Results 14,821-14,840 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to the location and date of vacancy of local authority units are not collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 715 together. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Since 2014, Exchequer funding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 716 to 719, inclusive, together. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Since 2014, Exchequer...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The primary focus of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is on supporting projects that will contribute to compact growth and that will improve the liveability of our cities and towns. All applications for URDF support are assessed in terms of their alignment with the intended purpose of the URDF and also their viability before being considered for approval. The second call...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 731 together. My Department has provided a total of €3.9m to An Taisce between 2012 and 2020. Some €720,000 has been budgeted for 2021. This funding supports a range of environmental education, awareness raising and citizen activation programmes operated by An Taisce. These programmes include: - The Blue Flag programme, which aims to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Stage 1 and 2 approval was issued by my Department in January 2021 for the construction of 6 three-bedroom dwellings for older persons at Berryfield Drive, Finglas. In March 2021, Dublin City Council advised my Department that the design of this development has since changed to 10 units, made up of a combination of 1 and 2 bedroom units. The Approved Housing Bodies concerned will be seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The first Cost Rental site in Ireland, comprising 50 units at Enniskerry Road in Stepaside, is currently under construction by the Tuath and Respond Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), with the support of low-cost land from the Housing Agency and an infrastructure grants of c.€4m from my Department’s Serviced Sites Fund. The mixed-tenure development also includes 105 social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not hold the data on the amount of empty or unoccupied domestic dwellings in the State, nor does it hold data on the number of vacant properties in local electoral areas. My Department is focused on ensuring that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent including a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to the current location and number of vacant local authority units are not collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 729, 791 and 792 together. Turnkey social homes are generally new homes built by developers under contract for local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Turnkeys commonly provide a faster delivery of units (in the majority of cases, planning permission is already secured). In many instances, turnkey delivery has provided a means of delivery in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities consider many factors when deciding on the location and volume of housing developments in their area. The zoning of land at particular locations is an exercise undertaken as part of the overall statutory development plan function under sections 9-13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). Under this legislation, the decision to zone land for development is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 737, 738 and 761 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q4 2020 there were nearly 60,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 33,520 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. In...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: On Tuesday 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 a daily fine of €15,000 until compliance is achieved, plus legal costs. The court judgment will be complied with when the Derrybrien Wind...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 741, 742, 744 and 745 together. The National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy was published by my Department in 2018, since then my Department has provided funding to each local authority of €50,000 per annum. This funding is to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office, including a Vacant Homes Officer for each local authority. All 31 local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 746 and 747 together. Management and maintenance of the circa 140,000 local authority housing stock is very important. In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Management and maintenance of the approximately 140,000 local authority housing stock is an important issue. In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Rangers (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Staffing levels across my Department are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department has recently worked with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to create a Conservation Ranger panel from which positions across the country will be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The commitments in relation to Constitutional reform in the Programme for Government provide for the holding of a referendum on housing. My Department has begun the initial work on scoping the complex issues involved and will in due course make recommendations on how we might progress such a referendum. I intend to consult with my colleagues in Government as to the proposal that should...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 753, 754 and 755 together. The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses". In this regard, my Department has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. As part of Budget 2021, I secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water of which €692...