Results 10,621-10,640 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: Persons who are renting accommodation in the private market who are unable to meet the costs of their rent are entitled to apply for housing supports in the same manner as other citizens. Those with short term income support needs may apply for Rent Supplement through the Department of Social Protection and those with longer term accommodation needs can apply to their local authority for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (17 Dec 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 role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Allowances (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The rent allowance of €4,500 was incorporated into the basic pay scale from 1st July 2017. There are no plans at present to extend the rent allowance payments.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Lending (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together. In relation to the Deputy's first question each commerical lender would have their own lending policies in place and the treatment of firefighters' income would be a commercial decision for each bank. Commerical lenders are a matter for the Minister for Finance. However, under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed quarterly breakdown of all social housing output on its website. This includes a full breakdown by local authority area, delivery type and funding programme. These statistics can be accessed at: In 2019, 6,074 of the total of 10,007 social homes delivered were new build social homes, including 2,840 delivered by local authorities directly. Final output...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments under the heading of Planning and Reform. Specifically these include the introduction of a "use it or lose it" condition for all planning appliations of 10 housing units or more and review and reform of the judicial review process. My Department is working on the development of legislative proposals on both these elements. ...

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí. Táim lán-sásta a bheith ar ais sa Seanad inniu. This is an important Bill, which I initiated in the Seanad. I was grateful for the co-operation of colleagues in allowing this Bill to pass the Dáil without dissent yesterday evening, following protracted discussions and debate. This legislation is about strengthening...

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: We are dealing with group 1, amendments Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, and amendment No. 18. These amendments have been passed by the Dáil. We are not dealing with Senators' amendments yet.

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will explain. This Bill was introduced in the Seanad and has been amended in the Dáil. I have to report to the Seanad on the Dáil amendments. Group 1 includes amendments Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, and amendment No. 18. These are not the Senators' amendments, but those passed by the Dáil. They are all pretty technical and concern matters such as changes to the Title. The...

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This grouping, group 2, deals with three Government amendments passed by the Dáil, which I must read into the record here. There is an Opposition amendment within the grouping from Senator Warfield, namely, amendment No. 1. The Planning and Development Act 2000 and regulations were amended following a 2008 decision by the Court of Justice for the European Union, CJEU, in the case...

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: When will Senators vote on the amendments?

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will abide by the Leas-Chathaoirleach's ruling. The amendments are not being moved as we go along.

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: They will all be moved later. That is fine.

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will do so but I wish to respond to Senator Warfield briefly first. I will not be accepting his amendment for the reasons outlined already. I know that Senator Warfield agrees that it is imperative that we deal with the issue of substitute consent. As Minister, I have used the first opportunity presented to me, which is this Bill, to try to deal with the issue as expeditiously as...

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senators for their responses. Senator Seery Kearny is 100% correct that this requires two pieces of paper to be downloaded. We sent out 450,000 letters and engaged in radio communications on the new tenancy rights and protections. Threshold is part of the homelessness task force, which I chair, and has met the RTB on this issue. The new system is working well. I will quickly...

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will address these amendments as quickly as I can. As Senator Warfield mentioned previously, the legislation we are amending is of quite a technical nature. It is important that Senators are clear on what we are doing. Amendment No. 15 inserts section 11 into the Bill to provide for circumstances in which Part 3 shall not apply, including where a landlord makes a counter-declaration to...

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: No. I will move to the next section if the Acting Chairman wishes.

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Amendments Nos. 16 and 17 are Government amendments from the Dáil. Amendment No. 16 inserts sections 10 and 11 in the Bill. Section 10 provides that a notice of termination grounded on rent arrears and served during the emergency period shall not specify a termination date earlier than 13 April 2021 and shall give 90 days’ notice, rather than the usual 28 days. The position for...

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciate what Senator Warfield has said. Have we one more group?

Seanad: Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Amendment No. 19 inserts section 16 into the Bill to provide that the RTB tenancy tribunals are not required to be held in public in the period to 12 April 2021. We have covered most of this, to be fair. Section 16 of the Bill amends section 106 of the Residential Tenancies Act in this regard. The amendment is modelled on similar provisions: section 7 of the Emergency Measures in the...