Results 13,721-13,740 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (29 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is absolutely focused on ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and this is reflected in the Programme for Government, "Our Shared Future". The Programme commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing. This commitment is reflected in...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (25 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am grateful to the Leas-Chathaoirleach and indeed to all Senators for facilitating the debate on this urgent legislation in Seanad Éireann before the recess. I also wish to record my thanks to the Chief Whip and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for enabling this Bill to be moved and read a Second Time today. In light of the prolonged challenges...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (25 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim mo bhuíochas do gach Seanadóir a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht inniu. Is plé an-úsáideach agus an-dearfach a bhí ann. As my colleague, Senator Murphy, said, there are many aspects of the housing issue we can agree on. The one thing we should all be able to agree on is that we understand there is a crisis and a major problem.We need to...

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is the cost of building and managing. We will go through it on Committee Stage.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Many of the Deputies questions are rhetorical.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Of course.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We have not even published the Report Stage amendments of the Land Development Agency Bill yet.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: That is just for clarification. We have not published the Report Stage amendments of the Land Development Agency Bill.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps it has a mole in the Bills Office.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It would not surprise me.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Does the Deputy know his party is supporting the Bill?

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is good to have the Deputy back in the Chamber. I thought he had gone missing last night. It is good to have him back.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We appreciate the Deputy's support for the Bill. Fair play to him. He should get back on message.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I said it.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to be here today to speak on Second Stage of the Affordable Housing Bill 2021. This has been the culmination of nearly a year's work by me and my departmental officials, along with members of the Oireachtas committee, who did much work to get us to this stage. The Bill has been passed through the Seanad, as Members...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homeless Accommodation (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Anyone who is aware of a specific instance of a breach should bring it directly to my attention. I want to make sure that those who are in emergency accommodation are only in it in the short term. It is not a permanent solution for them or their families. The use by families of emergency accommodation, particularly in hotels, has, thankfully, reduced by 80% year on year. I do not mind...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homeless Accommodation (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I reiterate that the responsibility for the provision of homeless services is with the housing authority in each of the local authorities. We provide the policy framework and funding for them to do it. That is important because each local authority and its staff know an area better than a central authority would. The issue is acute in Dublin because that is where the majority of homeless...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homeless Accommodation (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question for his interest in this matter. As the Deputy will know, statutory responsibility for the provision of homeless services rests with each individual housing authority. My Department's role in homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and, importantly, the funding to underpin the role of the housing authorities in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We have very strong representation from the banner county this morning. It is good to see the Deputies working together to deliver homes for our people. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, is doing Trojan work in the area of Traveller accommodation, with a budget of €15.5 million that will be and is being spent, all of it being used on the capital side. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: There is lots of good news. To answer the Deputy's question, there is also good news for County Clare because we have a housing plan backed with real resources and the largest housing budget in the history of the State, which the Deputy supported, underpinned by investment of €3.3 billion in housing programmes in budget 2021. We have a national target of 12,750 social homes, 9,500 of...