Results 23,401-23,420 of 26,185 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is a net decrease. There were 68,000 people on the housing list back in 2019 and there is just short of 58,000 now.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Sinn Féin wants to do away with HAP and with due respect to the Deputy, he is selling something that is not based on reality. His party is scaring people in respect of evictions.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy needs to understand that we have 1,500 people-----

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----received extra HAP in the final quarter of the past year and, furthermore, 19,000 tenancies were created in January and February of this year. It is not all bad news. We understand that it is difficult for people but we want to ensure that we continue to have extra supply for people who are in social housing and on HAP; that councils will continue to purchase at pace under the tenantin...

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: They work for tenantsin situ. Their rents have gone up by just short of 4%-----

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----over the past number of years.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The problem is that there is not enough supply. For new rentals, the rents are too high. For existing tenants, however, it has worked. That is completely overlooked. When the Deputy speaks about rents becoming higher, they are. I accept that. He does not qualify that comment by saying that it is new tenancies.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy does not. He gives the impression that it applies-----

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----across the board.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We have also brought in a measure whereby local authority managers can now suspend the Part 8 process and shave 20 weeks off the period it takes to get properties built. Furthermore-----

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----if Sinn Féin is so interested in building, why is it objecting systematically to housing developments?

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I commend the Government countermotion to the House.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy. I agree the debate we had was intense. As he noted, this is about keeping people in their homes. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 units per year up to 2030, comprising the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. The strategy is supported by an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy, who has made practical points that I take wholeheartedly. If people in a property have young children who are in a local school, the property in question is their home. That is the logic of it. The Deputy referred to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council. A body of work is under way there. Obviously, the Deputy will allow the councils to do that work and see...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Clear instructions have been given to the local authorities by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. He has written to them-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----in the last week. The Deputy is probably aware that each local authority is setting up a specific acquisition unit to deal specifically with the tenant in situscheme and various other issues. These units are now being established. The Deputy's points, which focus on those matters, will be taken into consideration by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Department. They will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Community (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Local Authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department providing information on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in their functional areas. The derelict sites returns have been collected in Q2 of the following year. My Department recently issued Circular Letter PL 02/2023 requesting the submission of returns on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act in 2022 by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act), as amended, and certain other Acts. Section 126 of the Act provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 Mar 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The planning process is open and transparent and allows for the public to participate regarding any planning applications lodged to a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) and it supporting Regulations. When a planning authority makes its decision on a planning application including those...