Results 22,621-22,640 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (13 Jun 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: Straitéisí Ranna (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An Interdepartmental Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of my Department, the DTCAGSM and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Allotments Provision (13 Jun 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 2001 (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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently no proposals under consideration to reintroduce town councils as Government policy is to strengthen the country's 95 municipal districts. The 2010 report 'Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government' recognised that town councils led to duplication of administrative work in areas such as planning, housing and roads. The Local Government Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (11 Jun 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 setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. The aim of the review is to strike an appropriate balance between addressing the concerns of local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 395 together. I received the Report of the Housing Commission on 8 May and published it in full very soon thereafter on 22 May. The Commission’s work has taken two-an-a-half years to conclude, culminating in a 400 plus page report (including appendices), and 83 recommendations and 540 or so actions and sub-actions. Accordingly, it requires...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s grant scheme for the renewal or repair of a thatched roof provides funding of up to €6,350 or up to 80% of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland where the private owner holds a medical card. A higher level of assistance of up to €8,252 is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace that protects the rights of all employees. To demonstrate our commitment to providing a fully inclusive culture my Department is currently developing an internal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy, in collaboration with staff. This work is in line with commitments made in the Civil Service...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The General Services Supervisor (GSS) is the most senior grade within the general operative and related grades structure in local authorities. It is of its nature therefore primarily a supervisory grade which operates across all of the key functions including Roads, Water and Environment. The duties assigned to a GSS will vary according to the nature of the role, the number of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The equity share in an affordable home purchase arrangement is a function of the gap between the purchasing power of the approved affordable housing purchaser and the open market price of the property concerned. The provision of affordable purchase housing by local authorities is supported by a capital subvention of €50,000, €75,000 or €100,000 per home from the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government Legislation Programme for the Summer 2024 Session, which was published on 16 April 2024, sets out my Department's priority legislation and can be accessed at the following weblink: www.gov.ie/en/publication/edb3c-government-legislation-progr amme-2024/ Importantly, the Planning and Development Bill 2023 remains a top priority for me and the Government, and commences Report...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 376 and 377 together. Statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in the Local Authority Performance Indicator Report. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the number of dwellings in local authority ownership and the percentage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commit to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their home. The most recent tenant purchase scheme, the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is based on an incremental purchase model. This scheme strikes a balance between increasing the scope for those in receipt of long-term housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The grant scheme, as set down by the Oireachtas, facilitates the remediation of existing houses that have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks, but not the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An assessment and analysis have been carried out of the various allegations raised in correspondence received by my Department in respect of this issue. The Department found that most of these matters had already been subject to review or investigation by an appropriate body external to the Council, including the Courts in some cases. The issue remains under consideration, as necessary.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Currently, there is no specific legislation in Ireland dealing with light pollution and my Department has no role in this regard. If required, the responsibility for the development of a national strategy or legislation in respect of light pollution would rest with my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together. Following the adoption of the Housing for All Plan, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan setting out details of its planned social and affordable housing delivery programme over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set and need identified. The Plans include details of the locations and...