Results 23,321-23,340 of 26,666 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) public bodies are receiving targeted support for innovative and holistic solutions that support the regeneration and rejuvenation of our large towns and cities. To date, there have been three Calls for proposals under the URDF with in excess of €1.9 billion allocated to almost 400 projects, located right across the Country....

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Uisce éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme (STVGP), which will provide growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Uisce éireann’s capital investment plan. An allocation of almost €100 million for this programme was approved by the Commission for Regulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Uisce éireann has statutory responsibility, under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation. As Minister, I have no function in this matter. However, Uisce éireann is committed to timely delivery of housing connections under Housing for All. In 2023, Uisce éireann responded to 78% of pre-connection...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Disability Services (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under 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 or she is responsible and each local authority is an individual employer. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) provides support to local authority management in this regard. Section 63(3)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's determinations on damage threshold, the appropriate remediation option and grant amount, determination of the grant payable for alternative accommodation and storage costs and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367, 391 and 415 together. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January 2023, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Community Grant supports the upgrade of homes, community buildings and businesses across Ireland to become more energy efficient and reduce costs. The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2024 (the RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private residential rented sector, and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together. My Department does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct business. As with all new technologies, my Department is assessing the potential of AI in the delivery of services, in line with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance on its usage in the public service, and works closely with the NCSC. My Department does...

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

Darragh O'Brien: 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 be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. As part of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under 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 or she is responsible and each local authority is an individual employer. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: At the outset, it is important to highlight that my role in relation to local and regional planning matters is to provide the legislative, policy and financial framework at a national level within which local and regional authorities can perform their functions. Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides that the Minister shall not exercise any power or control...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. The Housing for All Action Plan Update published in November 2022,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy and as detailed in the Housing for All strategy, a number of measures have been introduced to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home. This includes measures which are in place to support first time buyers and those who have experienced a 'Fresh Start' event such as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (18 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The draft revised National Planning Framework was published on 10 July 2024 and has undergone a 9-week public consultation process which closed on 12 September 2024. Submissions have been received in relation to the draft from a range of public bodies and agencies, sectoral groups and members of the public and these submissions are currently being reviewed by my Department, with consideration...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The local authority Mortgage Protection Insurance (MPI) scheme has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities after 1 July 1986, including the Local Authority Home Loan introduced on 4 January 2022. The current contract for MPI came into effect from 1 January 2023. This contract offers life cover only. A link to the Master Policy Document is provided below. Section 3.2...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The proposed Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill being developed by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for Short Term Lets in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (18 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not generally keep a record of qualifications held by staff members, and accordingly there may be staff working in various roles in the Department who have a qualification relating to Architecture but who have applied for different positions. However, please see the below table which sets out in FTE terms, the number of staff working in Architect roles at the end of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386, 409 and 416 together. 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). Social Housing is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (18 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by local authorities. These reports are based on data provided by local authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals,...