Results 12,561-12,580 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed under Housing for All to developing a roadmap to implement minimum Building Energy Rating (BER) standards, or ‘Cost Optimal’ equivalent, for the private rental sector beginning in 2025. This will increase energy efficiency, help to alleviate fuel poverty, help to protect tenant’s health and improve comfort levels in rental homes. Work in this...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Section 7 of the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 inserts a new section 19B into the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 which applies to tenancies created on or after 9 August 2021, to restrict the total amount that anyone is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy to no more than the equivalent of 2 months’ rent (i.e. any...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes 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. This includes the delivery of 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026....

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

Darragh O'Brien: Both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commits to strengthening the Mortgage to Rent scheme and ensuring that it is helping those who need it. Building on the significant amendments already made to the scheme in 2017, the 2021 Review, which was published on the 24 January 2022, examined the impact of these changes and what further changes would benefit those in need of the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments. The Government approved a number of amendments on foot of the review and these came into effect on 1st February 2022. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311, 336 and 379 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 343 of 22 March 2022 which sets out the position in the matter.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 to 315, inclusive, 348 and 349 together. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Through Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland,the Government’s strategic housing plan to 2030, the Government is committed to taking action to prevent entries into homelessness in the first instance and to help...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 360 together. Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: While most affordable housing measures are primarily targeted at first-time buyers, the Housing for All strategy explicitly provides for the Fresh Start principle. The Fresh Start principle extends the supports available under both Affordable Purchase schemes and the Local Authority Home Loan scheme to applicants who are divorced, legally separated, or where the relationship has ended and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The national housing policy Housing for All, as launched in September 2021, provides a new pathway to a sustainable housing system, by clearly setting out how we plan to address the short, medium and long-term challenges ahead. The overall aim of this new housing plan for Ireland is that everyone in the State should have access to a home to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The LandDevelopment Agency (LDA) are at the heart of this plan, advancing their remit to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department complies with all central policy and guidance in relation to suspension or workplace disputes. As requested please see set out below the numbers of staff absent from work on fullpay due to suspension or workplace disputes. Period of Absence No. of staff absent on fullpay due to suspension or workplace disputes Up to 3 months 0 ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In April 2018, the Rural Water Working Group was established to conduct a review of the wider investment needs relating to rural water services. The Group's aim is to recommend measures to ensure an equality of outcome for those who receive water services from Irish Water and non-Irish Water customers. The establishment of the Working Group was also undertaken in response to the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 352 together. My Department is considering proposals for a standardised national differential rents scheme as an alternative to the current devolved schemes operating across the 31 Local Authorities. However, given the emerging cost of living challenges in recent months, it is appropriate to defer implementation of any changes pending a full review of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 327 of 22 March 2022 in which I provided an update on this project. My Department understands from Donegal County Council that it is not proposed to demolish social housing at the location referred to and that local authority officials have updated Councillors on this matter. Further specific information on the future plans for this housing...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on the 30 November 2021. It included an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2 billion. I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 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. It is examining all options as part of its humanitarian response, including the accommodation issues arising in the short, medium and long-term and the appropriate responses to address these. As part of its response,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Decisions on eligibility for social housing support are a matter solely for local authorities with reference to eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. The Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding the retrofit of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 up to the end of 2021 over 75,000 units of social housing stock have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €183 million under the scheme. Up to 2020, the...