Results 17,141-17,160 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, at the following link: However, the data collected relate to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The delivery of affordable housing is a top priority for this Government and for me, as Minister. To this end, since taking up office, I am working within my Department and with all relevant stakeholders and delivery partners to ensure that new affordable homes are delivered, particularly in Dublin and other major urban areas, where people and families are facing the greatest housing access...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Pending the formal transfer of heritage functions in accordance with the Taoiseach’s announcement on the appointment of Ministers, my Department currently has no function in relation to invasive alien species.

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

Darragh O'Brien: The specific information requested in relation to tree preservation orders is no longer collated by my Department. However, individual local authorities may compile information in this regard. Data on tree preservation orders which was collected for the years 1998 to 2012 is available on my Department's website at the following link: .

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

Darragh O'Brien: In July 2019, my Department launched the multi-annual Developer-Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021. Bids were sought from local authorities for funding under the programme and nineteen local authorities with Developer-Provided Water Services Infrastructure in estates in their areas made applications for funding. Kildare County Council included the estate...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has provided funding for an Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority homes since 2013. The Programme has two phases, phase one, which covers the bulk of the work undertaken to date, focused on delivering immediate improvements such as cavity wall and attic insulation. Phase two targets higher cost measures, such as fabric upgrades, window and door upgrades...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Regulations S.I. 670 of 2007 and S.I. 104 of 2014 provide the statutory basis for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Article 8 of the Regulations provides that the applicant must occupy the house as his or her normal place of residence on completion of the works. The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: It is my intention to publish the briefing paper presented to me by my Department, subject to any redactions made in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. The brief will be available on the Department's website shortly.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together. 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Shanganagh site in is a good example of the type of major social and affordable housing scheme that we need to see built out in Dublin. This type of mixed-tenure major housing development on public land is a major priority for this Government and for myself as Minister. In January, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), in partnership with the Land Development Agency,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As confirmed in the Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future', this Government is committed to the introduction of Cost Rental housing in Ireland. This recognises that renters in Dublin and other major urban centres are facing significant housing access and affordability challenges. Cost Rental is a fundamentally different housing proposal and represents a new tenure option. It is defined...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Delivering social housing is a major priority for this Government as evidenced by the commitments made in the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future". My Department works closely with all Dublin local authorities to support them in this regard. To this end, funding is available to deliver additional social housing stock through a range of initiatives, including, where appropriate, 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. 326 and 327 together. The delivery of social and affordable homes in Dublin, and other major urban areas, where people face the greatest access and affordability challenge is a top priority for this government. To this end, my Department works closely with all Dublin local authorities including Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. As housing...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The statutory basis for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase in the State is Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 which was commenced in June 2018. Regulations in respect of the making of a Scheme of Priority were signed in March 2019, and were subsequently issued to local authorities. The Scheme of Priority sets out the affordable purchase arrangements at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration Authority (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that, as part of an escalated recovery plan, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) is now providing a full range of registration services.  However, the PRA is currently experiencing an increased backlog due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, but as the number of applications being lodged is decreasing, response times will improve over time.  The PRA's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Safety (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The means for communicating bathing water information to the public are well established and include beach signage, print media and social media. In relation to the Dublin Bay Area, my Department is working with Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Environmental Protection Agency and the Health Service Executive to improve co-ordination of all matters related to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Telecommunications Infrastructure (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. In this regard, Class 31 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, provides that certain classes of development carried out by a statutory undertaker authorised to provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In June 2018 Ms Sara Moorhead SC was invited to carry out a review of the role and remuneration of local authority elected members. Her final report was recently published on my Department's website:  https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/ files/independent_review_of_role_and_remuneration_of_local_a uthority_elected_members.pdf  Ms Moorhead did not receive a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Health and Safety Regulations (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014. The Act provides for the making of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations. The Building Regulations set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 873, 874 and 889 together. I intend to continue supporting measures taken by the Department to assist local authorities with the financial difficulties they are experiencing since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is recognised that some additional costs are being incurred by local authorities in relation to Covid-19. Local authorities have...