Results 16,821-16,840 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (29 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock. In relation to the Voids Programme for 2020...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (29 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 166 together. The levying and collection of rates are legally matters for each individual local authority. Local authorities are under 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 early May. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Forestry Management (29 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Detailed provisions in relation to the preservation of trees are set out in section 205 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Under these provisions, planning authorities may - where it appears to them to be expedient in the interests of amenity or the environment - make a tree preservation order (TPO) in respect of any tree, trees, group of trees or woodlands specified in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Serviced Sites Fund, €310 million has been allocated to provide infrastructure to support the delivery of more affordable homes on local authority lands.  With a maximum of €50,000 funding available per home, at least 6,200 more affordable homes, to buy or rent, can be facilitated.  To date, Serviced Sites Funding of €127 million has been approved in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (29 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (29 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.  Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 325 of 7 July 2020; the position remains unchanged. It is a matter for Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to determine, in the first instance, the most appropriate response to the need for social housing supports in their area and to make the necessary application to my Department for consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: On Monday, 13th July, planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála for the development of 597 homes at Shanganagh Castle, Shankill.  It is intended to comprise 306 Cost Rental homes, 200 social homes, and 91 homes for sale under the Affordable Purchase scheme.  Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) is working in partnership with the Land...

Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2020: Motion (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2020, copies of which were laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 22nd July, 2020.”  

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle agus déanaim comhghairdeas léi as ucht a post nua. Guím ádh mór uirthi. I thank all of the contributors who brought forward their views on the Bill. We will move to Committee Stage on Thursday and I want to give a commitment to Members that I and my officials will consider any amendments brought forward, and where...

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy should send me the details.

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle and to all Deputies for facilitating the urgent passage of this very important legislation through the Houses this week. The programme for Government recognises the important role that the private rented sector will continue to play into the future. The Government is seeking to address challenges in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Projects (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of this first tranche of approvals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Kildare County Council was allocated URDF support of €400,000 to support its proposed work to progress the technical and preparatory element of the Celbridge Southern Relief Road & Second Liffey Crossing.  The advancement and completion of this project is, in the first instance, a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Projects (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Kildare County Council has received approval for exchequer grant funding of €10,800,000 under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to support its completion of the Maynooth Eastern Relief Road and Bridge Crossing Railway and Royal Canal. LIHAF is primarily designed to fund the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites (28 Jul 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, the 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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: While the funding of the maintenance and repair of weirs is not a matter that falls within the remit of this Department, and it has no specific funding line for such projects, it is appreciated that this is a very important project for Cork County Council and the community of Fermoy, in particular. In view of the strategic importance of this project from an economic, social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (28 Jul 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: Rural Resettlement Scheme (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 apply for housing in one or two...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 356 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long term housing support, an assessment of housing need must be completed in order for a household to qualify for HAP. Any household with an identified housing need is eligible for HAP. In order...