Results 22,101-22,120 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority waiting list to another. An initial scoping exercise was carried out which identified a range of practical and administrative issues, including those related to the maintenance of seniority on housing waiting lists, local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are encouraged to acquire vacant/derelict properties to be upgraded as new, value-for-money social homes via the Buy & Renew Scheme. Since it was introduced in 2016, in excess of 900 properties have been delivered under this arrangement with 57 delivered in 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 684 of 9 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 89 and 92 together. 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 as homes. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Development Contributions (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Development Contributions (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Advertising (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information the Deputy has requested is being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. In common with many...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (24 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (25 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: An Teanga Gaeilge (25 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Is é creat beartais agus reachtaíochta iomchuí a sholáthar do chóras toghcháin nua-aimseartha agus éifeachtach an phríomhfheidhm atá ag mo Roinn i gcúrsaí toghcháin. Laistigh den chreat sin, tá na Cinn Chomhairimh Áitiúla neamhspleácha freagrach as gach gné a bhaineann le reáchtáil iarbhír na...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (25 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 housing estates. As regards the estates referred to in the details supplied, my Department received an application for funding under the DPI Programme from Kerry...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (25 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Regeneration Programme ensures the most disadvantaged communities are placed at the centre of all considerations surrounding physical, social and economic regeneration. My Department fully supports a wide ambit of regeneration projects which ensures that complexes with historic disadvantages are placed at the forefront of regeneration. My Department currently funds multi-year...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (25 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 14 November 2023, the Cabinet agreed a proposal to broaden the Local Authority Home Loan, to make finance available to purchase and/or renovate derelict or non-habitable properties. The extended Loan will be restricted to applicants who qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. This is to ensure that applicants who qualify for the VPRG can avail of financing to renovate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas, a Chathaoirligh. I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach and to the committee members to have the opportunity to present to them today these proposed planning regulations. The regulations consist of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024 which waive the section 254 street furniture licence fees for the remainder of 2024 for tables and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: To answer the question directly, people have been charged for the first three months of the year, or coming up to the first four. Once I sign the regulations into law, there will be no charge but there is no refund of what has been paid already. It is annualised and then divided so, effectively, it would be for one quarter of the year. That is what people have been levied for the first...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: To directly answer the question with regard to insurance, no issues at all have been raised by local authorities with us in our engagement on this. By the way, I should have mentioned at the start that the last full year for which we have figures for the waiver is 2021 and the cost to local authorities was €589,000 across all 31 local authorities. I do not believe it will change...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no specific Estimate. I have given the most up-to-date figure we have, at just short of €600,000. In the period since we brought in this waiver, local authority funding has been increased substantially. The 31 local authorities have effectively worn this waiver as a business-cost-reduction measure. In preparation for the regulations, we have to assess whether we should do...