Results 11,081-11,100 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Council Meetings (25 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: No formal or informal Council of the European Union meetings have been held under the remit of my Department in the period under question. Matters in relation to the environment that fall to my Department, e.g. biodiversity or water quality, generally arise at Environment Council and there have been three meetings of that Council configuration since June 2020, as follows: ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (25 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Broadly, the objectives of an Affordable Purchase Shared Equity scheme are to improve access and affordability of new homes for First Time Buyers, stimulate an increase in supply by improving confidence as to the viability of future housing developments to meet increased realisable demand, and support economic recovery from COVID-19 by encouraging employment in the construction and related...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. In accordance with Circular 40/2002, issued by the Department of Finance, my Department completes an annual return in respect of contracts above a €25,000 threshold which have been awarded without a competitive process. These returns are submitted annually to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General as part of the...

Housing Shared Equity Loan Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta McAuliffe. Bogfaidh mé an leasú ar son an Rialtais. I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “notes that significant progress has been made on an extensive range of measures included in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future,...

Housing Shared Equity Loan Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not have to circulate a copy of my speech because it is a Sinn Féin motion.

Housing Shared Equity Loan Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The speech is available.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Financial assistance towards the remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or the replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system is available under new and revised grant schemes which launched in June 2020. The schemes are focused on areas of greatest environmental priority rather than general in application. Details of the Terms and Conditions for each scheme can be found on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In responding to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters) and to the concerns of former residents, the Government committed to preparing a Strategic Action Plan. In doing so, the Government committed to a survivor-centred approach, characterised by continuous and enhanced engagement with former residents and their representative...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Network (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which was launched last year, Kildare County Council submitted an application seeking support for the project in question. There were a large number of proposals received under Call 2, with every local authority submitting at least one application. Because of the nature of the URDF programme the proposals are very...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (3 Mar 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 2018-2025 sets 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Chief Executive of the Council is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority. Local Authorities continue to deliver essential services, part of which includes traffic management which requires the attendance of traffic and parking wardens in the workplace....

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 330, 342, 350 and 351 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Schemes (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock rests with each local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. My Department does however provide funding support to local authorities to assist with management and maintenance of their stock under a number of funding programmes. A strong focus on improving thermal performance in the local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The detailed administration of the grants including their assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of the local authorities. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: No such contract has been granted by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: During 2020, funding of €56.4 million was paid by my Department for the remediation of 3,607 units under the Voids Programme. The table below sets out the breakdown of each LA submission, approval and recoupment. Local Authority Total No. of Units Sought Total Funding Sought Total No. of Units Approved Total Approved Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (3 Mar 2021)

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 support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides capital funding to Local Authorities with regard to the Disabled Persons Grant (DPG) scheme and the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme. While both schemes are administered directly by the local authorities they operate independently and from separate funding streams, the main differences being, the ownership status of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (3 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. However, Action 97 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 states – “We will prepare policy advice on ways of achieving universal design solutions for new housing so that new homes can be accessed and used by all persons, irrespective of size, age, ability or disability. We will advise on...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In general building defects in private housing, including those bought through the affordable housing scheme, 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. In this regard, it is incumbent on the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply...