Results 11,721-11,740 of 28,221 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: What part of my answer does the Deputy not understand? I have just said for the past few minutes that, of course, we are using modern methods of construction and modular construction. We are already doing that but we will be using additional good-quality, off-site construction builds under modern methods of construction, next year, in the programme we have set and has been debated in this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Let us not blur the lines.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an cheist, which is a very important one. We need to look at how we can utilise modern methods of construction, including off-site construction and modular builds, to ramp up the supply of housing. We clearly set out that objective in pathway 5 under the Government's Housing for All plan. The development of modern methods of construction, MMC, will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I have been in all of the 31 local authority areas throughout the country. Let us not catastrophise this with regard to supply. The Deputy cannot just take one figure and say everything is going in a downward trajectory. It is not. We are aware of the challenges which, by the way, are not unique to Ireland. There are the rising cost of funding and inflationary pressures. We saw positive...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: It was not a script.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Not true.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My response to Deputy Tóibín was not scripted. It is not the same script over the past ten years.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am responding to what you said. I fully respect the Deputy's right have a point of view. There are issues in Ireland and throughout Europe and there is no question about this. In Deputy Tóibín's home town of Navan how many homes are being built at present and how many homes are being planned? Look at what is happening in Meath West and throughout the country. Of course there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister Deputy Harris has done an excellent job on apprenticeships. Thankfully we are seeing a substantial increase in the number of people registering for apprenticeships. We need to value trades and we need to value the work. We had changes last year whereby apprenticeships are now alongside the CAO and CAS offers. Deputy O'Dowd is right. We need to keep increasing the number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: More than 400.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: On the Croí Cónaithe initiative, for the record there are nearly 500 applicants in already and many of them are processed. I am not sure what date that question response went up to. I welcome the Deputy's question. As the Deputy will be aware, Deputy Bruton has asked a similar question. Housing for All, which is the Government's plan, has been debated in the House and people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Lands (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I know Galway city and county well. I have been out in Connemara on several occasions as well as in the city. There are lands in the county, such as the Dyke Road site, which the Deputy will be familiar with. There is also the Sandy Road site. There are sites there we can develop. The register will deal with State lands. The Deputy mentioned the example of lands owned by religious...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Lands (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The LDA is on schedule to complete the register of relevant lands in line with the target delivery date and the register will be made available in an online map format in the coming weeks and in advance of the end of this year. Its contents are informed by the LDA's State lands database and by engagement with the Property Registration Authority, Ordinance Survey Ireland and other relevant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Lands (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy again for the question. I understand what she is saying. One of the priorities I had when I became a Minister was to legislate for the LDA, which we have done. The agency has capitalised and it is delivering its first homes. It has done extensive work on planning and mapping out relevant sites. It is important that people understand that the register of relevant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I say the following to be helpful. The Deputy is of the view that we could use first the pyrite remediation scheme and the Act that underpins it. That would not be the way forward. From discussing the matter with residents and, in particular, the Construction Defects Alliance, I know that is not their view. We will need bespoke legislation. That does not mean we will not bring in interim...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, the aim of the emergency winter eviction ban is to afford time for housing supply to increase and to reduce the burden on homelessness services and the pressure on tenants and the residential tenancies market. To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter period and to ensure there is no cliff edge, as referred to by the Deputy, on 1 April,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: To give an update on purchase for tenants in situ, we have more than 700 properties now. The number is increasing every day. I gave a commitment at the select committee last week that we are breaking up those data between homes. We had a target of 200 homes to purchase this year. We have well exceeded that. Most of the number above that is purchased with tenants in situ. I will gladly...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As regards the recent media report, published yesterday morning, in respect of us setting aside the environmental assessments, that is totally incorrect. It was an incorrect report. There is no question of us doing that. We are drafting the specific amendment at the moment. I met with the Attorney General last night. As soon as we have that amendment, I will be happy to ensure that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I fully acknowledge the difficulties that owners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing and the stress caused by these defects in their homes. We are committed, as a Government, to supporting such homeowners. That commitment was included in the programme for Government and, from that, as the Deputy will know, I...