Results 9,181-9,200 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has provided funding for an Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority homes since 2013. The Programme has two phases, phase one, which covers the bulk of the work undertaken to date, focused on delivering immediate improvements such as cavity wall and attic insulation. Phase two targets higher cost measures, such as fabric upgrades, window and door upgrades...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Regulations S.I. 670 of 2007 and S.I. 104 of 2014 provide the statutory basis for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Article 8 of the Regulations provides that the applicant must occupy the house as his or her normal place of residence on completion of the works. The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is my intention to publish the briefing paper presented to me by my Department, subject to any redactions made in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. The brief will be available on the Department's website shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Since 2014, Exchequer funding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Shanganagh site in is a good example of the type of major social and affordable housing scheme that we need to see built out in Dublin. This type of mixed-tenure major housing development on public land is a major priority for this Government and for myself as Minister. In January, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), in partnership with the Land Development Agency,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As confirmed in the Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future', this Government is committed to the introduction of Cost Rental housing in Ireland. This recognises that renters in Dublin and other major urban centres are facing significant housing access and affordability challenges. Cost Rental is a fundamentally different housing proposal and represents a new tenure option. It is defined...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Delivering social housing is a major priority for this Government as evidenced by the commitments made in the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future". My Department works closely with all Dublin local authorities to support them in this regard. To this end, funding is available to deliver additional social housing stock through a range of initiatives, including, where appropriate, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together. The delivery of social and affordable homes in Dublin, and other major urban areas, where people face the greatest access and affordability challenge is a top priority for this government. To this end, my Department works closely with all Dublin local authorities including Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. As housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Programme for Government (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The statutory basis for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase in the State is Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 which was commenced in June 2018. Regulations in respect of the making of a Scheme of Priority were signed in March 2019, and were subsequently issued to local authorities. The Scheme of Priority sets out the affordable purchase arrangements at...

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future acknowledges that Covid-19 has presented the global community with a terrible set of challenges to add to the ongoing climate and biodiversity emergency; acknowledges the extensive range of measures included in...

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is misleading the House.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, commits to reviewing the treatment of commercial rates for the remainder of the year, as a priority action. This process is underway in my Department in the context of the forthcoming July stimulus. The previously announced waiver forms part of this consideration, with a view to a single communication with local authorities and ratepayers in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the Deputy may be referring to the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines 2012 issued by the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The Guidelines were prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport, local authorities and the National Roads...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Administration of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. I understand that the local authority in question is awaiting the submission of cost estimates in order to progress the referenced application further.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social Welfare Offices (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The question of liability of particular properties for rates is a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation, who is independent in the exercise of his functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. The making of valuations for rating purposes is the sole responsibility of the Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. The Valuation Acts 2001 to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, while the local authorities remain responsible for private water supplies. Lead in drinking water is both the responsibility of water suppliers and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Property (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. Legislative provision is made for the refund of rates paid on vacant commercial properties in certain circumstances. The Local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 412 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I intend to continue to support measures taken by my Department to assist local authorities, including Cork City and Cork County Councils, with the financial challenges they are experiencing since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the outset and to minimise cash flow challenges, my Department arranged for the early payment of Local Property Tax (LPT) to all local authorities. As...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Efficiency (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has been providing funding support under the Social Housing Insulation Retrofitting Programme to local authorities since 2013, for insulation and energy efficiency works to their social housing stock. The programme is implemented in two phases: Phase 1 is a shallow retrofit and ensures that the entire social housing stock has, as a minimum, cavity wall and attic insulation....