Results 22,141-22,160 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Question No. 628 of 9 April 2024 which set out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pensions Reform (30 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: Election Management System (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities, in their capacity as registration authorities, are responsible for the management and maintenance of the electoral register. It is the duty of each authority to ensure, as far as possible, and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and completeness of the register. An tÁrd Chláraitheoir, the General Register Office (GRO) provides a Death Events...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in my reply to question number 411 of 5 March 2024, decisions on which properties are suitable for progression through the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) programme are made by a Technical Working Group (TWG), which works under the auspices of the Accommodation Working Group. All properties offered are subject to inspection by the relevant local authority to ensure compliance,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides the Minister with the power to declare qualifications of such classes and descriptions as he or she thinks fit for a specified employment under a local authority or for such of the employments as belong to a specified class, description or grade. Orders made under section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001 declaring qualifications for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, as amended by the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The policy of providing grant funding to households for work on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular. The three different grants available are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority and are available only in circumstances relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In order to be eligible for the Housing Assistance Payment, a household must first qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing list. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The communal facilities grants scheme funded via the National Lottery, is for facilities to assist residents of supported housing delivered via the Capital Assistance Scheme. Facilities supported under the communal facilities grants scheme can include communal dining and kitchen areas, activity rooms, laundries, accommodation for therapy or treatment, or other facilities reasonably required...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together. Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (30 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides 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. Applications lodged...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 comprising of 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. Local authorities have published 5 year...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme, designed to help bridge the gap for eligible first-time buyers, eligible homebuyers, and self-builders, between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home (within price ceilings established across the country). Full details are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my answer to Question No. 413 on 16 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (1 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently, as a matter of priority, preparing legislation to put in place a statutory remediation scheme for owners of certain apartments affected by fire safety, water ingress and structural defects. This legislation will establish supports for the remediation of these defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. Given...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Economic and Social Research Institute (1 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Joint Research Programme on Housing Economics and Spatial Planning was established to provide high-level oversight of a programme of research papers relating to housing economics and spatial planning and comprises of representatives from my Department and other experts in this field, including from the ESRI and the Housing Agency. My Department has provided the Oireachtas Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rights of Way (1 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) provides that it is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider where there is a need for a public right of way. The Act places responsibility for the maintenance of public rights of way directly with local authorities, by requiring them to preserve existing public rights of way through mapping and listing them as part...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not gather information on the length of time it is currently taking to complete new social housing applications by local authorities. 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...