Results 16,461-16,480 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be very quick as well because I was not trying to exclude Deputy Gould in any way. The homelessness task force has been very useful. I will report to the committee and we publish minutes of those meetings as well. We are tracking those numbers but we know that behind each number is a person and family. We are tracking it weekly and there is a monthly report. It has been very...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy and accept the point he makes on one-bedroom units but some of our focus in that context relates to homeless individuals who want single person accommodation. He has a point with regard to family breakdown where people might need extra space. The provision of one and two-bedroom units as well as larger homes is a big problem. I have already said to our partners,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will answer very quickly on the national planning framework. Obviously we have to look at how it is being implemented on the ground. I have written to the local authorities and the planning authority about that. I have no oversight over the granting of permission for specific planning applications but if the Deputy writes to me-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps he could write again or I will seek out his letter. I get a few letters every day but I will track his down.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome that and that it is put forward in a constructive way. I will respond to each item. On voids, I have been around a while, including on local authorities, and have found that having a specific target for each local authority and allowing them make submissions has really focused delivery on that. I take the point and will respond to the other items, including dereliction.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In the small bit of spare time I have I chair a regional drugs and alcohol task force in north Dublin. I have seen the benefits of the Housing First approach, particularly for many homeless people who have addiction and also mental health issues. Housing First gives the wraparound supports to help people through homelessness. The programme for Government commits to a housing-led health...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: That is true.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree that it is an issue.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to coordination of national level response to flooding emergencies, where warranted. This includes preparation of review reports into the response to flooding emergencies where national level coordination is activated, including the Review...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Licence Applications (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. Applicants for deer hunting licenses are always advised to apply before July to ensure that they get their licenses before the beginning of the deer hunting season. At this stage all applicants who had applied before July will have received their licenses. Over 3,100 licenses have been issued since 1 August this year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration Authority (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I am informed that the Property Registration Authority (PRA) is currently operating a high level of service.  In this regard, applications for registration can be lodged as usual through the post or DX and are being processed in order of priority.  Urgent applications are processed expeditiously upon request, on a case by case basis. For the month of August 2020, the following is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities receive central government funding for both current and capital expenditure by means of Government grants and subsidies.  This information can be seen in the audited annual financial statements (AFS) of each authority. The table below details the total payments to each authority from central government covering the years 2014 to 2018. 2019 data is not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 166 together. The protocol for the closure of sluice gates in Athone is determined by the ESB. If the sluice gates are closed in Athlone, Waterways Ireland will carry out an appropriate sluice operation in the Meelick area. Waterways Ireland as the Inland Navigation Authority, operates the sluices and weir boards in the Meelick area. There are 30...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Promotion (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. The Heritage in Schools programme is not run by my Department but rather it is administered by the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department. The scheme provides a panel of 160 heritage specialists who visit primary schools throughout the country.   The aim of the Scheme is to encourage awareness of the natural...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This is an operational matter for individual local authorities in the Shannon basin.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (1 Oct 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes under section 58 is an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The provisions in relation to proposed local authority "own development" projects - commonly referred to as Part 8 projects - are provided for in Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Under these provisions, a planning authority is required to advertise its proposals for such...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authority "own development" projects, commonly referred to as Part 8 projects, are provided for in Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations).  Under Article 82(3)(v) of the Regulations, a local authority is required to send notice of a proposed Part 8 development to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (1 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. I intend to consult with my colleagues in Government as to the proposal that should be put to the electorate and the appropriate timeframes that should apply to the process.