Results 21,981-22,000 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 887: In page 401, to delete lines 37 and 38, and in page 402, to delete lines 1 to 16 and substitute the following: “(3) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of subsection (1) including regulations— (a) prescribing the procedures to be followed for the purposes of compliance with that subsection, and (b) providing for— (i)...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: This amendment is on its own. I can deal with this one. We have a logical sequence to these. The Deputy has made a number of general points, which is fine. I respect that. He acknowledged that we came from a zero base to where we are. That is part of the debates and discussions we have in the Dáil Chamber. I will mention two things but I will not get into that piece now. I...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We might be talking at cross-purposes here. I agree with much of what the Deputy is saying, but they are involved. That is my point. They have to adopt any strategy. Section 52(10) states: (d) A report under paragraph (a) shall be submitted to the members of the planning authority, or to a committee of the planning authority, as may be decided by the members of the authority. (e)...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: No, I said I agree with some of what you say.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Let us not go mad.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Or any of the others listed in section 52(10)(e).

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: That would be the members together. In real terms, that would be, could be and is, in many instances, a comprehensive direction in order that there are not 20 different ones. You are making a direction in relation to the housing strategy that would in all likelihood be a more comprehensive submission to it from the members. It is not just a submission; it is a direction. As the Deputy...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The points the Deputy raises are valid. To be of assistance, I will issue the committee a specific explanation or clarification, for want of a better word, on the issue raised and on the process involved. What is there is pretty clear, but I get the point. The Deputy can be assured that the members are involved. On the other side of it, are the public involved? As part of the public...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will outline the process relating to the preparation of a development plan, and the development plan holds the housing strategy as well. There are a number of stages at which the public can have an input. If the Deputy still has issues after he gets the explanatory note, he can absolutely come back-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: No, it is not. The important different thing we do now in practical terms is that we and I agree with the local authorities their own housing targets on a multi-annual basis and we oversee them. There was not that level of oversight that before. However, we are not adding anything new to it in that sense. The reporting structures are better now. The councillors and elected members are...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, I will.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, that is fine.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Let me see. They are kind of listed separately. The next one is amendment No. 892, which is the Cathaoirleach’s, and then amendment No. 895.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Just bear with me a second. I refer to amendments Nos 892 and 898. Together we can do amendments Nos. 892, 903 and 905.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will get that to the committee tomorrow.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I make the point to Deputy Duffy that the inclusion of community-led housing in the Affordable Housing Act was a significant step forward. To be fair to the Deputy, that came directly from him and the Chair. I met with community-led housing organisations. It is the first time we have included that definition in legislation. That, in itself, is very important. That said, with the new...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, that is what we want. I will not go on about it, but the Deputy is aware of the job we had to do. There were lots of different housing bodies on paper which were all well-meaning but effectively defunct. That is why the AHBRA regime is much better. Community land trusts would be covered because of the work done under the Affordable Housing Act.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We are on amendment No. 895. It seeks to insert after "situated" the following: "...and the Local Authority’s own Housing Needs Demand Assessment and any other data that may be available," etc. On 18 December 2020, a ministerial letter to local authorities was issued outlining the Department’s works on the structural housing demand in Ireland and our housing supply targets,...