Results 14,121-14,140 of 28,221 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 364 together. My Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme in 2013 with the aim of funding retrofit of local authority owned homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 over 75,000 homes have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €184 million under the scheme. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes. Housing for All commits 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 which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. It is therefore a matter for relevant parties to the case to consider the case.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: To date the State has paid €13,220,000 in fines to the European Commission in relation to this case. All payments have been made by my Department. On 12 November 2019, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued its judgment in case C-261/18, which followed on from the judgment in case C-215/06. The judgment ruled against Ireland and imposed a lump sum fine of €5m and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2021-2030. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department continues to invest directly in rural water services through the Rural Water Programme. I understand that Askeaton, County Limerick is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (15 Feb 2022)

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 statutory role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am making amendments to the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 which will allow for the recoupment of Engineer fees to homeowners who have applied for entry into the scheme. As part of these amended regulations, up to €5,000 will be recoupable as an allowable cost under the scheme for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 (RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together. 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 €2.2Bn. Changes included the grant calculation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021, which I commenced in August 2021, laid the provisions for the introduction of two new affordable purchase schemes: a public affordable purchase scheme delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency, and also the national First Home shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market. Part 4 of the Act provides the basis for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under 'Housing for All', the Government's priority is to deliver 47,600 new build social homes over the next five years. Substantial funding is available to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to deliver on this objective as the primary means through which they will increasingly meet the needs of those on their waiting lists. My Department has consistently engaged with local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a domestic waste water treatment system is responsible for its maintenance and renewal and shall ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational where appropriate, kept in good order and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The function of the Local Government Audit Service is to complete the audits of all local authorities annual financial statements, including that of Mayo County Council, using a structured audit methodology in accordance with the Code of Audit Practice and related guidelines. Local Government Auditors are independent in the performance of their duties and it is a matter for each auditor to...