Results 15,901-15,920 of 26,290 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 92 and 129 together. In Budget 2021, €75 million was ring-fenced for the national affordable purchase shared equity scheme. I intend to target the scheme at first time buyers, who are seeking to buy a new home but who cannot quite secure the full mortgage amount to do so at the present time. Subject to the final qualifying criteria, the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is the largest of four funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027, primarily to support the NPF’s growth enablers for the five cities and other large urban centres. The €150m URDF funding provision announced for 2021 will support continuing progress on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is 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”. The Programme commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing, including the development of a Cost...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Increasing the supply of housing is a priority for this Government and the Programme for Government commits to ensuring an appropriate mix of housing design types is provided, including universally designed units, accommodation for older people and people with disabilities. Significant work is ongoing both through the implementation of the Housing Options for our Ageing Population policy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 96(3) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) sets out 6 types of Part V agreement that may be made with respect to lands that are subject to a residential development pursuant to a relevant planning permission, which include: 1. Transfer of up to 10% of the land that is the subject of the application; 2. Build and transfer of up to 10% of the proposed housing units;...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 88 and 372 together. The Programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including the introduction of a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority list to another. It should be noted that the four Dublin local authorities already co-operate in arrangements that enable social housing applicants to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I believe that everybody should have access to good-quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price and that home ownership should be a realistic aspiration for people. To this end, the Programme for Government confirms that the Government will prioritise the increased supply of social and affordable homes. Delivering on these commitments, Budget 2021 provided for an overall...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In the interest of standardising the approach to good quality social housing design across the country and achieving value for money a number of initiatives have been identified. In September 2019, the Employers Requirements document was published and issued to local authorities. This document provides clarity as to the general standards for materials, finishes and fittings to be provided...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Údaráis Áitiúla (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá bonn reachtúil le cur i bhfeidhm leanúnach an phróisis phleanála teanga faoi Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, arb é an príomhspreagadh é chun tacú leis an dtiomantas i leith na gcuspóirí atá leagtha amach sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010 go 2030. Aithnítear é seo sa Chreat Pleanála Náisiúnta...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding every year for the Disabled Persons Grant (DPG) scheme and the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme. While both schemes are administered directly by the local authorities they operate independently with separate funding streams, the main differences being the type of properties eligible for funding and the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have been clear in my intention to review the provisions on Shared Accommodation or “Co-living” as set out in section 5.0 of Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, which were published by my Department in 2018. Paragraph 5.24 of the guidance committed the Department to monitor the emerging shared accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Budget 2021 provides for an unprecedented level of funding for housing, with €3.3 billion being made available for the delivery of housing programmes next year. This comprises a total of €2.031 billion in capital funding and €1.276 billion in current funding. The investment will ensure that the housing needs of over 28,500 households are met in 2021, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. As part of Budget 2021 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is focused on ensuring that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent including a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland. In that context, Pillar 5 of Rebuilding Ireland set out a range of measures to assist in meeting housing needs by ensuring that our existing housing stock is used to the greatest extent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (24 Nov 2020)

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: Gaeltacht Policy (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the broader social housing reform agenda and the ongoing work of my Department, there are various reviews underway, including a review of income eligibility for social housing support and other ongoing review and analysis of various social housing policy matters. However, there is no review of allocation schemes, nor is any change envisaged in that area at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 100 and 105 together. The Programme for Government confirms the priority to increase the supply of social and affordable homes. In the first instance, it is a matter for housing authorities to bring forward optimum proposals for the delivery of housing on their sites maximising the potential from the suite of delivery mechanisms and Exchequer funding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 130 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As previously indicated to the Deputy in response to PQ 17303/20 on July 21st last, my Department does not routinely collect the data in the format requested. The position is that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No [36465] on today’s Order Paper which sets out the position in relation to this matter.