Results 11,221-11,240 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Insurance Coverage (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of the general issue raised by the Deputy. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Capital Expenditure Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions that are delivered primarily by local authorities and bodies under the aegis of my Department.There is vast range of programmes and schemes, each with its own terms and conditions; decision gates and timelines, including adherence to public financial procedures and the Public Spending Code, where...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the eligibiity criteria for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan an applicant must be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as a primary earner or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary earner. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The primary focus of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) capital is on supporting projects that will contribute to compact growth and that will improve the liveability of our cities and towns.  All proposals for URDF support are assessed in terms of their alignment with the intended purpose of the URDF and also their viability before being considered for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Repair and Leasing Scheme (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings across Ireland. Subject to the suitability of the dwelling for social housing, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an AHB with the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department officials met with the local authority on 18 March 2021 to discuss the options for the group water scheme named in the details supplied. The local authority will now consider the matter of the scheme further and will revert to my Department by 9 April 2021 regarding proposed next steps.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Transport (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested in respect of my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders. My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis. These State bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below. State Body ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock. Consequently, the table below provides the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission, an independent body, is the Registrar of Lobbying. The Act is designed to provide information to the public about who is lobbying whom about what. It also provides for the establishment and maintenance of a register of persons who carry on lobbying activities and for a code of conduct relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. As part of Budget 2021, I secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: All applications received under Call 2 of the URDF were assessed in terms of their alignment with the intended purpose of the URDF programme and also their viability before being considered for approval. As part of this process, and in line with a Government Decision of May 2018, the assessment process included consideration by a Project Advisory Board (PAB) consisting of relevant Government...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: There have been two calls for proposals under the URDF. In 2019, approval in principle together with provisional funding allocations issued in respect of the 87 projects approved under the first call which was launched in 2018. The Table below lists the 87 projects approved under Call 1 together with up-to-date provisional URDF funding allocations. With regard to the difference between the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 732 together. The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which was launched in 2018 to support more compact and sustainable development, is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027. The URDF supported capital programme is applicant led and all applications for URDF support are assessed in terms of their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 711 together. The second call for proposals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund was launched in January 2020. A copy of the circular setting out the objectives of the Fund together with the application form and assessment criteria have been available on my Departments website since then, and can be found at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Network (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched in 2018 to support more compact and sustainable development. The URDF is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has responsibility for its implementation. The Fund is providing part-funding for applicant led projects that will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Strategy for the Rental Sector set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems. The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to increasing the supply of public, social, and affordable homes, supported with funding of €3.3 billion in Budget 2021. In progressing this major construction programme it is important to pursue timely delivery while at the same time, local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) must also ensure value for money in line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) HAP is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. In order for a household to qualify for HAP, they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP and those households must source their own...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (24 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Act 2020 was enacted and came into operation on 24 October 2020. The Act aims to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on tenants and to support the Government's efforts to restrict the movement of people in order to suppress the spread of this virus. The Act modifies the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 to prevent any notices of termination served...