Results 13,561-13,580 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (2 Dec 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides both capital and current funding to local authorities across a range of funding initiatives to assist them in providing homes for families and individuals on their social housing waiting lists. To provide transparency on the new social housing projects being advanced, each quarter my Department publishes a Social Housing Construction Status Report and updated...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (2 Dec 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making an important contribution to social housing delivery, as envisaged under current Government policy. My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with AHBs to construct, purchase and lease new homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that AHBs progress...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (2 Dec 2021)
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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (2 Dec 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available to first-time buyers only. This is set out in the regulations governing the Scheme. However, applicants who are separated or divorced may be treated as first-time buyers, in accordance with the regulations, if they meet certain conditions, including: - they are separated or divorced under...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (2 Dec 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: I have received a copy of the policy proposals referenced and I want to assure Deputies that I will be continuing to accord priority to working with my colleagues in Government to ensure the delivery of the appropriate responses for lone parent families experiencing homelessness. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (2 Dec 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Properties (2 Dec 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: My Department has taken multiple steps to mitigate the risks posed by COVID in the workplace. These steps include risk assessments which have been conducted in all Department Office locations. These assessments have taken into account public health guidelines and also guidance from the OPW, Health and Safety Authority and the Work Safely Protocol. All recommended control measures listed in...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021) Darragh O'Brien: I am joined this morning by the following officials from my Department: Marguerite Ryan, finance officer; Lorraine O’Donoghue, local government finance; David Kelly; and Mary Hurley. In late April, I met the committee to discuss the 2021 Estimate for my Department at an overall level. I thank members for the engagement at that stage and also for facilitating this meeting at...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021) Darragh O'Brien: With regard to the defective block scheme, we have, as the Deputy knows, published significant changes that will increase the commitment by Government from €1.4 billion, by adding €800 million to that scheme, on which we have worked hard with residents to put together. I do not expect to and will not be coming back to the committee for any Supplementary Estimate in that regard...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021) Darragh O'Brien: This is important and I am glad the Deputy has raised the serious issue of homelessness and what we can do to support those people who need our help. At an acute level, particularly in Housing First, wraparound supports are needed. This month we will be announcing details of over 1,200 new tenancies, which is more than we have promised in Housing for All for long-term homeless individuals....
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021) Darragh O'Brien: We have to roll out the plan, which we will do this month. It is new, they are new tenancies and it will be a little bit more than 1,200. We have exceeded our target in the first round, which was just short of 700 as the Deputy said. The original target was 663, which increased from 693 to 697 in those supports. While I mentioned an approximate figure of 1,200, it will be more than that or...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021) Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. I will also use the opportunity to commend those councillors who supported the Oscar Traynor Road development. That site has lain idle for 41 years. Many excuses were used by people as to why they would not, could not or should not support the provision of just short of 1,000 homes, when it is looked at overall. It is one of the biggest housing...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021) Darragh O'Brien: I will try to keep it concise and succinct to give the Deputy the facts. The 2022 budget for Cork City Council is up €14 million on 2022. We will ensure that, with the passing of this budget and the Supplementary Estimates, there will be no loss. We are plugging the hole for Cork city. I met Ann Doherty and Brian Geaney in Cork on a number of occasions and have used them as...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021) Darragh O'Brien: I do not want to cut across the Deputy, but this is really important. I do not want people to go away with an incorrect perception of what is happening. In 2022, €14 million more has been allocated for Cork city. There will be no loss in income this year because we are plugging the gap. If councillors, through a budget, decide to cut one service or another or move money from one...