Results 9,421-9,440 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (23 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future. We will put affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing. Affordable Purchase and Cost Rental homes will be delivered...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (23 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing First enables individuals who have been rough sleeping or have been long term users of emergency accommodation, with high levels of complex needs, to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to assist them to maintain their tenancies. The National Implementation Plan for Housing First was published in September 2018. The Plan...

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle and to all Deputies for facilitating the urgent passage of this very important legislation through the Houses this week. The programme for Government recognises the important role that the private rented sector will continue to play into the future. The Government is seeking to address challenges in...

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy should send me the details.

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle agus déanaim comhghairdeas léi as ucht a post nua. Guím ádh mór uirthi. I thank all of the contributors who brought forward their views on the Bill. We will move to Committee Stage on Thursday and I want to give a commitment to Members that I and my officials will consider any amendments brought forward, and where...

Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2020: Motion (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2020, copies of which were laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 22nd July, 2020.”  

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Projects (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of this first tranche of approvals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Kildare County Council was allocated URDF support of €400,000 to support its proposed work to progress the technical and preparatory element of the Celbridge Southern Relief Road & Second Liffey Crossing.  The advancement and completion of this project is, in the first instance, a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Projects (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Kildare County Council has received approval for exchequer grant funding of €10,800,000 under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to support its completion of the Maynooth Eastern Relief Road and Bridge Crossing Railway and Royal Canal. LIHAF is primarily designed to fund the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department proactively engages with local authorities with a view to ensuring that the vacant site levy achieves its full potential in terms of bringing concerned sites into productive use. In this regard, the Department issued Circular Letter PL 08/2020 on 9 June 2020 requesting the submission of a further progress report on the implementation of the levy by each local authority. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: While the funding of the maintenance and repair of weirs is not a matter that falls within the remit of this Department, and it has no specific funding line for such projects, it is appreciated that this is a very important project for Cork County Council and the community of Fermoy, in particular. In view of the strategic importance of this project from an economic, social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 limits for each local authority, in different bands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rural Resettlement Scheme (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including the introduction of a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority list to another.    It should be noted that the four Dublin local authorities already co-operate in arrangements that enable social housing applicants to apply for housing in one or two...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 356 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long term housing support, an assessment of housing need must be completed in order for a household to qualify for HAP. Any household with an identified housing need is eligible for HAP. In order...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight and management of the lists of qualified households awaiting accommodation, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with Sections 20 and 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment and Allocation Regulations, respectively. Under Regulation 28 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mica Redress Scheme (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Regulations underpinning the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme do not stipulate that a management company must be in place for qualifying multi-occupancy dwellings. However, applications for such dwellings can only be dealt with collectively, with the cooperation and involvement of all owners. The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. In order to be eligible for HAP support, a household must first qualify for social housing support through the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 352 together. This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’.  We will put affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (28 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level.  Irish Water as a single national water services authority is taking a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements.  In relation to overall funding, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (28 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.  Whilst there is no universally applicable definition of affordability, the legislation provides for this assessment by considering whether the mortgage repayments on a home that meets the accommodation needs of a household would exceed 35% of...