Results 13,941-13,960 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.  My Department does not collect the data sought, however the Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 339, inclusive, together. The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architects Register (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 introduced a system of statutory registration for architects and restricted use of the title of "architect" to persons who are registered architects. Section 22 of the Act makes specific provision for registration based on technical assessment of persons who had been independently performing duties commensurate with those of an architect for a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The newly revised ten year Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme launched in 2021 is designed around the Programme for Government commitment to retrofit 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal BER standard by 2030, of which approximately 36,500 of those homes are expected to be local authority homes.  A target of 2,400 social homes for upgrade works has been set for 2021, 750 of which relate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2020 funding of €20 million was made available as part of the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan for an energy efficiency retrofitting programme to fund upgrades to local authority houses in the midlands, under the 'Just Transition' programme. The Midland Retrofit Programme was established as a pilot programme to provide learnings on the move to 'deeper retrofit',...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. In this regard, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) was established under the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981. The Act was amended in 2016 by Section 51 of the Planning and Development (Housing) Act Residential Tenancies Act 2016 to allow the HFA to lend to Universities for the purposes of student accommodation. Since that time almost €170 million of loans have been approved for over 1,400 units of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Harbours and Piers (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The foreshore licence application for proposed dredging works and beach nourishment at Magheraroarty Pier in County Donegal is currently being considered by my Department. The assessment of the applications for a foreshore consent involves several steps; including public and prescribed bodies consultation, environmental assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together. My Department is aware that Emo Court House hosts an important roost for Brown Long-Eared Bats, and is further aware that complex stabilization and restorations works are being undertaken by the OPW at the House over recent years, including the works undertaken in 2019 and since then.  My Department is in ongoing contact...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Community Development Projects (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The advancement of housing and other works under the Limerick Regeneration programme is a matter in the first instance for Limerick City and County Council. The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan provides a roadmap for the regeneration of Limerick and includes plans for a community centre in St Mary's Park at an estimated cost of €2.5m. Limerick City and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: As detailed in Housing for All, housing policy objectives 6 and 7 give a commitment to undertaking a review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs both for our ageing population and people with a disability. Officials from my Department have begun a review of the existing grant limits and income thresholds applicable to the grant schemes.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Both the Climate Action Plan 2019 and Interim Climate Action Plan included an objective for Local Authorities to identify and develop Decarbonising Zones. My Department issued a circular to local authorities on 10 February 2021 asking each local authority to identify a decarbonising zone and to provide a broad outline of the main projects that could be implementable in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Both the Climate Action Plan 2019 and Interim Climate Action Plan included an objective for Local Authorities to identify and develop Decarbonising Zones. My Department issued a circular to local authorities on 10 February 2021 asking each local authority to identify a decarbonising zone and to provide a broad outline of the main projects that could be implementable in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The recently published Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade, supported by an investment package of over €4b per annum. The Government plans to deliver more than 90,000 social homes to 2030, with a focus on the social housing build programme, with a target to reach delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cross-Border Co-operation (4 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. 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: Planning Issues (4 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has received correspondence relating to a number of allegations regarding certain matters in County Wicklow. An assessment and analysis has been carried out of the various allegations raised. A final decision on the appropriate action to be taken by my Department will be made in due course. My Department has not had engagement with Wicklow County Council or An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (3 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2016 my Department sought to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the process of taking in charge residential estates including those with developer provided water services infrastructure. This was done through a pilot initiative called the National Taking in Charge Initiative (NTICI). Following the NTICI process...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (3 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am informed by the Property Registration Authority (PRA) that, under the Form 3 procedure, the PRA effects registration based on the certification of the solicitor who investigates the title to the property registered. The solicitor certifying the title must be a practising solicitor, that is, s/he must hold a practising certificate from the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. In...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (3 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain households, is a...