Results 15,021-15,040 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (24 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 645 together. The Mortage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 646, 678 and 681 together. Dublin City Council (DCC) has advised my Department that, following delays in the process, they are working with the Receiver in relation to the acquisition of 58 unfinished apartment units at Prospect Hill to add to their social housing stock. According to DCC, in February 2021, they reached a settlement agreement with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: To date, my Department has issued two broad based Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) calls for proposals to local authorities. Funding of almost €188 million has been approved in principle in support of 38 infrastructure projects in 14 local authority areas, which will assist in the delivery of almost 4,000 more affordable homes. Details of 35 SSF projects which received approval in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The drafting of legislation in my Department, generally follows the approach set out in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Cabinet Handbook which is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/05c2e2-cabinet-handbook/. Most Bills and some secondary legislation are drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC), part of the Office of the Attorney General, and my officials work closely with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 651 together. The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and set 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 657 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 together. The Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) sets out rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU. Where a construction product covered by a harmonised standard is being placed on the EU market, the CPR requires the manufacturer to draw up a ‘declaration of performance’ and affix a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Members (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020 provide that all buildings used or developed for any purpose are rateable unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4 of the Acts. A review was initiated in 2019 to examine the underlying policy rationale relating to the inclusion of categories of relevant property in Schedule 3 and Schedule 4 of the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020. The purpose of the review...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The delivery of housing supports is a key priority of Government and this is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to increase the social housing stock nationally by more than 50,000, with a key emphasis on delivering new build homes. We are ambitious to ramp up the delivery at local authority level and we are committed to developing housing on public land. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations. Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The level of local authority vacancy in its housing stock will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process.  Data in relation to the number and location of vacant local authority units are not collated by my Department, however, statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Insurance Coverage (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of the general issue raised by the Deputy. The Building Regulations 1997 - 2019 set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. Their aim is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Capital Expenditure Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions that are delivered primarily by local authorities and bodies under the aegis of my Department.There is vast range of programmes and schemes, each with its own terms and conditions; decision gates and timelines, including adherence to public financial procedures and the Public Spending Code, where...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the eligibiity criteria for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan an applicant must be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as a primary earner or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary earner. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The primary focus of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) capital is on supporting projects that will contribute to compact growth and that will improve the liveability of our cities and towns.  All proposals 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (24 Mar 2021)

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 provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Repair and Leasing Scheme (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings across Ireland. Subject to the suitability of the dwelling for social housing, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an AHB with the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department officials met with the local authority on 18 March 2021 to discuss the options for the group water scheme named in the details supplied. The local authority will now consider the matter of the scheme further and will revert to my Department by 9 April 2021 regarding proposed next steps.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Transport (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested in respect of my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders. My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis. These State bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below. State Body ...