Results 14,481-14,500 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for tabling the amendments. Section 2(a) of the Bill, as published, states that the purpose of the Bill is, "to enable urgent measures to be taken to increase the supply of housing in the State and in particular affordable and social housing". That is pretty clear on what we want to do. The amendment from Deputy Boyd Barrett and his colleagues seeks, to insert "public...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will try to start in a positive vein because we have a lot of work to do to get the Bill through. It is significant that this groundbreaking legislation is now on Committee Stage. I look forward to working with colleagues of all parties and none to get the legislation through as expeditiously as possible. Deputy Ó Broin has just raised a point about the provision of a budget for the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond quickly on those amendments. I have already responded to two. Amendments Nos. 41 to 43 are another example of stripping functions from the LDA, which is a State-owned agency to develop and manage our own lands. It is clear from the short two hours of discussion we have had today that Sinn Féin does not want the LDA to build any homes or to plan to build any homes or any...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I think I did but if not, I will do so on Thursday. I am happy to do that because there are lots of amendments in the groupings. I will come back to it if the Deputy believes he did not get a response to his amendment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Ó Broin has his lámh suas.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I never heard that.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Are membership cards being given out?

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senator Norris, and other colleagues, for the welcome. I said some months ago that we would try to initiate as much legislation as we could in the Seanad. I served in the Seanad before I served in the Dáil. Even though we are in the Dáil Chamber, Senator Norris's presence raises the talent level of debates here as well. This Second Stage debate has been good. It covered...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (20 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together. With effect from 1 January 2011 all new appointees recruited from open competitions to direct entry grades in the Public Service must start at the first point of the relevant pay scale. The appointment to an Irish local authority of persons who are not serving employees of an Irish local authority on or after 1 January 2011 therefore must...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cybersecurity Policy (20 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department acknowledges that IT security is of critical importance in ensuring the security and integrity of its systems, files and data. In recognition of this, my Department maintains a dedicated, professionally trained cybersecurity staff who implement best practise risk management. Cyber risk management is carried out in conjunction with guidance and advisories issued by the Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Protection (20 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), my Department has implemented a range of appropriate organisational and technical measures to safeguard privacy and protect personal information. These measures include the ability to ensure the ongoing confidentiality, integrity and availability of systems and services. Since the coming into effect of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Protection (20 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The State bodies under the aegis of my Department are expected to be compliant with all relevant statutory requirements, including those arising from EU Directives and Regulations. My Department does not routinely monitor such compliance. Further information in relation to these matters may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail addresses for members of the Oireachtas in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Domestic Violence (20 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. These reports serve as important management information for my Department, the housing authority sector and the various State funded...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (20 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is set out in the tables below. It should be noted that the figures only include appointments in the Heritage Division since 9th September 2020 when functions in the Heritage area were formally transferred to my Department. My Department has its main offices in Dublin, Wexford and Mayo (Ballina) but there are other smaller offices throughout the country, including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the recent publication of the EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report, and am pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters highlighted in the report, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the minimum water quality requirements. It is important to note that 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Valuation Tribunal is an independent appeal body established and operating under the Valuation Acts of 1988 and 2001. It deals with appeals against decisions of the Commissioner of Valuation on the valuation of commercial properties for rating purposes and appeals against determinations of market value on derelict sites or vacant sites made by local authorities under the Derelict Sites...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (19 May 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 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. The innovative website vacanthomes.ie was developed by Mayo County Council in July 2017 on behalf of the local government sector to serve as a central portal for individuals to anonymously log possible vacant homes. It is a key tool in the effort to identify and bring long-term vacant homes back into use, and this source of locally...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Funding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. This funding has increased year on year since 2014. As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to this funding in future years in line with the Programme for Government commitments and the Policy Statement on Housing...