Results 11,021-11,040 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The policy intent of developing a new Cost Rental sector in Ireland is to assist those on moderate incomes who are facing affordability pressures in the private rental market and may not qualify for social housing supports. The main eligibility condition for leasing a Cost Rental dwelling is that a household’s annual income, less income tax, PRSI, USC and superannuation contributions,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. These schemes assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs, with Exchequer funding of €65 million available nationally in 2022. As part of the annual budgetary process the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Oct 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 by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (20 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: NSAI does not operate under the auspices of my Department. It is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and, as such, detail on its operating procedures is a matter for the NSAI and its parent Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In the light of the media reports which raised a number of matters in relation to conflicts of interest and certain other matters, the Chairperson of the Board announced in May 2022 that he had established an internal team of senior management personnel to examine a sample of decided cases. The purpose of this internal review is to identify whether there are specific risks to compliance with...