Results 20,261-20,280 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (20 Feb 2024)

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 the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. The Midlands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Functions (21 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The role of my Department in the National Agricultural Inspection Programme has been to: Establish the programme under the 5thNitrates Action Programme and give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversight of the programme,Sit on the EPA-chaired National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) Working Group to ensure that all relevant current and emerging policy matters are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (21 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not compile the information requested. The Water Services Act 2007 (as amended) requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to produce a national inspection plan for domestic waste water treatment systems, also known as septic tanks. The EPA report on the implementation of the plan and publishes information on inspections and enforcement on an annual basis. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (21 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. Local authority income from commercial rates and from the provision of goods and services are published annually by local authorities in their Annual Financial Statements (AFS). Each local authority is required to prepare an AFS by the end of March following the year end and to publish it by the end of June. The information is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regional Assemblies (21 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The chief executive of the local authority in question is currently fulfilling the role of designated chief executive for the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA). This is an unpaid, largely advisory role to the regional assembly. The roles of designated chief executive for the three regional assemblies were initially filled in 2014 at the direction of the then Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department cannot advise on the specific application outlined in the details supplied. It is the local authorities that administer the three grant schemes available to householders relating to Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems, commonly known as septic tanks. Each local authority has a Rural Water Liaison Officer who is responsible for the day to day administration of the grants...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The policy of providing grant funding for remedial work on domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS) arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular. The three grant schemes available to householders are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority and are not general in application. Householders can avail of the grants if...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under electoral law, Returning Officers are responsible for the selection and provision of polling stations at polling places. Section 94 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended by section 3 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1996, provides that Returning Officers must, where practicable, select buildings for polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users. In 2018, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. The minimum standards for rental accommodation are set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, natural light, fire safety, ventilation and the safety of gas, oil and electrical installations....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2023 I announced the opening of the Interim Remediation Scheme for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. The majority of remediation activities covered by the Interim Remediation Scheme will be to the common areas of buildings only, unless additional work is deemed necessary. Owners’ Management...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not compile the information requested. The Water Services Act 2007 (as amended) requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to produce a national inspection plan for domestic waste water treatment systems, also known as septic tanks. The EPA report on the implementation of the plan and publishes information on inspections and enforcement on an annual basis. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government has targeted delivery of 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing, and 28,500 new affordable homes from 2022 to 2026. Each local authority has prepared its own 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plan setting out their planned social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans for Cavan and Monaghan are available on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Gweedore waste water treatment was originally included in proceedings against Ireland taken by the European Commission but this was withdrawn in 2017. In July 2022 Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Donegal County Council, completed an innovative project for waste water treatment in Gweedore. This new scheme will ultimately lead to a reduction in the reliance on septic tanks in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 176, inclusive, together. Arising from the Government Decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with delivering a programme of work to address a number of technical items. An interagency DCB Technical Matters Steering Group has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the introduction of the new remuneration package available for local authority elected members in July 2021 following the publication of the Moorhead Report, there is in fact financial support in place for elected members for office accommodation. The Local Representation Allowance (LRA) is payable to an elected member of a local authority on a vouched basis for expenditure up to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme is demand led which makes it difficult to accurately predict the number of eligible applicants that will apply for assistance and undertake works in a given year. However, as indicated in my reply to the previous Parliamentary Question I have ensured sufficient funding is available to enable remediation works under the enhanced scheme in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: To date Clare County Council has received funding approval from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to assist in the delivery of 10 affordable purchase homes at Shannon. Two further applications for proposed affordable purchase schemes in Ennis were received by my Department in December and in January and are currently under assessment. My Department is also aware of a further proposal relating...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (22 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a principle under planning that the planning process is not pre-determined and where any planning application is lodged in accordance with section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), the application must be considered on a case by case basis by the relevant planning authority. An application for planning permission also provides an opportunity for...