Results 23,521-23,540 of 26,666 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. The types of infrastructure being provided include roads, bridges, diversion of power-lines, drainage works as well as public amenities (parks). In July 2016, the Department invited relevant infrastructure project proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 193 together. 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. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. Government also agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together. As part of the Residential Tenancies Act, the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, introduced a targeted Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. Rent control areas, known as Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs), are applied...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 159 of 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/she is responsible. In terms of building capacity generally in the local government planning sector, my Department is currently working on a number of measures to increase...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board's (RTB) remit extends to the private rental, approved housing bodies (AHB), cost rental and student-specific accommodation sectors. The RTB’s remit does not extend to holiday lettings and properties that are short-term lets. New legislative provisions enforced by planning authorities were introduced in 2019 under the Planning and Development Act and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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, introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Question No. 379 of 18 September 2024 which sets out the position in this matter

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, Town and Borough Councils were dissolved with effect from 1 June 2014. The total current expenditure (including transfers to and from reserves, for example, for loan or lease repayments, debt write off or development levies, among other matters) recorded in the Annual Financial Statements of the relevant dissolved local authorities for 2013 was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures. There has been record levels of investment in water services by Uisce...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I set up an Implementation Steering Group for the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant scheme, comprising officials from the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowners’ Liaison Officer. This Group meets every 4-6 weeks and keeps the operation of the DCB Scheme under continuous review. The most recent engagement took place on 12 September...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme was introduced in 2012 and is administered by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. The MTR Scheme offers households in acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears situations, with 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Is the Senator speaking to section 3?

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, I can.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We had a good Second Stage debate. I reiterate that what is being proposed and brought forward by the Government in this Bill is the most significant reform of Seanad Eireann in decades. For some, it might not go far enough but it is also a response to the Supreme Court judgment. I have supported the Seanad and I campaigned against its abolition. I believe in Seanad reform. However, to...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Senators have raised this issue which we have also discussed on Second Stage. I certainly will write to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, engage with him and ask that he update the Seanad on the progress that has been made on the conditions of designation and where the draft regulations are. Senator Clonan has raised that, as have Senators Byrne and Higgins. We will respond through the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have addressed that. The Bill I have proposed and the extension of the franchise is as per the definitions in the Bill. I cannot extend that further at this stage. I have said I believe the Electoral Commission and, indeed, a future government, will be able to build on this most substantial reform of the Seanad and to build on the reform should this legislation pass. I think the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be back in. I promise. I thank the Senators for their co-operation. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is here and I will be back in about 15 or 20 minutes and I will be happy to address any further questions then, if that is okay.