Results 10,441-10,460 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government makes clear our commitments to provide measures for good-quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price and in Budget 2021, funding of €110 million was ring-fenced for two new schemes including a national Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme and aCost Rental Equity Loan facilityto help deliver Cost Rental homes. Both of these programmes will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including the cost of pre-letting repairs to vacant properties and the carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Since 2014 Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) and the Buy & Renew Scheme (B&R) are complementary schemes which were developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings. Delivery and funding data for the period 2017-2020, for both schemes, in relation to Cavan,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented residential accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented residential accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collect specific statistical information on the estimated number of overcrowded households, as sought by the Deputy. Housing statistics that are collected by my Department can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link: . However, the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) does collate information on the number of households...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be examining the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. In this regard, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Nov 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: Proposed Legislation (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together. 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 each individual fire authority. This work of Local Authority Fire Services, has, to a large degree, been supported by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 280, 290 and 299 together. I have indicated in a circular letter dated 23rdNovember 2020 to all local authorities, An Bord Pleanála and the Office of the Planning Regulator, that my preferred approach is to restrict commercial co-living development, through an update of the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments, Guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 272, inclusive, together. As I outlined to the House on the 6thOctober last, the commitments in relation to Constitutional reform in the Programme for Government provide for the holding of a referendum on housing. My Department has begun the initial work on scoping the complex issues involved and will in due course make recommendations on how we might...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making and continue to make important contribution to social housing delivery. My Department and local authorities administer a number of funding programmes to assist AHBs with the cost of building, buying and leasing new social houses, including turnkeys. All funding is conditional on the properties being made available to households on local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The 1,400 affordable units referred to in the Question relate to the 10 projects that were granted approval in principle under the first Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) call. There have been two SSF Calls for Applications to date and details of all SSF projects that received approval in principle under these calls, and the number of more affordable homes whose delivery will be supported by SSF...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: . Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Disabilities Data (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together. People with disabilities may apply to local authorities for any of the housing supports available, including Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The information sought in relation to the number of persons with disabilities that are in receipt of HAP, and the number of HAP units that have been assessed for accessibility is not held by my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future' commits the Government to the development of a new Cost Rental housing sector in Ireland, in which the rents charged will only cover the costs of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes. Work is underway to deliver Cost Rental housing, with State support, through a number of delivery pathways, utilising the expertise of Local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Oscar Traynor Road residential project had reached a very advanced stage with the selection of a preferred bidder. The projected encompassed 853 homes with a mix of tenures. A key part of the Public Procurement process was the transfer of the City Council land to the preferred bidder to allow it to progress to finance the project, obtain planning permission and construct the development....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which owners and residents face when their homes are affected by construction defects. In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together. The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services. The Framework has been developed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (1 Dec 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. Guidance was provided to local authorities in November 2015 regarding the operation of the Scheme. Under the 2016 Scheme, maisonettes and duplex units provided in blocks...