Results 15,741-15,760 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (8 Dec 2020)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (8 Dec 2020)

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 in accordance with Section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. The day-to-day operation of the public water system, including the arrangements for dealing with unforeseen outages, is therefore a matter for Irish Water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund  (URDF), seventy six proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support, all of which require detailed assessment, including this proposal, which was one of four poposals submitted by Dublin City Council. This assessment process is in train at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department recently confirmed approval to Mayo County Council to proceed to tender in relation to the proposed development of 22 new social homes at Lios ns Circe, Saleen, Castlebar, County Mayo.  It is now a matter for Mayo County Council to advance the project and I look forward to them doing so as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 2018, and the publication of the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, my Department has secured funding of €50,000 per annum for each local authority to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office, including a Vacant Homes Officer for each local authority. This Strategy strives to provide a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for, among other things, the establishment of a tenancy deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The Programme for Government commits to the examination of a system of holding rental deposits and how best to achieve this is under consideration my Department.  However, there have been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Resolution Processes (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 293 together. The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at supporting households in mortgage arrears who: have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP); agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and are deemed eligible for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people, including people with disabilities, who have a long-term housing need. The Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2017 prescribe maximum rent limits for each housing authority, according to prescribed household classes, and the Regulations incorporate rent limits for a single household. If a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have indicated in a circular letter dated 23rd November 2020 to all local authorities, An Bord Pleanála and the Office of the Planning Regulator, that my preferred approach is to restrict commercial co-living development, through an update of the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments, Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2018 document, with a Specific Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282, 283, 284 and 286 together. There have been a number of deaths, in recent months, of people who had been sleeping rough or accessing homeless services. Each of these deaths is a tragedy and I extend my sympathies to the families concerned. The deaths of people availing of homeless services are a concern. In order to provide a better understanding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: There have been two calls for proposals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, which was launched in 2018. The URDF is providing part-funding for applicant-led projects that will enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns, while also ensuring that more parts of our urban...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together. Guidelines on inter-authority movement were issued to local authorities to facilitate the movement of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) households from one local authority area to another in cases where a HAP tenant wishes to access rented accommodation, with HAP support, in another local authority area. Inter authority movement is,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the 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 pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the link below: This represents the current position in respect of housing capital expenditure claims from local authorities which are at various stages of processing in my Department. My Department provides funding to local authorities on an ongoing basis as housing projects are progressed.  As such, the position in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) and the Buy and Renew Scheme (B&R) are complementary schemes which were developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings. At end Q2 2020, a total of 185 dwellings had been brought back into use under the RLS scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: An Bord Pleanála (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála was established in 1977 under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1976 and is an independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for proposed strategic infrastructure including strategic housing development and other matters under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulations governing the minimum standards in rented accommodation - The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 - specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural condition, sanitary facilities, food preparation, storage and laundry, the availability of adequate heating, lighting and ventilation, the safety of oil, electricity and gas...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The ‘15 minute city’ has gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The idea of the 15 minute city has been championed by the Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, to promote communities in which people can live and access most of their daily needs within 15 minutes of active transport, i.e. walking or cycling.  This approach has been interpreted within the Regional Spatial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Disability Act 2005, public service bodies have a duty to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and to ensure that at least 3% of their employees are people with disabilities. In addition the Department has a statutory requirement to maintain accurate records on the number of staff with disabilities in the Department. To meet this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department will ensure that all the requirements of the Work Safely Protocol issued 20 November 2020, are implemented, as appropriate, with particular reference to the contents of section D3 of that Protocol. My Department has introduced a COVID-19 Response Plan which was formulated after extensive consultation with all staff, including Lead Worker Representatives. This plan...