Results 22,361-22,380 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department does not have any responsibility in relation to dog wardens. Responsibility in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of Dublin City Council’s (DCC’s) housing stock is strictly a matter for the Local Authority. DCC have advised that the Council has been undertaking works to improve the living conditions of the residents as well as the structure of the complex. On an ongoing basis there are four caretakers assigned to the complex. Their duties include maintaining...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which only apply to onshore wind energy development. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Advertising (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department frequently uses digital media platforms as part of information campaigns to bring important information to the public’s attention. Increasingly, my Department has chosen online advertising to create an effective awareness of schemes, initiatives or important public information across many areas of work. For example, online and digital media platforms are used to raise...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. An Bord Pleanála is required to adopt a Code of Conduct for its members under section 150 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On the 7 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 of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP). My Department has written to each of the local authorities that submitted applications advising of the decisions made including to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 sets out the procedure for a local authority when carrying out development, including social and affordable housing, on its own land. Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 ensures that a local authority gains a portion of the increase in the land value resulting from the local authority granting planning permission for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 261 and 292 together. Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Homes Action Plan Progress Report outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Act 1966 provides for the charging of rent by local authorities on social housing tenancies. Rents are based on household income levels, with those on lower incomes paying lower rents. This system is known as the ‘differential rents’ system. It is a critical piece of State’s welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 amended. The regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together. A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was one of four new funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027. Launched in 2018 with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion, the review of the NDP in 2021 extended the URDF to 2030. To date,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 Local Authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a Planned Maintenance Programme and carrying out of responsive repairs. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Applicants for permission to build one-off housing are not required to partake in pre-application consultations. However, any such person may request a pre-application consultation under section 90(1) of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 (as amended). Where the applicant makes this request and provides any documentation or information required by the planning authority under section...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department assesses, approves and records local authority social housing delivery on a project basis, rather than on the basis of individual unit types. I refer to my answer to Question No. 689 on 9 April 2024 which sets out the average cost of social homes delivered by SHIP, CAS, CALF and via Part V arrangements in 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In the case of support for affordable purchase homes, subventions of €50,000, €75,000 and €100,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund per home are in place towards the development costs of affordable homes. The higher subsidy funding (€100,000) relates to schemes involving high density development and typologies in urban areas (which tend to have higher construction...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (28 May 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). The table below sets out the Build and Leasing targets for Kerry County Council. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not hold the detailed information requested related to payment process management within the local authority sector. I understand that the transition to a fortnightly pay cycle is being coordinated by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) with the local authorities. Each local authority is working with an ICT systems supplier to implement the fortnightly payment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. My Department does not hold the details sought. However, arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority. If a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what action is necessary and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Elections (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 12A(1)(a) of the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 sets out the aggregate total of election expenses which may be incurred by candidates at a local election. In addition, section 19C(1) of the Act provides that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may by order vary, among other matters, the amounts set out in section 12A having...