Results 9,881-9,900 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act, 2016 introduced new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for Strategic Housing Developments of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála for determination. Under Section 30 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no function in the provision or funding of public transport. Under the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future", this Government has committed to delivering more than 50,000 additional social homes over the coming five years and to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to working families by putting affordability at the heart of the housing system...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Oct 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 of the other Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 378 together. In the period 2012 to date in 2020 some 164 prosecutions were taken by my Department for breaches of the Wildlife Acts ranging from illegal deer and hare hunting, the unlawful cutting of hedges and vegetation and the poisoning of bird species. As well as more senior regionally based officers of the National Parks and Wildlife...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (6 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: With effect from 1 August 2020, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 introduces protections for those tenants who are facing rent arrears and, as a result, are at risk of losing their tenancy. If a tenant’s ability to pay rent has been impacted by Covid-19 and the tenant meets specific criteria, new procedures and protections apply. Tenants who follow these procedures...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 89 together. Section 5.0 of Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published by my Department in 2018, addresses the ‘Build-to-Rent’ and ‘Shared Accommodation’ sectors. Paragraphs 5.13 to 5.24 including Specific Planning Policy Requirement (SPPR) 9 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Enabling thriving housing supply, complimented by a commitment to deliver more than 50,000 social homes over the coming five years are central to ensuring affordability for families. Housing supply has increased year on year in recent years and the number of families on waiting lists for social housing has reduced by 25% between 2016 and 2019. I am acutely aware that middle-income...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided for a temporary moratorium on tenancy terminations, other than in exceptional and limited cases, and on all increases in rent during the emergency period from 27 March to 1 August 2020. The emergency measures aimed to urgently assist in restricting the movement of people to suppress the spread of Covid-19 and applied...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (6 Oct 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. I have already considered the function and remit of the LDA to ensure its compliance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Communications (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Regeneration is urgently needed to bring people back into the Moore Street area. The Moore Street Advisory Group, which includes 1916 Relatives, public representatives and street traders, has welcomed the proposals of the developer referred to by the Deputy for the regeneration of the area and has characterised them as ‘a significant and welcome advance on the previous plan with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided for a temporary moratorium on tenancy terminations, other than in exceptional and limited cases, and on all increases in rent during the emergency period from 27 March to 1 August 2020. The emergency measures aimed to urgently assist in restricting the movement of people to suppress the spread of Covid-19 and applied...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (6 Oct 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The detailed advancement of housing and other works under the Limerick Regeneration programme is a matter in the first instance for Limerick City and County Council. The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP) published in 2013, heralded a move away from demolitions and towards a prioritisation of the refurbishment option along with the delivery of some targeted, high...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320, 322, 329, 330 and 361 together. Neither I nor my Department has any plans to undertake a cull of seals, nor would I agree to it. 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. Ireland is obliged to maintain their populations at favourable conservation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing 2005, planning authorities are required to frame the planning policies in their development plans in a balanced and measured way that ensures the housing needs of rural communities are met, while avoiding excessive urban-generated housing. The National Planning Framework (the NPF) provides an important strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: River Basin Management Plans (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department recognises the positive role that farming can play in managing and restoring biodiversity. The National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme operates nationally, targeting various habitats and species by working proactively with farmers. While there is no specific ‘Shannon Callows Farm Plan Scheme’, a number of farmers in the Shannon Callows have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I am advised that with regard to the description of registered land on the current Property Registration Authority map and also for all registrations mapped on historical 25” Ordnance Survey maps predating the digitisation of the map record, Section 85 of the Registration of Title Act 1964, as amended by Section 62 of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, provides as follows: ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), seventy six proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support. Dublin City Council submitted four applications, including the proposal for Clongriffin/Belmayne. Because of the nature of the URDF programme the proposals are very complex, and each will require detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (6 Oct 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 statutory role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing...