Results 22,661-22,680 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or the associated Planning and Development Regulations, 2001, as amended (the Regulations), requires planning permission. Section 247 of the Act sets out the process for pre-planning meetings (also referred to as pre-application consultations). Section 247(1)...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a BER of B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this Programme out to 2030. Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors...

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

Darragh O'Brien: On 7 December 2022, the Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill (STTL Bill) and the priority drafting of the Bill providing for the establishment of a new registration system for short-term lettings to be operated by Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment in this regard under Housing for All - A New Housing Plan...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's current financial management system became operational in 2004. As agreed with the Deputy, a review of this system's records shows that my Department had one contract with BAM Civil in 2009. Details of that contract are in the attached table. Company Purpose Agreed Cost (incl. VAT) Actual Cost (incl. VAT) Project Name Devolved Responsibility BAM...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (11 Jun 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. Registration of all...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Regulations set out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings and works to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings. They are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment, and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques, technological progress and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities published annual draft Residential Zoned Land Tax maps on 1 February 2024 that identify lands that fall within the scope of the tax, as well as lands which they propose to exclude from the previous year’s annual final maps for 2025. Landowners and other interested parties had until 1 April 2024 to make a submission to the relevant local authority about whether or not...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Minister, Deputy Foley, comes in - she is in a committee at the moment - I will share time with her. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion. The EU migration pact forms a central part of our national response to the migration crisis. It is collective action working together to address a common challenge in a humanitarian way. That is part of the best...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 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 (Scheme) and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The Scheme was legislated for following extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders. At the time of the Scheme launch, I established an Implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All targets the delivery of 18,000 new Cost Rental homes in the period out to 2030. A strong pipeline is in place and under continuous development by Local Authorities, by Approved Housing Bodies using the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL), by the Land Development Agency, and now also by private providers under the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme. The core...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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, which I originally published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act') on 22 June 2023, which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities and the Housing Agency in the first instance. Their respective roles...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012. It offers households with acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears who have little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances, the chance to surrender a property to a lender and in turn become a social housing tenant whilst staying in their own home and community. The MTR scheme is targeted at those households in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Budget 2024 provides for continued record investment in Housing with €4.25 billion in Exchequer funding for the delivery of housing programmes, comprising capital funding of €2.6 billion and current funding of €1.5 billion. The Capital provision of €2.6 billion will be supplemented by Land Development Agency (LDA) investment and Housing Finance Agency (HFA)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Court of Justice (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to put in place the necessary measures to ensure the full transposition, implementation and enforcement of EU environmental law in Ireland. For matters that fall within the policy remit of my Department, the table below sets out detail of cases where the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has handed down judgments and imposed penalties in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Question Heading for question(s) 194 (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (18 Jun 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. Three separate grants are available to provide financial assistance to householders to repair or upgrade their defective DWWTS. The grants are focused on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (18 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 Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy and national standards, providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 200 and 201 together. Under Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 & 2003, there is a standing obligation on the “person having control” of the premises to ensure appropriate measures for fire safety are in place at all times. In addition, the design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207 and 209 together. The Building Regulations set out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings and works to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings. They are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment, and to ensure that due...