Results 17,101-17,120 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is targeted at first time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. As part of the eligibility criteria applicant(s) of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan must have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Inquiries (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: There are no tribunals, public investigations or commissions of investigation currently underway in relation to functional areas relevant to my Department. There are still claims and payments being processed following the completion of the Tribunal into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (Mahon Tribunal) in 2012.It is estimated that this process will be completed in 2022. The Tribunal has...

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is misleading the House.

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future acknowledges that Covid-19 has presented the global community with a terrible set of challenges to add to the ongoing climate and biodiversity emergency; acknowledges the extensive range of measures included in...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is wrong.

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “acknowledges the extensive range of measures included in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, building on the initiatives already undertaken and in progress, which will be brought forward to support individuals and families to access affordable housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Just Transition Fund (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the Just Transition proposals for the midlands region, Budget 2020 made provision for €20 million to fund energy efficiency upgrades to local authority houses in the affected midland counties as a pilot programme. The programme also envisages the grouping of housing upgrades together so opportunities for retrofitting will arise for private housing with support from the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 269, 272 and 328 together. I intend to continue supporting measures taken by my Department to assist local authorities with the financial difficulties they are experiencing since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the outset and to minimise cash flow challenges, my Department arranged for the early payment of Local Property Tax (LPT) to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board (7 Jul 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 pyrite...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I am unaware of any specific request from Kilkenny County Council to my Department in relation to its financial circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. My Department is engaging directly with the County and City Management Agency in respect of the local government sector as a whole, on commercial rates and impacts on other income. Regarding the range of financial supports that will be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1997 removed the power of a local authority to make charges for domestic water services. Subsequently, the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provided Irish Water with the power to charge for water services. The Water Services Act 2017 discontinued charges for domestic customers of Irish Water with the exception of charges for network connections...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Part 4 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 specifies, in accordance with Section 33 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the provisions with respect to applications for permission for development of land. An applicant is required to publish a notice of proposed development in an approved newspaper and erect or fix a site notice on the land or structure where the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 291 together. The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme, which came into operation on 1 January 2016, is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin and support the statutory responsibility of housing authorities to provide emergency accommodation for homeless persons.. My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding is available to Approved Housing Bodies (AHB's) towards the provision of accommodation for people with disabilities, the elderly and homeless who are social housing qualified by way of application through the local authority to my Department. My Department also provides funding under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Programme for Government (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government agreed in June 2020 includes a number of commitments that are relevant to my Department. My Department will be developing proposals to give effect to these commitments and such proposals will be costed in the normal manner with due regard to budgetary considerations and the annual Estimates process. The briefing materials provided by Government Departments,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department’s People Strategy 2018-2020 (WELL - Wellbeing, Engagement, Learning and Development and Leadership) was developed in partnership with staff and sets out the strategic priorities, objectives and actions to engage, support, develop and lead staff. The strategic goals identified under the ‘WELL’ Strategy reflect the evolving nature of working life in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Legal Costs (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department seeks, where possible, to minimise legal costs and avails of the services of the Chief State Solicitor's office, the Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency in terms of the provision of legal advice and representation of the Department in court cases. The following table sets out details in relation to external legal services provided directly to my Department by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Arts Centres (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cork Event Centre is included as a commitment under Project Ireland 2040 and it underlines the Government’s objectives around urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. It was agreed in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility at central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Functions (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The statutory transfer of functions process to give effect to the changes in respect of the heritage portfolio is underway, with the aim of completing the transfer as soon as possible, guided by the Transfer of Functions Guidelines and Best Practice Handbook. The effective date of the transfer will be determined by the Transfer of Functions Order. Accordingly, the functions and the State...