Results 19,021-19,040 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá brón orm. There is a logic to some aspects of it but I refer to the house prices being charged in some areas. This LIHAF money is supposed to be delivering some affordable houses. In terms of some of the grants, however, we are looking at minimal decreases versus market rate. I know some social housing is being provided but I wonder if we are paying for them on top of that....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and I welcome that. We are a broad church. We will take on people, particularly for training and so on. All joking aside, I am particularly interested in the Minister's timeframe for the delivery of an affordable housing scheme. How does he expect to get that up and running?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: It is good. It is positive.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Data (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: 115. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff per district probate office in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21899/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Data (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: 116. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the budget of each probate office in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21900/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: 272. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of his Department's steps to address the classification of approved housing bodies as part of general Government expenditure; the timeframe for actions to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21896/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: 273. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of units covered by the enhanced leasing scheme by county; the anticipated costs in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21897/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Parliament Membership (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: 274. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to initiate a boundary commission on European Parliament boundaries in view of a recent parliament decision to extend the number of MEP seats here from 11 to 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21898/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Question Heading for question(s) 275 (17 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: 275. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated number of units provided through the repair and lease scheme in 2018; the number provided in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21901/18]

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: I firmly believe, as I think the Minister, Sinn Féin and others do, that we need an affordable housing scheme. There is no such scheme at present. The Government has not built any affordable houses. I remind the Minister that the average house price in Dublin is €368,356, or 6.5 times the average household income. I am using that as an example. I am not talking about...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: Okay.

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: This is the Chamber where Ministers are supposed to be answerable to those who are elected. I am putting across my point of view. I did not interrupt the Minister once during his diatribe earlier in this debate. I could have interrupted him, but I did not.

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: I interrupted the Deputy once or twice.

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: We clearly believe that an affordable housing scheme is needed, among other measures. I asked the Minister to tell the House when such a scheme will be established, but he did not answer. There is a need for an affordable housing scheme that is backed by Exchequer funds and can be leveraged through a special purpose vehicle or through credit union finance. By the way, since 1 February last...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: On average, 3,645 houses were built in each of those years.

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: I have had experience with-----

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: I have to say I have yet to find the Minister orderly. I have given the facts. The last time we were in government, an average of 3,645 social houses were built each year. That contrasts with the position during the Minister's tenure. The Minister of State, Deputy English, has said we cannot fix this overnight. I would have thought that five years would have been enough. We should have...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputies for their contributions this evening, regardless of whether I agreed with them. It has been a useful, if sometimes a little charged, debate. We are committed to working with all parties to deliver an affordable housing scheme. Obviously, the Government is not serious about delivering such a scheme.

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank all of my party colleagues and those from across the House who contributed to this debate this evening. The Minister of State, Deputy English, suggested that we are debating affordability this evening because social housing and homelessness are being addressed but that is patently untrue. We are debating an affordable housing scheme because Fianna Fáil tabled a motion on it. I...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (16 May 2018)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá bron orm-----