Results 21,681-21,700 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Interim Remediation Scheme is a demand-led scheme, and therefore a list of eligible properties is not maintained. My Department is currently, as a matter of priority, preparing legislation to put in place on a statutory basis, a remediation scheme for owners of certain apartments affected by fire safety, water ingress and structural defects. This legislation will establish supports...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that the delay in publication of the Marine Protected Areas Bill has arisen due to the legal and technical complexity associated with this ground breaking legislation. This has meant that drafting has taken longer than anticipated. However, my Department has been working in close collaboration with parliamentary drafters and our legal advisors to develop this Bill. Drafting is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Departments’ Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI Programme) provides funding to assist local authorities to resolve issues with DPI to enable the taking-in-charge of the housing estates. As regards the estates referred to in the question, my Department received an application for funding under the DPI Programme from Kerry...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2023, I announced the successful applications that are approved funding under the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages without access to Public Waste Water Services. Following the announcement, my Department wrote to Kerry County Council confirming approval of funding for the village of Beaufort and outlining the next steps required to commence and deliver the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Guidelines for Planning Authorities relating to Childcare Facilities, were issued in 2001 by my Department under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to provide a framework to guide both local authorities and developers. Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to the guidelines in carrying out their functions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (18 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. 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. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Apr 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 was launched under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (18 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the Government’s recent approval of an increase in the mandatory retirement age for certain members of the uniformed services, I committed to examining a similar extension to the mandatory retirement age for all fire fighters with a view to providing consistency across the uniformed services. On 12 April, I was pleased to announce that I have now secured approval for this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (18 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) aims to deliver more compact and sustainable development, as envisaged under Project Ireland 2040. It does this by part-funding regeneration and rejuvenation projects in Ireland’s five cities and other large towns. The eligibility criteria for admission to the URDF funding Programme. provide that towns have a population greater than...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy was revised in March 2021 and comprehensive guidance was provided to local authorities at the time. Social housing is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not hold information on the average time it takes to assess a social housing application. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, which launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, and also self-builders, through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Allotments Provision (18 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In terms of planning, providing, enabling and supporting allotments, legislation is in place in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Local Government Act 2000 (as amended) to identify locations in development plans for allotment development, and to establish allotments as a part of local government’s role in promoting the interests of local communities. ...