Results 11,241-11,260 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: The dates for the cutting of hedges are set down in primary legislation. Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts Act prohibits the cutting of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. There is provision in the legislation for certain exemptions in respect of cutting vegetation in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, for health and safety reasons, the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The tables below set out the number of grants and the amounts recouped by my Department for the upgrade of domestic waste water systems by local authority each year since 2013. No recoupments were made by my Department in 2013. 2014 2015 2016 Local authority No. of Grants Recouped Amount Recouped...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not compile information in the manner sought in the question. However, the issue of wastewater infrastructure in villages/settlements not serviced by Irish Water is a matter my Department is considering. I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at national level. This will include a baseline survey of all rural local...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The number of individual houses served by domestic waste water treatment systems can be found in the 2016 Census reports available at www.cso.ie/en/census/census2016reports/. Under the Water Services Acts 2007 (as amended) and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a domestic waste water treatment system is responsible for its maintenance...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not received any report of taprogge balls found on Dollymount beach, Clontarf or other Irish beaches in recent years although it is aware of the reports that appeared in the press last weekend. These reports indicated that the individual who found them reported the matter to the relevant local authority and the Environmental Protection Agency. This is the correct thing...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 723 together. 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 defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses". In this regard, my Department is actively...

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

Darragh O'Brien: This Department operates the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is targeted at first time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. To be eligible for a Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan you must: - be a first-time buyer;...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The primary focus of Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is on supporting projects that will contribute to compact growth and that will improve the liveability of our cities and towns.  In total, my Department received 76 project proposals (with a total URDF ask in excess of €2bn) with every local authority submitting at least one proposal. ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that following direct correspondence to my Department a meeting is taking place between Departmental officials and the company on 25 March.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under the 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. Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 20% above the prescribed maximum rent limit...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government - 'Our Shared Future', commits to improve the security of tenure for tenants, through legislating for tenancies of indefinite duration, increasing Residential Tenancies Board enforcement and examining incentives for long-term leasing.  Proposals for further amendments to the Residential Tenancies Acts are currently being developed, for inclusion in the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Tenants in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which owners and residents face when their homes are affected by construction defects. In general, building defects 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. Under the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: It is open to anyone to apply for social housing support, applications for which are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. If a household meets the eligibility and need criteria, it...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department supports a wide range of programmes and schemes, delivered by a number of stakeholders including the 31 local authorities. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic required a whole of Government approach that was flexible, adaptive and responsive to the changing situation.  For the most part, my Department utilised its existing Voted budget and ensured that the correct...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates a very limited range of services for which charges are levied directly on members of the public or businesses.  Some examples include Met Éireann services, Foreshore and other licences, and land rents in the National Parks.   My Department accepts the full range of standard payment options for these charges...

National Standards Authority of Ireland (Carbon Footprint Labelling) Bill 2021: First Stage (25 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Residential Tenancies Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank all the Members who contributed to the debate. At the outset, I want to address the matter of pre-legislative scrutiny. Deputy Connolly noted that the committee voted on the issue and the result was seven votes to six in favour of proceeding with the scrutiny process. We respect the committee vote. I served on the housing committee in the previous Dáil and I respect the...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Mar 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will certainly engage directly with my colleague, Deputy O'Dowd, on that issue if anything can be done to assist in that regard by way of clarification, particularly around the process. Basic minimum standards must be adhered to and there should never be a situation where people are knowingly left living in substandard accommodation. I have taken note of the points he raised and I will...