Results 10,301-10,320 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not make specific provision for contingent liabilities in the accounts.  They are disclosed by way of a standard note with regard to legal proceedings in the Appropriation Account.  In the case of my Department this reference relates to the Mahon Tribunal. The contingent liability for the Mahon Tribunal is set through consultation with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies  Act 2020  was enacted and came into operation on 24 October 2020 to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on tenants and to support the efforts of Government in restricting the movement of people in order to suppress the spread of Covid 19. The Act modifies the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 to prevent any notices of termination...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a matter for local authorities to ensure that the number and specific types of dwellings provided in their social housing developments meet local needs. My Department does not hold details on the proportion of local authority housing stock that is accessible for disabled persons, that granular information dwelling level information...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older Persons and Persons with a Disability.  The grants are available to applicants to assist in the carrying out of works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a privately owned home more suitable for the accommodation needs of an older person...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The regular management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, is a matter for each relevant local authority, and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to their housing stock from within their own resources. However, my Department also supports local authorities to improve their social housing stock through a range of programmes including energy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Nov 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: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 397 and 399 together. Households wishing to obtain social housing support from a local authority or an approved housing body must first apply to the relevant local authority for a social housing assessment. Where the household is deemed qualified for support it is placed on the housing authority’s waiting list, and offers of suitable accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: There are two primary funding mechanisms provided by my Department to facilitate the delivery of properties for social housing purposes by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding of up to 100% of project costs may be advanced by local authorities to AHBs to provide accommodation for people with specific needs. The persons being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board (17 Nov 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. Due to the quasi-judicial nature of work of the RTB, it would be inappropriate for me as Minister or this Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Following a judgment in March 2019 by the Court of Justice of the European Union on Ireland's non-compliance with the urban wastewater treatment directive, my Department, accompanied by Irish Water, met with European Commission officials in June last year and proposed a programme of measures to ensure that the findings in the judgment were addressed.  My Department is maintaining regular...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (17 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405, 406 and 408 together. 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Valuation Office (18 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The application referred to in the Deputy’s question is a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation, who is independent in the exercise of his functions under the Valuation Act 2001 to 2020. I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. Notwithstanding this, I am informed by the Commissioner of Valuation that the application is receiving attention and will be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Brexit poses an unprecedented challenge for Ireland.  Failure to reach agreement on a trade deal will be very damaging all round but even with a trade deal in place, there will be substantial challenges for supply chains and trade flows.  From 1 January 2021, every time Irish companies or individuals import from or export to Great Britain they will need, at a minimum, to complete a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (18 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The local authority mortgage protection insurance (MPI) scheme has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities after 1 July 1986, including the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan introduced on 1 February 2018.  Mortgage protection insurance is charged at the rate of 0.555%. It is obligatory for all local authority borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria to join...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (18 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Acquisition of properties for social housing purposes by local authorities are part of their delivery approach, focusing on priority situations as part of an overall strategy tailored to meet local needs effectively. Where renovation works are required, these should be carried out without delay to ensure that home is available for letting as speedily as possible. Local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (18 Nov 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: Housing Assistance Payment (19 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 163 and 164 together. The management of social housing, including the Housing Assistance Payment, in each area, is a matter for the relevant local authority, taking account of local circumstances and needs.  Maximum rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are set for each housing authority area by the Housing Assistance Payment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (19 Nov 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: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery activity. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link:  The statistical returns process has been completed for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 2020 and the table below provides a detailed breakdown of the delivery in Cavan and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis.  These State bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below. State Body Contact E-mail Address An Bord Pleanála oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie An Fóram Uisce...