the Capital Assistance Scheme. Applications by AHBs for funding under these programmes should, in the first instance, be made through the relevant Local Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water’s primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat and return waste water safely to the environment. In turn, the EPA, as environmental regulator, is responsible for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. The week after next we will have a full debate on Irish Water. I wish to inform the Deputy, as he might not be aware, that we have given a commitment as part of the framework agreement that there is no compulsory transfer of any council staff in any local authority to Irish Water. We are creating a single, publicly owned utility. We have had very good engagement with...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue. Uisce Éireann, or Irish Water, now has an unprecedented capital budget that is on a multi-annual basis. That will include some very important infrastructural upgrades that pertain directly to the Deputy's area and the quality of water in Dublin Bay, such as the second wastewater treatment plant at Ringsend, which will be fully commissioned...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Ó Broin should have a word with his colleagues.

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...