Results 10,961-10,980 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040. The URDF was established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and NDP. This is to enable a greater proportion of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's Rural Water Programme provides capital and current funding to the Rural Water Sector. The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides capital funding to the sector, while current funding is provided through an annual subsidy to group water schemes for the operational and maintenance costs of providing water to their domestic members. Further information in relation to capital...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increasing the supply of housing, particularly new build social and affordable homes, is a priority for me and for this Government. This is a key element in addressing homelessness. The Programme for Government commits to increasing the social housing stock by more than 50,000, with an emphasis on new builds. Budget 2021 provided €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing which will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Increased rent limits for the HAP and the Rent Supplement Scheme were introduced in 2016. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Quarrying Sector (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The activity of quarrying falls under a number of legislative regimes. For example, quarries must have planning permission and from an operational perspective they must comply with health and safety regulations operated by Health and Safety Authority. In regard to the licensing of quarries, the Waste Management (Management of Waste from the Extractive Industries) Regulations 2009 came into...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand the Deputy is referring to the construction of new social homes by local authorities. As capital funded construction projects by local authorities must, like all publicly-funded construction programmes, comply with the Public Spending Code and Capital Works Management Framework, my Department periodically issues Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) for each local authority area, for use as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 set out in The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has issued design guidelines for sustainable housing which includes recommendations to have due regard for the environmental impact of construction materials. These guidelines “Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities” are available on my Department’s website at the following link. Under the Climate Action Plan the Office of Public Works is putting in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Seventy six proposals were received under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support, and all of which require detailed assessment. The assessment process is nearing completion, and I intend to soon announce a new tranche of URDF supported proposals, which will augment the existing pipeline...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (11 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and 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...

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Order for Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." A simple argument underpins this Bill and our broader approach to addressing the housing crisis. It is that the State has to step up to the mark to provide affordable homes for purchase and rent using all the means at its disposal. A good home provides shelter, stability and a safe location. It should be the launch pad for life's...

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Objecting to it.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water is a central component of effective water policy. The Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025sets out the range of policy objectives across the key thematic areas of quality, conservation and future proofing that will be pursued between now and 2025. The Policy Statement supports the promotion of water conservation and water resource...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 work of scoping what such a referendum might involve. Following this review, I intend to consult with my colleagues in Government as to the proposal that should be put to the electorate and the appropriate timeframes that should...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In respect of local authority housing stock, section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that management and maintenance is a matter for each individual local authority. This includes maintenance programmes and carrying out responsive, planned and pre-letting repairs. My Department provides support to local authorities in terms of various targeted stock upgrade programmes, large-scale...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together. The National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy was published in July 2018, it provides a targeted, effective and coordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland. The range of objectives and actions it specifies have been pursued in partnership with stakeholders and agencies across the housing sector to address vacancy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Feb 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 282, 283 and 290 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 set out in The Health Act...