Results 14,561-14,580 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (12 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. My Department does not collect data in relation to the ownership of individual housing units purchased and sold in the housing market. I understand that data published by market commentators indicates that approximately 15,500 units were owned by investment trusts at the end of 2020. The Property Registration Authority (PRA), which was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Advertising (12 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on advertising in relation to COVID-19 related matters. In 2020, my Department spent €192,907 on awareness-raising public information material as part of the Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This expenditure related to the design and translation of the Community Call national leaflet into a number of languages and also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (12 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to all local authorities, including Mayo County Council, to support the delivery of new social homes via a range of programmes, including through build, acquisition and leasing. Statistics on all social housing delivery activity including via build programmes, is publicly available on my Department’s website, at the following link: . In addition to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (12 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 785 of 21 April 2021 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (12 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (12 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The approved housing body referred to delivered new build social homes through the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme. This funding model involves local authorities accessing loan finance from the Housing Finance Agency to support approved housing bodies to deliver homes for social use. The funding arrangement is secured by way of a mortgage agreement between the relevant local authority and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (12 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. The Programme for Government provides that the Government will retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national, standalone, regulated utility. The realisation of this commitment will complete the broad policy and legislative reforms which have seen the public water system embark on a journey of transformation, from a structure based...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (12 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 346 of 11 May 2021 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (12 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Housing (Private Water Supply Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020, the grant scheme to support improvement works for a private water supply was revised. The revised scheme forms part of the funding investment under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021. The revised scheme, which opened for applications on 04 June 2020, brought into effect the following changes: - A...

Residential Property Market: Motion [Private Members] (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy and his party oppose everything.

Residential Property Market: Motion [Private Members] (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government will help them out and I hope Sinn Féin will see fit to support the affordable housing Bill when it stops delaying its passage in committee. Sinn Féin's political tactics are slash and burn, not build and renew. First-time buyers are collateral damage in that political game, which is what part of today's motion is. Its record on helping first-time buyers is all...

Residential Property Market: Motion [Private Members] (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “notes that: — the Government is fully committed to tackling high rents and ensuring an increase in the supply of affordable high quality rental accommodation through continued significant capital investment, including Cost Rental and other means and in a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at reps@prai.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 331 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increased rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rent Supplement Scheme were introduced in 2016. These limits were agreed in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. The HAP rent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318, 337 and 340 together. Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area are provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA has been conducted on an annual basis since 2016, prior to which it was carried out once every three years, with the last Summary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 321 together. 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. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 322 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. In order for a household to qualify for HAP, they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: A recruitment competition for Conservation Rangers being run by the Public Appointments Service is currently at an advanced stage. A panel will be formed shortly and I have asked my Department to accelerate appointments from this panel, with the recruitment of a further 60 Rangers planned. The new appointees will be allocated to fill vacant positions throughout the country. Any appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 325 and 326 together. The recording of court cases is one in which I have no statutory function and is a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent. Judicial reviews against the State, in which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitors Office under the guidance of the Attorney...