Results 16,421-16,440 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Fund (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2018, the then Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform initiated an Inter-Departmental review of Local Property Tax (LPT). The purpose of the review was to inform the Minister in relation to any actions he may recommend to Government concerning the overall yield from LPT and its contribution to total tax revenue. As the LPT review did not primarily concern itself with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 Oct 2020)

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". The Programme commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing. In terms of affordable housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Water Services Acts 2007 (as amended) and2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a domestic waste water treatment system is responsible for its maintenance and renewal and shall ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational where appropriate and kept in good order and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Schemes (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Planning Framework (NPF) sits at the top of a hierarchy of statutory spatial development plans, the purpose of which is to ensure the sustainable development of urban and rural areas, secure balanced regional development and to support and co-ordinate proper planning and development throughout Ireland. This national-level planning policy is implemented at the regional level...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Efficiency (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 349 together. The regular management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, is a matter for each relevant local authority, and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to their housing stock from within their own resources. However, my Department does support local authorities in improving their social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. The Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (6 Oct 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, including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, while the local authorities remain responsible for private water supplies. Under the Drinking Water Regulations 2014, as amended, the Environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Archaeological Sites (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Community Monuments Fund is a new initiative introduced as part of the July Jobs Stimulus Package. It will invest significant new capital in our valuable archaeological heritage for the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. The Community Monuments Fund will: - enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: A second call for proposals under the URDF was launched earlier this year. Seventy six proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support. Because of the nature of the URDF programme the proposals are very complex, and each will require detailed assessment. The assessment process is presently under way. It is intended that a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The detailed administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council. Details of the application process in each local authority area can be found at the following links: and . An overview of the application process for the scheme can...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 to 356, inclusive, together. The detailed advancement of housing and other works under the Limerick Regeneration programme is a matter in the first instance for Limerick City and County Council. The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP) published in 2013, heralded a move away from demolitions and towards a prioritisation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities have a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes. An initial three-month waiver of rates for businesses forced to close business due to COVID-19, was announced in May. In order to enhance the supports available for enterprise, and in recognition of the fact that not only were many ratepayers forced to close business due to the public...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Youth Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for my Department. The Programme for Government "Our Shared Future" commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government will approach this challenge. Upon my appointment as Minister, I established a High Level Homelessness Taskforce, to provide a forum for engagement with key...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Commission (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The establishment of an Electoral Commission is a key commitment in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, with the aim of a Commission being in place by the end of 2021. An Electoral Commission will bring together several electoral functions in an independent, dedicated public body. The Electoral Commission’s establishment is guided by a number of recent reports and public...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: On 21 September, I announced allocations under the new multi-annual capital investment programme for the progressive resolution of housing estates with “developer provided water services infrastructure”, to enable the taking in charge of these estates. The announcement followed an independent Expert Panel review of all valid bids. The Panel’s recommendations are based on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Boardand 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The “Call for Housing 2020” was launched on 21 July 2020 as a short-term intervention to stimulate interest in social housing delivery, through acquisitions and leasing from opportunities arising in the property market. The campaign is being run on behalf of my Department by the Housing Agency, in consultation with the local authorities. Up to 30 September 2020, the total...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no record of receiving an application to deliver an integrated constructed wetland as a treatment system for the village of Glen, Co. Donegal under the current Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 369 to 371, inclusive, together. A key commitment of the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future" is ensuring that affordable, quality homes are available to everyone in Irish society. The 2019 Summary of Social Housing Assessments shows that 3,386 households were qualified for social housing support from Kildare County Council, which represents a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

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". The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is primarily designed to fund the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages...