Results 15,221-15,240 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (18 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme is administered by the local authorities, in accordance with the Housing (Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan) Regulations 2018. The Regulations broadly set out the amount that can be lent under the scheme, the eligibility criteria for loans, the duties of borrowers and housing authorities and other administrative matters relating to the scheme. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (18 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cost Rental developments announced on 8 February 2021 have been given approval in principle under the new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme. This scheme was allocated €35m in funding in Budget 2021, and will see the Government issue loans on favourable terms to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for up to 30% of the cost of new homes for Cost Rental. Following an assessment process...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (18 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 309 of 17 February 2021. 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. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for determination by Irish Water. Under section 16 of the Water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (18 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I trust the Deputy will appreciate that given my obligations under Section 16 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 to protect the identity of a person who has made a disclosure, as well as the rights of individuals named in a protected disclosure, I am unable to provide details of any particular protected disclosure. Any communication by my Department regarding a protected disclosure is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (18 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. As part of its existing remit, the LDA is currently developing a register of all relevant public...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Local Authorities continue to deliver key essential services including housing, water and waste water services, essential roads maintenance and planning. The delivery of those services requires the attendance of staff in the workplace as such services cannot be delivered on a remote basis. The safety of all staff remains the key priority for the sector and this is reflected in the detailed...

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Objecting to it.

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Order for Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." A simple argument underpins this Bill and our broader approach to addressing the housing crisis. It is that the State has to step up to the mark to provide affordable homes for purchase and rent using all the means at its disposal. A good home provides shelter, stability and a safe location. It should be the launch pad for life's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water is a central component of effective water policy. The Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025sets out the range of policy objectives across the key thematic areas of quality, conservation and future proofing that will be pursued between now and 2025. The Policy Statement supports the promotion of water conservation and water resource...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Feb 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 work of scoping what such a referendum might involve. Following this review, I intend to consult with my colleagues in Government as to the proposal that should be put to the electorate and the appropriate timeframes that should...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In respect of local authority housing stock, section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that management and maintenance is a matter for each individual local authority. This includes maintenance programmes and carrying out responsive, planned and pre-letting repairs. My Department provides support to local authorities in terms of various targeted stock upgrade programmes, large-scale...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together. The National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy was published in July 2018, it provides a targeted, effective and coordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland. The range of objectives and actions it specifies have been pursued in partnership with stakeholders and agencies across the housing sector to address vacancy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 about buildings. The Building Regulations are set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 282, 283 and 290 together. The Government announced that additional public health restrictions would apply under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 on 6 January 2021. The additional restrictions required all construction activity to cease from 6pm on Friday 8 January, with a number of exceptions. These measures are set out in The Health Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Budget 2021 allocated €35m for a new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, under which the Government will make loans on favourable terms to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for up to 30% of the cost of new homes for Cost Rental. A Call for Proposals from AHBs opened on 14 December 2020 and closed on 5 January 2021. Applications were then competitively assessed by my Department and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. The LDA has informed my Department that the Shanganagh development is scheduled to commence in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256, 257, 294, 295, 305 and 306 together. Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area are provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published SSHA carried out in 2019, details the number of households on all local authority waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The two estates mentioned in the details supplied were allocated funding last year under my Department’s Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021. It is now a matter for Galway County Council to plan the advancement of the most appropriate and sustainable solution to enable the estates to be taken in charge. My Department will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together. Firstly, I wish to acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which the owners and residents of buildings face when defects occur in their homes. Unfortunately, building defects have emerged in some houses and apartments built during the 2000s. In general building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting...