Results 10,861-10,880 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In recognition of the need to protect the health of the population, local authorities have been asked during periods of lockdown not to terminate any of their tenancies for any reason, other than severe cases of anti-social behaviour engaged in by members of a household that necessitates action by the local authority. Information is not collected by my Department on tenancy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I have established a Homelessness Task Force, to provide a forum for engagement with key organisations working together to address homelessness and to provide input on the implementation of the commitments on homelessness in the Programme for Government. The Group has met on eight occasions to date, on the 13th, 20th and 27th of July, on the 14th and 21st of September, and on October...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Regulations 1997 - 2019 set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. Their aim is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations are set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies. The National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, which puts the programme on a national footing, is designed to provide this response, by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 was signed in to law on 23 December 2019. This Act will establish the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority to oversee the effective governance, financial management and performance of all voluntary and co-operative housing bodies. Substantial preparatory work has been ongoing to ensure that once the body is formally...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defective housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses". In this regard, my Department is actively engaging with key stakeholders and I have had several meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Domestic Violence Services (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I understand that the delivery of these services is managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. As such, the matters raised by the Deputy in relation to the resources provided to support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Relief Schemes (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are designated as a principal response agency as well as being 'lead agency' for coordinating the local response to flooding emergencies as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006). The arrangements for emergency management have evolved and, when called upon, are seen as having worked well, in particular the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (28 Jan 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme remains open for business. All local authorities are receiving and processing RIHL applications and are incorporating increased flexibility to accommodate applicants during the COVID 19 Pandemic. As is the case with any lender, local authorities must lend mortgages on a prudent basis, taking into account the most recent income and employment data...

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Housing, Local Government and Heritage): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Go raibh maith agaibh, a Chathaoirligh agus Sheanadóirí. Since the country's first recorded case of Covid-19 last February, our public services have been tested as never before. In this the worst of times for so many, the best of public service and community spirit have come to the fore. As I said in the Dáil last week, the concept embodied in the Irish word "meitheal",...

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Housing, Local Government and Heritage): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, he has.

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Housing, Local Government and Heritage): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am happy to yield one minute of my time to Senator Keogan.

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Housing, Local Government and Heritage): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand. I want to pass on my deepest sympathies to Senator Keogan on the passing of her mother as I know that is not easy. I will get back to the Senator on her specific query. We have done a review of the tenant purchase scheme and it is due to be published quite soon, in the coming weeks, although we are looking at some anomalies around that. I am conscious as well that as we are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 256, 257, 260, 286, 287 and 293 together. The Government announced that additional public health restrictions would apply under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 on 6 January 2021.  The additional restrictions required all construction activity to cease from 6pm on Friday 8 January, with a number of exceptions. These measures are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (3 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help the individuals concerned maintain their tenancies.  The National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, which puts the programme on a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board (3 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: On foot of my request for a report into the Berkeley Road incident, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) proposed to undertake broader research into unlawful terminations in the private rented sector, including the Berkeley Road incident, and provide a report on the matter.  This research is currently underway and it is expected the report will be complete in Q1 2021, once the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’, commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system, and to progress a state-backed affordable home purchase scheme to promote home ownership.  As part of these commitments,  Budget 2021 allocated €75 million for the Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme. On the 20th January last, I...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Repair and Leasing Scheme (3 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings. Data to end Q3 2020 in relation to dwellings delivered by each local authority under RLS is available on my Department's website at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (3 Feb 2021)

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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 284 together. The Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’, commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system, which the Government has prioritised in Budget 2021 by providing for a suite of affordable housing measures totalling €468 million.  This will be utilised across two new programmes announced...