Results 16,681-16,700 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (9 Sep 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 this context, I have consulted...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government provides that the Government will refer the issue of the environment, including water, and its place in the Constitution, to a relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee for consideration. I and my Department look forward to engaging with the relevant Committee when work proceeds on this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2020, a total of €73.75 million is available for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme, in respect of private houses. This is made up of €59 million Exchequer funding, which is an increase of some 3.5% on 2019, with the balance of €14.75m being contributed by the local authorities. The suite of grants include the Housing...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Individual military installations may have a variety of different functions; therefore, no specific set of guidelines exists regarding development in close proximity to military installations. Planning applications should be considered by a planning authority on a case by case basis taking all relevant factors and statutory requirements into account. It is open to a military installation or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme remains open for business. All local authorities are receiving and processing RIHL applications and are incorporating increased flexibility to accommodate applicants during the COVID 19 Pandemic. As is the case with any lender, local authorities must lend mortgages on a prudent basis, taking into account the most recent income and employment data...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Registration of Title (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at . I understand from the Property Registration...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) regulate all gas installers who carry out domestic work through the Registered Gas Installer (RGI) scheme, which is managed by the Register of Gas Installers of Ireland (RGII). It is a legal requirement that any work carried out on domestic gas installations must only be carried out by a Registered Gas Installer. Gas boilers and solid fuel...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 440 together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 introduced legislative changes last year in relation to the regulation of short-term letting sector through the planning code to help address its impact on the supply of private rented accommodation, particularly in urban centres of high housing demand i.e. rent pressure zones (RPZs). The planning system...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department proactively engages with local authorities with a view to ensuring that the vacant site levy achieves its full potential in terms of bringing concerned sites into productive use. In this regard, my Department issued Circular Letter PL 08/2020 on 9 June 2020 requesting the submission of a further progress report on the implementation of the levy by each local authority. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order (S.I. 352 of 2018, as amended by S.I. 603 of 2018) made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. The designation of categories of officials under...

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

Darragh O'Brien: From 1 August 2020, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 provides new protections for tenants who have fallen into rent arrears, and as a result, are at risk of losing their tenancy. The Act recognises the impacts of unemployment and reduced working hours amongst those living in the residential rental sector as a result of Covid-19 and acknowledges the adverse impact on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme remains open for business. All local authorities are receiving and processing RIHL applications and are incorporating increased flexibility to accommodate applicants during the COVID 19 Pandemic. As is the case with any lender, local authorities must lend mortgages on a prudent basis, taking into account the most recent income and employment data...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Given the diversity of state bodies and agencies and multiplicity of landholdings for a range of different purposes, there isn’t currently one central comprehensive database of all lands in state ownership. It is not, therefore, possible to conclusively identify all such lands that may be zoned for residential development or to estimate the total number of houses that could be built...

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

Darragh O'Brien: At the end of Q2 2020, 78,922 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which 56,548 households were actively in receipt of HAP support.

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

Darragh O'Brien: At the end of Q2 2020, the average monthly exchequer cost for a Housing Assistance Payment tenancy was €665, or €7,980 annually. This represents the portion paid by the State after the receipt of the differential rent paid by the tenant to the local authority, additional administration costs would also apply. Costing information in relation to residents of direct provision...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Strategy for the Rental Sector set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems. The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: There is always a level of vacancy in local authority housing stock that fluctuates over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock takes place on an ongoing basis. My Department actively encourages local authorities to ensure all vacant properties in their stock are brought back into use as expeditiously as possible. Local authorities also provide significant funding from their own...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Tax (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The elected councils are responsible for all budgetary decisions of local authorities, including Local Property Tax (LPT) variation decisions, the Annual Rate on Valuation for commercial rates and charges associated with services provided. Adoption of the annual budget is a reserved function. LPT variation decisions must be finalised by local authorities by 30 September in order to take...