Results 9,981-10,000 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the broader social housing reform agenda and the ongoing work of my Department, there are various reviews underway, including a review of income eligibility for social housing and other ongoing review and analysis of various social housing policy matters. However, there is no review of “social housing provision” or a specific review of policy/legislation related to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Oct 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. As social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that comprehensive details on my Department’s organisational structure, its Divisions and its senior management team (including their names and a description of all individual roles from Secretary General to Principal Officer level) are available on the ‘whodoeswhat’ website at the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Oct 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: Planning Guidelines (8 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in line with the “preferred draft approach” which was announced in June 2017 by the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in conjunction with the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The review is addressing a number of key...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (8 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As is the case with the large majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning applications made to the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Farm Plan Scheme, administered by my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, is an important instrument that allows for proactive engagement with farmers in designated sites, to trial and deliver bespoke measures that support biodiversity. Plans delivered through the Scheme have been used to inform the development of national Agri-Environment Schemes under the Rural Development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Undefined (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Applicants for deer hunting licenses are always advised to apply before July to ensure that they get their licenses before the beginning of the deer hunting season. At this stage all applicants who had applied before July will have received their licenses. By the end of this week, some 4,000 licenses will have been issued since 1 August. Notwithstanding this, I am aware of some delays...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for turf cutters affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include raised bog natural heritage areas. It is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gaeltacht Policy (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 to 142, inclusive, and Nos. 175 to 180, inclusive, together. The ongoing implementation of the language planning process has a statutory footing under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, which is the primary driver in support of the commitment to the achievement of the objectives set out in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 to 2030. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in to Parliamentary Question No. 333 of 15 September 2020 referenced by the Deputy, the National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the Office of Public Works (OPW). The work of this high-level Inter-Departmental Group is to carry out an initial scoping exercise to examine how best to approach the development of an integrated,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Consistent with the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households in receipt of a payment under the scheme are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. However, acknowledging that some households on the waiting list, who avail of HAP, have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: A wide range of exemptions from planning permission are already provided for under Section 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, (the Act) and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, (the Regulations). Such exemptions are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. Under Class 1...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together. The regeneration of Poolbeg West is the next important step in transforming the Docklands area, given its strategic location east of Grand Canal Dock, with close proximity to important bridge connections to Dublin Port and North Lotts. The extent of vacant brownfield land available at Poolbeg West is significant, at 34 hectares....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (13 Oct 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. Where an affordability challenge has been identified by a local authority together with a viability to deliver more affordable homes, the Serviced Sites Fund is available to sub-vent the cost of facilitating...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Housing (Private Water Supply Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020, the grant scheme to support improvement works for a private water supply has been revised. This revised scheme forms part of the funding investment under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2019 to 2021. The scheme supports improvement works to a private water supply where, in the opinion of the local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (13 Oct 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: Fire Stations (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, Regulations under Sections 2 and 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (13 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 to 155, inclusive, together. The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP) provides the roadmap for the regeneration of four large and significant residential areas within Limerick City over the coming years, integrating measures relating to the physical, social and economic environment. Good progress has been made to date on...