Results 11,361-11,380 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on the Programme for Government: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. As he rightly stated, we have discussed this very important matter before. The programme for Government provides that the Government will establish a commission on housing to examine issues such as tender standards, sustainability, quality of life and the provision of housing. We intend to establish a commission on housing this year. We will be seeking stakeholder...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on the Programme for Government: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his questions. I heard Councillor Anthony Flynn regarding the Inner City Helping Homelessness report. I will read it. From the reports regarding its contents, the document has reached some concerning conclusions. I refer in particular to the fear that some members of our homeless community have in making complaints. That should not be the case. The prevalence of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on the Programme for Government: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We are aware of that situation and where there are gaps we want to bridge them. We are working in that direction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on the Programme for Government: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Where there are gaps will do that, and that is it. It is important for us and it is a priority. The same standards need to be applied to private emergency accommodation and State-provided accommodation, and we must ensure that happens.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on the Programme for Government: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator has put many valid questions so if I do not get to answer some now, I will respond to her directly. Her first question relates to the Bill I brought forward when I was in opposition that would allocate a portion of a development to first-time buyers. We are working through that as well. Like other legislation brought through, I advocated for this while I was in opposition and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on the Programme for Government: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I can come back in writing to the Senator on the other points.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on the Programme for Government: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator for his contribution and will run through them very quickly. I had the pleasure of visiting Waterford with him and seeing the work being done by Waterford City and County Council with the repair and lease scheme. It is an exemplar and we will set targets for our local authorities. It is a great way of being able to bring in unused older buildings. I visited some with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on the Programme for Government: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I assure the Deputy that I am more than happy to answer any of his questions. That is no problem whatsoever. I respect everyone's mandate and position. I am more than happy to do so.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We have provided a briefing on this to the committee and I will go through the high-level points of the Department's Estimate for 2021, as well as the Votes for the Valuation Office and the Property Registration Authority of Ireland, which are under the aegis of my Department. We have given some performance information and we have also given a briefing to members. Our time is limited and we...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will leave housing at that and I will be happy to take any questions members have on the issue. I will speak on water services for less than a minute. We are providing more than €1.3 billion to Irish Water in 2021. We provided an additional €88 million in capital after I was appointed last year and this year, an additional €100 million has been provided. It is...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy McAuliffe for his questions. There is no question that the housing assistance payment is a significant cost to the State. We have to make sure we tip the balance back from providing the short-term measures that we need to provide for people. We are looking to support an additional 15,800 new households to have their housing needs met under HAP or the rental accommodation...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We have set out our housing target for this year. It is for 12,750 units, of which 2,450 will be through long-term leasing. I do not see leasing as taking over from Part V. Last year, 19 or 20 homes were secured under Part V leasing. We must be aware of value for money. My big focus is on building new homes, which is why we have allocated funding for that. There is a role for leasing....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am glad that Deputy Higgins has raised a number of issues, especially about affordable housing. It will be clear to the committee and people will be aware that provision of affordable housing, especially for affordable purchase and affordable rent, is a priority. The measures that we brought forward in budget 2021 are not insignificant at all. I am proposing some changes to the serviced...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. The €214 million carryover is made up of six different subheads. There is €58 million from local authority housing and €40 million from energy efficiency, with about €90 million from pyrite and mica remediation, which is basically because the mica scheme is up and running and accepting applications. There is about €10 million...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. On the issue of sewerage treatment capacity, wastewater capacity and freshwater capacity, it is a great frustration for many people. We have discussed this ourselves and we are doing a couple of things right now. I have asked Irish Water to work with local authorities in resetting priorities of delivery under the capital plan. We need money to do that, which is why I...

Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2021: Referral to Joint Committee (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 14th April, 2021, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order...

Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2021: Referral to Joint Committee (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 14th April, 2021, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5), which, not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 748 together. My Department received a submission from Mayo County Council on 22 February 2021 in relation to the Community Water Connection (''the project'') mentioned in the details supplied. Arising from my Department's examination of the submission, the local authority have been asked to consider further the details of the estimated costs of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities so as to enable them administer the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme. These schemes assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants available operate on a sliding scale with the highest percentage grants available...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is a central commitment in the Programme for Government. In Budget 2021, we backed this objective with funding of €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing. Subject to the impact of COVID, the funding will support the delivery of 12,750 new social homes, including 9,500 new build homes. As part of the Government...