Results 11,481-11,500 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Apr 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: Land Issues (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Property Registration Authority (PRA) maintains a title register and the Land Registry map is not, except as provided by legislation, conclusive as to boundaries or extent. A specific note to that effect appears on the National Land Register, and this has been the position since the inception of the title registration system in 1891. The registration mapping framework maintained by...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Defibrillators are installed in all departmental offices and buildings accessible by the public. The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Apr 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. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The issues referred to in the Question are a matter for local Building Control Authorities, who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2020. The 31 Local Authorities are designated as Building Control Authorities under the Building Control Acts and monitor compliance with Building Regulations 1997 to 2021 in their area having regard...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department administers a number of funding support schemes to support local authority delivery of social and affordable housing. Each scheme, depending on its objectives and delivery mechanism, has a process in place whereby local authorities secure approval for funding support for particular developments. For affordable housing, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) provides exchequer...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Section 58 of the Housing Act provides for the setting and collection of social housing rents by local authorities. The making or amending of such rents schemes, including how the rent charged is calculated and any increases or decreases that may be appropriate, is a matter for local authorities. That said, rent schemes should be consistent with the broad principles set out by my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Property Registration Authority (PRA) continued to maintain a high level of service to support a robust property market throughout the period of Covid-19 restrictions. In 2021, overall application completion levels recovered to 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Notwithstanding this level of activity, there has been an increase in the length of some completion times. As set out in...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. Requests for housing transfers are matters solely for local authorities in line with their respective allocation schemes, made in accordance with s.22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations. Local authorities are responsible for assessing housing applicants, taking into...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 83 and 84 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. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. The Plan is backed by historic levels...

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

Darragh O'Brien: We are committed to working with industry stakeholders to increase the use of low carbon materials and technologies in the construction and renovation of buildings in Ireland, informed by evolving EU standards and by best practice in other jurisdictions. Action 197 of the Climate Action Plan sets out that the Office of Public Works is developing a roadmap to promote greater use of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes. Housing for All commits to undertaking a review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs both for our ageing population and people with a disability. An...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The newly revised Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme was introduced in 2021 providing for a 'deeper' retrofit programme designed around the Programme for Government commitment that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes. Works eligible under the revised...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response. As part of its response, Government is providing accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and is working closely with Local Authorities to provide accommodation for Ukrainian arrivals...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am glad to have the opportunity to outline the provisions of the Bill, which will deliver on the ambitious electoral reform agenda set out in A Programme for Government - Our Shared Future. The package of reforms set out in the Bill will address some of the most significant challenges our electoral system faces and, what is more, will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020 set out the statutory framework for the regulation and oversight of building activity based on: - clear legal requirements as set out in the Building Regulations; - detailed Technical Guidance Documents to outline how these requirements can be achieved in practice; - clear administrative procedures for demonstrating compliance in respect of an individual...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for social housing support are assessed by local authorities, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set out in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. Where relevant to the circumstances, a copy of a separation or divorce agreement for both applicants is required with the social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. Measures to deliver this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 346 together. The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the provisions of which I commenced in August and September 2021, laid the foundation for three new affordable housing schemes: 'Cost Rental' housing, the 'Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme', and the 'First Home' shared equity scheme which will support purchases in the private market. Part...