Results 15,461-15,480 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my recent letter to the Deputy in this matter which issued further to a query he raised with An Taoiseach in this House regarding the protection of potential burial sites associated with mother and baby homes in the context of county development plans. It had been requested that local authorities ensure that such possible burial sites are identified and taken into account in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Social housing construction projects, as with all publicly funded construction projects, must be competitively tendered, in accordance with the public procurement guidelines, to ensure transparency as well as value for money for the taxpayer. The Office of Government Procurement under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for implementing national policy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rent Controls (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development and Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest, resulting in great difficulty for households finding affordable accommodation. In these areas, called Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ), rents can only increase by a maximum of 4% per...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 69 and 79 together. Increasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is priority for my Department. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes. In January, the enhanced Level 5 restrictions introduced by Government involved most residential construction being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (5 May 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. Irish Water takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects and programmes is a matter for determination by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and this is reflected in the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future". I am currently progressing two affordable purchase schemes. The first of these entails the delivery of affordable homes by local authorities. To support this, under the Serviced...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Real Estate Investment Trusts (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I have serious concerns of instances, recently reported, where investors are inappropriately purchasing entire completed houses estates, preventing their sale to families and first time buyers. Institutional Investors, including REITS, are regulated by the Department of Finance. The issue of sale and of purchase of land or housing are matters for the Minister for Justice. I am working...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: To support the delivery of the homes that will be made available by local authorities for purchase, €310 million was made available under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF). This fund sub-vents the cost of facilitating infrastructure and a maximum SSF funding amount of €50,000 is available per affordable home. On this basis, at least 6,200 more affordable homes, to buy or rent, can...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The upkeep, refurbishment and regeneration of social housing, including flat complexes, is a matter, in the first instance, for the local authority. Following on from reviews of the conditions of their older flat complexes and based on the need to modernise, bring the living conditions up to acceptable levels and as part of their climate action plans, Dublin City Council (DCC) is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to new dwellings built to date in 2021, the Central Statistics Office are responsible for the quarterly publication of New Dwelling Completions. Data for the first quarter of 2021 is not due for publication until Thursday May 6. 20,676 new dwellings were delivered in 2020, and recent estimates predict that a similar number will be delivered in 2021, having regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: As at the 31st December, 2020 Cavan County Council had remediated 42 properties under the 2020 Voids Stimulus Programme. My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work remediating vacant social housing properties in 2021. In preparation for this year’s programme correspondence issued to all local authorities requesting they provide figures on the total...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Management (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The former Chief Executive of Galway County Council retired on 4 July 2014. A temporary Chief Executive was appointed at that time, pending a permanent appointment. The current temporary Chief Executive remains in place until 23 May 2021. In accordance with statutory provisions, I intend to appoint a new temporary Chief Executive to Galway County Council with effect from 24 May 2021. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 66, 76 and 84 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’, clearly lays out our commitment to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system. Government approved priority drafting of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 on 22 December 2020, the General Scheme of which I published on 20 January last. The Bill includes provisions to underpin three schemes delivering on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and supporting renters is a key component of that. The Affordable Housing Bill 2020 will ensure that affordability is put at the heart of the housing system and will underpin the new local authority led scheme of affordable homes for purchase, an Affordable Purchase...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (5 May 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: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: This technology is consistent with the Government’s Climate Action Plan and the Programme for Government which supports the ambitious plan to deliver 70% of Ireland’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It also supports the work of my Department and other Government agencies and Departments who are focused on helping to address fuel poverty. Last month I was pleased to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government is approaching this work as a priority. Homelessness is complex and causal factors and family circumstances vary considerably as do the responses needed. Homelessness is...