Results 9,121-9,140 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 885, 888 and 906 together. Tenants are required to pay rent to their landlord during the COVID-19 emergency period and, in the event of tenants having difficulty doing so, they are encouraged to engage with their landlords at the earliest opportunity.  They should also engage with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Appeals (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The recording of court cases is one in which I have no statutory function and is a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent. Judicial Reviews against the State, which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitors Office under the guidance of the Attorney General's Office. Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive statistics on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery activity under Rebuilding Ireland. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: This data provides a breakdown of social housing delivery across a range of mechanisms. In addition to the statistical overview of activity in each local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 890 and 891 together. The Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) requirement applies to all new dwellings – including social housing -   which commenced construction from November 2019 subject to transition arrangements. An NZEB dwelling is one that has a very high energy performance, as determined in accordance with Annex I of the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (30 Jun 2020)

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 local level.  Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I assume the Deputy is referring to the income levels that would define eligibility in the case of affordable dwelling purchase arrangements under Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.   The main eligibility criteria for an Affordable Dwelling Purchase Arrangement under Part 5 is that the net income of the applicant household be such that the repayments on a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: 733 Part V dwellings delivered in 2019 were supported under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP).  719 of these dwellings were Part V's delivered under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and are owned by the relevant Approved Housing Body. The remaining 14 dwellings were delivered under a Part V Lease and will revert to the private owner...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, requires that every planning permission to which the Part applies contains a condition that a Part V agreement be entered into between the developer and the planning authority for the transfer of land or units to the planning authority for the provision of social and affordable housing. When submitting a planning application,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The levying and collection of rates are legally matters for each individual local authority. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes.  In order to support the local government sector, my Department is continuing to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow generally under review and will work with all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Valuation Tribunal is an independent appeal body established and operating under the Valuation Acts of 1988 and 2001. It deals with appeals against decisions of the Commissioner of Valuation on the valuation of commercial properties for rating purposes and appeals against determinations of market value on derelict sites or vacant sites made by local authorities under the Derelict...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Brexit Issues (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Part II of the Electoral Act 1992, a person is entitled to be entered on the register of electors if that person: - has reached the age of 18 years, and - is ordinarily resident in a constituency in the State. Subject to the age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship then determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of a number of categories of electors - whole-time members of the Defence Forces, members of An Garda Síochána, Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical disability, electors whose occupation, service or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The majority of staff in my Department have been facilitated to work remotely in accordance with Government policy and HSE advice during the COVID 19 pandemic. Guidance has been provided to staff to support them in this changed working environment and online training has also been made available.  A remote working policy for my Department is currently being drafted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The new Programme for Government, identifies the need to avoid over-concentration of particular housing types in areas, by requiring local authorities to complete housing need and demand assessments to inform delivery of an appropriate mix of housing typologies to cater for the needs of disparate household types and sizes.  Further to this, my Department will continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Licences (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department received an application from Galway City Council in 2014 to develop coastal protection works in an area that is within a designated Special Area of Conservation.  There has been correspondence between my Department and the City Council including a request to submit a Natura Impact Statement to allow for Appropriate Assessment of the application and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration Authority (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas.  Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at reps@prai.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. In order for a household to qualify for HAP, they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP.  If a household has been deemed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 908 and 909 together. Supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness is a priority for this Government. 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 local level. Statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 established municipal districts as the fundamental sub-county level of governance and democratic representation in the State. Separate town councils are not provided for under the Act. Municipal districts are a key decision-making component, with specified reserved powers, of plenary councils and each municipal district can include several...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “acknowledges the extensive range of measures included in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, building on the initiatives already undertaken and in progress, which will be brought forward to support individuals and families to access affordable housing...