Results 15,261-15,280 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) do not have dedicated housing lists. 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a 'Social Housing Construction Status Report' on a quarterly basis, which provides details of all social housing developments in each local authority, including Mayo County Council. The last report covering the period up to Quarter 3 of 2020 is available at the following link: . The data for Quarter 4 of 2020 is currently being compiled and will be included in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (17 Feb 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. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for determination by Irish Water. Under section 16 of the Water Services Act 2013 (as amended by section 46 of the Gas Regulation Act 2013), Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Feb 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 Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe an application form for social housing support...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) is currently conducted through the Voluntary Regulation Code (the Code), "Building for the Future, A Voluntary Regulation Code for Approved Housing Bodies in Ireland" underpinned by three standards - Financial, Governance and Performance. AHBs signed up to the Code must demonstrate commitment to and engagement with the Code and the Standards....

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides staff with the necessary and relevant training required to carry out their duties. In response to Covid-19, it has rolled out the Lead Worker Representative training, updated First Aid Response, PPE and Infection Prevention Control training, all within a COVID-19 context. In light of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department adapted its work...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not entered into any contracts for public relations advice and consultancy with a cost of €10,000 or more since January 2021.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I have had no direct contact yet with my counterpart in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. However my Department, through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), has entered into an agreement with the US National Park Service whereby Killarney National Park and Glacier National Park, Montana, are becoming 'sister parks'. This will establish close links...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Increased rent limits for the HAP and the Rent Supplement Scheme were introduced in 2016....

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department issued guidance to all local authorities regarding the treatment of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) when assessing and/or reviewing income eligibility for social housing support to all local authorities through Circular 38/2020. I have arranged for a copy of the Circular to be issued to the Deputy.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I have received a meeting request from Dublin City Council this week and will be writing back to the Council on the matter. The regeneration of Poolbeg West is the next important step in transforming the Docklands area, given its strategic location east of Grand Canal Dock, with close proximity to important bridge connections to Dublin Port and North Lotts. In relation to the activation of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: AWAITING REPLY

Dumping at Sea Act 1996 (Section 5(12)) (Commencement) Order 2021: Motion (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies who contributed, many of whom made relevant and constructive comments, while others made comments about other areas that are outside the subject matter of the debate. We will respond as best we can to the matters that were raised. I thank the House for agreeing to debate the motion and allocating time to it. It is very rare to seek approval such as this for a...

Dumping at Sea Act 1996 (Section 5(12)) (Commencement) Order 2021: Motion (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Dumping at Sea Act 1996 (Section 5(12)) (Commencement) Order 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 3rd February, 2021. I will share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan. I thank the House for agreeing to debate this motion. The purpose of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Parks (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 67 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that a local authority may take measures or engage in activities that it considers necessary to promote the interests of the local community in relation to matters such as allotments, fairs or markets, and the public use of amenities, to name just a few. While the relevant legislative provisions come under my remit, I have no function...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 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 Bill has now been published and will shortly be brought before the Oireachtas. The LDA...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 102 to 104, inclusive, and 106 together. My Department provides funding for a wide range of programmes and supports to assist households with their housing needs. This includes the delivery of new social homes through local authority and Approved Housing Body led programmes, other forms of social housing delivery such as HAP and RAS, targeted supports to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...