Results 23,061-23,080 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Bill 2023 (the Bill) has a number of provisions relating to public rights of way. Section 51(2) of the administrative reprint version of the Bill as amended at Seanad Committee Stage provides that a development management statement may include objectives for a range of matters including “preserving a specific public right of way, including a public right of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: It remains the case that, as with the large majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy developments. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The planning systems plays an important role in the delivery of renewable energy development and related development, from both a legislative and a policy perspective. The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides the basis for plan-making and decision-making within the planning system in respect of solar energy development and battery storage. This legislative framework will be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 878 to 882, inclusive, together. In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Local Authority Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER)...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All. In December 2022, funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Under the HAP scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Sep 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. A revised Social Housing Support Application Form was introduced with effect from 19 April 2021. The new...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service directly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Water Services Acts 2007-2022 set out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éireann and further set out the scrutiny and oversight provisions that apply in respect of these arrangements. Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the planning, delivery and operation of water and wastewater services at national,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 894 and 895 together. Local Authority Home Loan The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 897 together. The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Sep 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: Land Development Agency (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency Act 2021 was signed into law in July 2021. The Act established the Land Development Agency (“LDA”) as a commercial semi-state body with the power to pursue a wide range of activities to deliver its mandate, including managing and developing public land, and collaborating with other parties for the delivery of housing. Ultimately, this statutory...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The interim fire safety scheme is in place now. It is a complex arrangement. At the outset, I thank the stakeholders and the residents in particular, including the Construction Defects Alliance, the Apartment Owners Network and Not Our Fault, which have engaged in a really constructive manner. Yesterday, I received Government approval for the priority drafting of the main scheme...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I reject any assertion there have been delays in bringing this forward. We want to make sure the interim fire defects scheme works for people and residents. That is why I have engaged personally with literally hundreds of residents and their representative groups on this issue. The legislation we agreed yesterday is very important too. It will go to the Oireachtas joint committee...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We are resourcing the Housing Agency. There is a specific senior programme manager in place in the agency who is managing the applications. We have worked very closely with the OMCs on the applications, being able to seek the correct information and working that through. That is why the pathfinder schemes are so important. We receive applications every single day of the week and continue...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It was considered. We are going on a whole-of-building basis, and that is the way to do it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Absolutely. We are working through the process for retrospective payments as well. I gave a commitment when I entered government to address this issue. The three parties of the Government gave a firm commitment to address this issue. Residents' response to our announcements on the works so far have been very positive. I will continue to work with them and all interested Members of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is an absolute priority for me as Minister and the rest of the Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Last year, almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered through build, acquisition and leasing, including 8,110 new-build homes, representing the highest level of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Ó Broin and every Member of this House knows that the reasons people enter homelessness are very complex. People enter homeless emergency accommodation for a variety of reasons. One of the main preventive measures the Government introduced that is working is the purchase of homes for tenants in situ. So too is the increased supply of social housing stock. People are spending...