Results 9,641-9,660 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Prevention Measures (15 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the lead State body for the coordination and implementation of Government policy on the management of flood risk in Ireland. I understand from the OPW that to address the issue of flooding in Bandon, the Flood Relief Scheme that commenced in 2016 is now nearing completion. The flood relief scheme is mainly a dredged solution and while construction...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 331 together. The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) was developed under the UN Convention on Migratory Species. Ireland signed up to the Agreement in 2003. The agreement includes a commitment that “Parties shall endeavour to phase out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands as soon as...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 346 together. I am at present considering a license application from the Irish Coursing Club on behalf of its associated clubs to capture hares for the forthcoming 2020/2011 coursing season. My Department has already consulted with the Irish Coursing Club in relation to its license applications and has received a number of views from a range of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: An outbreak of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD2) occurred in Ireland in mid to late 2019. It has been detected in the Irish hare and both wild and domestic rabbit populations. RHD2 was first identified in France in 2010 and has since spread globally. It is caused by a Lago-virus and is extremely infectious. Although it bears no risk to people, its potential impacts on the rabbit and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Both species of seal in Irish waters - the Harbour or Common Seal and the more numerous Grey Seal - are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and Ireland is obliged to maintain their numbers at a favourable conservation level. We are also required to monitor their populations and report to the European Commission on their conservation status. A standardised monitoring programme has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Biodiversity Plan (15 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 was launched by the European Commission on 20 May 2020. It aims to ensure that Europe’s biodiversity will be on the path to recovery by 2030, and proposes ambitious EU actions and commitments to halt biodiversity loss in Europe and worldwide. It proposes that by 2030, the 27 Member States collectively legally protect at least 30% of the EU’s...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (15 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 359 together. The regulations for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme came in to operation on 31 January 2020. The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Group is comprised of senior officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I am currently considering the matter of the delegation of particular functions to both Ministers of State who have recently been assigned to my Department. On the matter of the recommendations in the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review Report, there are 32 proposals aimed at: - addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used; - removing any potential...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Tax (15 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: Pyrite Remediation Programme (15 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 356 to 358, inclusive, together. The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (15 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: With reference to the alleged eviction at 7 Berkeley Rd, Dublin 1, I sought early engagement by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to ensure that the full powers and resources available to the RTB are fully utilised to ensure that these tenants are treated fairly, respectfully and within the confines of protections provided in the Residential Tenancies Acts (2004-2020). Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (15 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. The Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State...

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

Darragh O'Brien: A small number of Departmental reports are pending publication, i.e. expected to be published this month or next, the details of which are set out in the following table: Title of Departmental Report Completion Due National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee Annual Reports 2014-2019 October 2020 Summary of the public...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Provision is already made in legislation that requires planning authorities to publish and make available pre-planning consultation documents relating to received planning applications. In this connection, section 247(5) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that when a pre-planning consultation meeting is held in relation to a proposed development, the planning...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In respect of housing, the function of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) is to advance loan finance to local authorities, the voluntary housing sector and Higher Education Institutions to be used by them for any purpose authorised by the Housing Acts and to borrow or raise funds for these purposes. Regarding the voluntary housing sector, the HFA can only lend to a body which has been approved...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As indicated in my last reply, it is a matter for each individual local authority to provide a view on whether a development or proposed development was in or adjacent to the functional area. If the Deputy has a particular circumstance in mind, he should make an enquiry to the relevant local authority.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 was commenced in June 2018 to provide a new statutory basis for affordable dwelling purchase arrangements. Initial Regulations in relation to schemes of priorities were made subsequently and further Regulations are being developed regarding eligibility and other matters. Under the provisions of section 84(2)(c) of the Act, a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The levying and collection of rates are legally matters for each individual local authority. Local authorities have a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes. An initial three-month waiver of rates for businesses forced to close business due to COVID-19, was announced in early May. In order to enhance the supports available for enterprise, and in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board (15 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. The service provided by the RTB is quasi-judicial and all of their mediators, adjudicators and tribunal members have independent...