Results 16,321-16,340 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities have been provided with a number of powers and measures to deal with the issue of derelict properties, both in larger urban conglomerations and in smaller rural towns and villages. There also exists a framework of overarching policy and capital funding which provides support to development, including urban regeneration. The Repair and Leasing Scheme was introduced to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Regeneration (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that the social housing project in question received approval by my Department in August 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 85 and 96 together. Call 1 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched in July 2018, and 189 proposals for URDF funding support were received by my Department by the closing date of 28th September 2018. My Department has provided considerable information on all applications received on its website, but this does not include precise...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers and has been made available nationwide from local authorities from 1 February 2018. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: A number of actions have been taken in recent years, to address vacancy and dereliction in our towns and cities. A core principle of the Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework (NPF), published in 2018, is the promotion of compact urban growth and the re-use of brownfield sites. The NPF includes specific objectives to regenerate cities, towns and villages of all types...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Oct 2020)

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. As social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenancy Protection Scheme (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2019 provide that where a tenant has been in occupation of a dwelling for a continuous period of 6 months, with no valid notice of termination having been served during that time, a 'Part 4 tenancy' is established to cover the next 5 years and 6 months. Section 34 of the 2004 Act provides that a landlord must state a reason for the termination in any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: One the main roles of the RTB is to increase compliance across all of its regulatory functions. A core part of protecting the rights of landlords and tenants and supporting a well-functioning rental sector is to ensure that people are aware of their legal obligations to avoid disputes and where they arise, that there is an effective Dispute Resolution Service and robust enforcement powers. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Oct 2020)

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: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Oct 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. Part of the Government's fulfilment of this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is the only government-backed loan product currently available. It was introduced following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, from 1 February 2018. The loan enables credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to onshore renewable energy, my Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in line with the “preferred draft approach” which was announced in June 2017 by the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in conjunction with the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of concerns in relation to the matter raised. This matter is now, I understand, the subject of a planning enforcement action and legal proceedings by Dublin City Council, and I am precluded from further comment on it at this juncture. With regard to the safeguarding of protected structures, Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 gives primary responsibility to local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Deer Hunting Licences (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: All licenses issued for the 2019/2020 deer hunting season automatically expired on 31 July last in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Acts. My Department can not locate any record of an application from the person in question in respect of the current 2020/2021 season.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I apologise.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will take the last question first. I agree with the Deputy. I have already met our delivery partners, the local authorities and the approved housing bodies. In any schemes that are brought to us, I want to see designs for community schemes that provide for a mix of units. I visited one such scheme yesterday with the Taoiseach in Balgriffin. More than half the units there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: On Deputy Ó Murchú's question on Housing First, our priority is to expand it into the rest of the country on a singles basis first. Where local authorities such as Louth County Council have other plans, they should bring them forward and we will have a look at them. Our focus must be on tackling homelessness and expanding Housing First as it exists.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Referendum Campaigns (6 Oct 2020)

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 initial work on scoping the complex issues involved and will in due course make recommendations on how we might progress such a referendum. I do intend to, and will, consult with my colleagues in government as to the proposal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Funding (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I would not want to ruin the surprise for the Deputy. To be serious, because this is serious, staff and services are being provided to our citizens across the Twenty-six Counties. A couple of points arise. The €600 million waiver provided is not insignificant. Colleagues will agree that significant work and negotiation were required to ensure a waiver of 100%. In early April,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 46 and 47 together. I thank the Deputies. The programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government will approach it as a priority. This year, we are seeing a reduction in the numbers of people in emergency accommodation. That is to be welcomed. Deputy Murphy's...