Results 22,901-22,920 of 26,550 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (27 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, Question No. 177, and Questions Nos. 179 to 181, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (27 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The scoping report of the Interdepartmental Group on coastal change management, which was co-chaired by my Department and the Office of Public Works, can be accessed at the following link: Through the 15 recommendations set out in the report, an evidence-based coastal change management strategy facilitating key decisions to be taken to address and manage the impacts of coastal change over...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (27 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay. Local discretion and flexibility are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (27 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of their properties, including sinking funds for future improvements. There are a number of options available for energy improvement upgrades through Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grants. Currently, under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Historic Structures Fund grant schemes, both...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The ‘Fresh Start’, principle forms a key element in ‘ Housing for All ‘and is applied across a number of affordable and mortgage schemes run by my Department such as the Local Authority Home Loan and the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The Fresh Start principle allows people who are not first time buyers to be eligible to apply for a Local Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (27 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. The grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority and are available only in circumstances relating to risks to water quality and/or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock. An annualised breakdown by local authority, including Carlow County...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (27 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household. My Department publishes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electricity Supply Board (2 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Policy (2 Jul 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. Each year the target number of units and funding provided under the EERP are subject to the funding availability as part of the National Development Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (4 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together. The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 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. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The price discount availed of by a homebuyer 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 Government capital subvention of €50,000, €75,000 or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together. Since 2013, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) to support local authorities with the retrofit of local authority owned homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Over the period 2013 to the end of 2023, local authorities received over €308 million in...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and all Deputies for facilitating the debate on this urgent legislation before the summer recess. I wish to record my thanks to the Chief Whip and members of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for enabling the Bill to be read a Second Time here today. I am...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: They have taken a minute off. They are brutal.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 390, inclusive, together. 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. My Department, in conjunction with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391, 392 and 432 together. Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 including 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) formally referred to as Unit Cost Ceilings, specifically relate to social housing build projects developed directly by local authorities or approved housing bodies on their own land, using Public Works forms of contract. While not a record of actual delivery costs, the BUCs are based on an analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes and act as a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) was a scheme initiated in 2016 under the previous Rebuilding Ireland plan which funded the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key...