Results 9,621-9,640 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (9 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2019, €1.4bn was collected in rates from all 31 local authorities, an average collection rate of 86.6%. This collection rate is in line with the annual trends across the local government sector and does not reflect a funding shortfall.Similarly, as per unaudited 2019 figures, 30 of the 31 local authorities had a budget surplus in 2019, a continuing trend from 2018 and a marked...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Functions (9 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Heritage Division of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is transferring to my Department. The transfer will take place in two stages, with the first stage due to take place on 9 September 2020. There are linkages between some of my Department's existing legislation, for example on the planning side, and some of the transferring heritage functions which will need...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (9 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In January, my Department published the finalised General Scheme of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill, which will provide the legislative basis for Ireland's new marine planning regime. The commitment in the Programme for Government to enact this legislation in nine months reflects the priority it has been accorded. In order for this legislation to be enacted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (9 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to review the remit, status and funding of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to ensure that it is playing an effective role in delivering its overall mandate and enforcement role in the protection of wildlife. Preparatory work on this matter is underway. An options paper will be prepared in coming weeks. This paper will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (9 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Part V units can be delivered through a range of programmes funded by my Department, including: - The Social Housing Capital Investment Programme which is Local Authority (LA) led and 100% capital funded - The Capital Assistance Scheme which is Approved Housing Body (AHB) led and 100% capital funded - The Capital Advance Leasing Facility which is AHB led and operates with a range of 0% to 30%...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: On the 6thAugust 2020, my Department received an application for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme from Dublin City Council for the scheme referred to by the Deputy. In order to assess the application further on the 27thAugust 2020 my Department requested additional information from Dublin City Council in relation to the design of the scheme. On receipt of this information, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (9 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. Under Section 5(e) of the Establishment Order, the LDA can provide masterplanning and development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (9 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Matters relating specifically to the funding of flood response schemes are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works (OPW). I understand that there is currently no ‘buy-out’ scheme in place with regard to property at risk from coastal erosion. Further to a decision of Government, my Department is working with the OPW to examine and address matters of coastal erosion...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (9 Sep 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. The Programme commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing. In this context, I have consulted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My role, as Minister, in relation to the planning system is primarily to provide and update the legislative and policy guidance framework. The legislative framework comprises the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, (the Act) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended.  With regard to policy guidance, my Department has issued a large number of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Property Registration Authority is currently operating a high level of service. Applications for registration can be lodged as usual through the post or DX and are being processed in order of priority.  Urgent applications are being processed expeditiously upon request, on a case by case basis.  For the month of August 2020, intake was 16,818 transactions with 15,461...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Lease Agreements (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a matter for Local authorities to provide and maintain housing in their area. They assess the housing needs for the area and build, buy and lease dwellings as appropriate to meet that need. In the case referenced, the information requested would be more appropriately addressed to Kildare County Council. While my Department provides financial support to local authorities for housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Lease Agreements (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2019, 1,161 homes were delivered under the Social Housing Leasing Programme and, of those, 812 were delivered by the relevant local authority and 349 by an approved housing body. A breakdown of leasing delivery in 2019, by location and entity, is set out in Table 1 below. Leasing delivery data for 2020 is being collated at present and will be published on my Department's website...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (10 Sep 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: . Acquisition information for each year of Rebuilding Ireland can be found at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The final date for the submission of applications under Call 2 was the 29th May.  A large number of proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support.  Because of the nature of the URDF programme the proposals are very complex, and each will require detailed assessment.  The assessment process will take place over the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The recommendation of the outgoing Moore Street Advisory Group that it should be reconfigured to continue its work as a smaller, more focused body, was accepted by the Minister at the time. The outgoing chair was reappointed to lead the next phase and membership nominations were requested from constituent organisations, including relatives’ groups, the Oireachtas and Dublin City...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016.  The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have recently approved a once off, exceptional allocation of €1m for Galway County Council. This is not emergency funding but rather, is linked to the operation of municipal districts and is subject to a small number of requirements, including that the funding be divided equally among the municipal districts. My Department will set out the details of these requirements in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Tax (10 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As with all taxation matters, responsibility for Local Property Tax (LPT), including the structure and basic rate of the tax, rests with the Minister for Finance. Notwithstanding that, as LPT replaced general purpose funding to local authorities in 2015, I am responsible for LPT allocations to local authorities. I can confirm that the LPT allocation process for 2021 is unchanged from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Licence Applications (15 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323, 326 and 347 together. I am aware of some delays in my Department this year in processing deer hunting licence applications and I am aware that many deer hunters have not received their licenses yet this year. The delays arise as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 public health emergency and the effects this has had on travel and working...