Results 11,661-11,680 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (9 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 Board of Ervia is charged with ensuring that Irish Water operates in accordance with its statutory functions and the Code of Governance for State Bodies. However, Irish Water is subject to range of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is operating a Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme to provide funding for the progressive resolution of housing estates with legacy developer provided water services infrastructure. The programme is focused on housing estates which are not taken in charge by local authorities and do not have their water services...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments. The amendments, which came into effect on 1st February 2022, include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has advised the Public Appointments Service (PAS) of the requirement to hold a recruitment competition for a replacement permanent Chief Executive in Galway County Council and it is now a matter for PAS to put the necessary recruitment arrangements in place. There is a requirement for all Chief Executive posts for Local Authorities to be advertised openly on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) is the National Calculation Methodology for compliance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive  (EPBD) and Part L of the Building Regulations. DEAP is in accordance with Annex I of the EPBD and relevant European (EN) standards Appendix C of DEAP provides the calculation methodology for Group (Community) heating/District heating...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is set out in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.   Subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be income-based and reflect tenants’ ability to pay, the making or amending of such rent schemes is a local authority executive function. Accordingly,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) are an agency under the aegis of my Department. The information requested is a matter for the HFA. Arrangements have been put in place by the agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address is oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing For All strategy will deliver 36,000 Affordable Purchase homes and 18,000 Cost Rental homes up to 2030. These homes will be delivered through Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and the First Home shared equity scheme (a strategic partnership between the State and participating mortgage lenders). The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland was published in September 2021 and, as part of a broad suite of social housing reforms, committed to reviewing income eligibility for social housing. The review, which examined inter alia the efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, was completed in Q4 2021. I am currently considering...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes. Voted capital funding of €65 million is available in 2022 which is an increase of €5 million on the 2021 provision of €60 million, continuing the year on year...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hare Coursing (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the investigation by my officials, Loughrea Coursing Club were found to be in breach of a number of conditions of the Section 34 licence to capture live hares. The licence for the Loughrea Coursing Club was immediately suspended for the rest of the coursing season, which has now ended. Any sanctions to be taken against that Club will be considered as part of any new licence application.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There were 1,460 (1,410.10 FTE) staff serving in my Department at the end of January 2022. These staff serve across 131 individual grades (75 generic grades), and range from the traditional civil service administrative grades to a mix of Professional & Technical and Industrial grades. The grades are listed below in within their respective grade...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. The Local Authority Home Loan has only been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. Prior to that, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was the mortgage available from local authorities. As of 4 January 2022, no new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan applications will be accepted, although applications/approvals already in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (8 Mar 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. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Irish Water, and is approved through its own internal governance structures. However, in general Irish Water is delivering a good service...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 to 251, inclusive, together. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level, including investment in wastewater treatment plants and returning wastewater safely to the environment in an efficient and sustainable manner. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government’s “Housing for All, a new Housing Plan for Ireland”, launched in September  2022, sets out four pathways to a sustainable housing system. A key objective is that everyone in the State should have access to a home to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard and in the right place, offering a high quality of life.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area addressing building defects. It commits to an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report, "Safe as Houses ?". Housing for All, the Government’s national plan on housing to 2030, reiterates this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is not available in my Department. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 (as amended). In line with the Regulations, applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. Maximum rent limits for HAP were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the provisions of which I commenced in August and September 2021, laid the foundation for the introduction of two new affordable purchase schemes: the first to be delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency, and the second a national 'First Home' shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market.  Part 2 of the...