Results 11,521-11,540 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Private Rental Sector: Motion [Private Members] (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “notes that: — the Government is fully committed to tackling high rents and ensuring an increase in the supply of affordable high quality rental accommodation through continued significant capital investment, including Cost Rental and other means and in a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. As he will know, the Government's stated objective is to focus strongly on new build activity and, in particular, local authority-led new build activity. The latter will comprise 9,500 of the target of 12,750 set down for this year. The new ambition under the programme for Government is to deliver 50,000 new social houses primarily through new build....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a fair question. It is timely in the sense that tomorrow evening the House will take Second Stage of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Repeal of Part V Leasing) Bill 2021 brought forward by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan. I have indicated that the Government will support that Bill moving to Committee Stage. To be frank, Part V leasing has been up to now a very small part of overall...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is being assessed and evaluated. I want to review it. As the Deputy will know, we have just over 20,000 tenants in leased properties. The cost of that to the Exchequer is €250 million per annum. They are secure homes for people right now and we have to ensure that continues to be supported through the social housing current expenditure programme, SHCEP. There is a distinct...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We will come back to it. It is being reviewed.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rental Sector (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. While the Government's objective is to focus strongly on local authority-led build activity, long-term leasing is an important option available to authorities to supplement delivery and secure high-quality social housing on a long-term basis. Lease payments are paid to the property owner based on a discounted market rent, with the level of discount reflecting the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rental Sector (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is probably referring to the Herbert Hill development. That was the first enhanced leasing project approved by the Department. Following the approval, a standard review took place on all application procedures. As a result of the review, it was decided that an additional requirement for approval under the scheme would be that a local authority would, in addition to any red book...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rental Sector (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: To answer the Deputy's first question, I am not aware of any other issues with regard to valuations and independent assessments. If the Deputy is aware of any, I ask him to bring it to my attention. We have made abundantly clear to local authorities what the procedure is. We have had instances where properties have lain vacant for a long number of months, which is not something I support....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: House Prices (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciate the opportunity to address this matter. I met virtually with the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and its representatives went through the report with me. It is a very informative and good piece of work, which the SCSI did with my senior officials. We have taken that work on and are continuing some collaborative work with the organisation. The reports, Real Cost of New...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: House Prices (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am pleased the Deputy mentioned that. There are a few initiatives. One very significant one was the creation of the Land Development Agency, which ensures that State-owned land is used productively. We bring land that has not been previously identified or used for housing into public use, and if we bring more land like that at a greatly reduced cost in many instances, effectively a zero...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: House Prices (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I fully understand the question. As the Deputy knows there are many aspects to this. In terms of direct interventions, the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, is one which involves the direct allocation of €200 million to provide for public infrastructure. There are issues with the planning process including delays and continued objections. There are some infamous...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Barry for the question. The fundamental point is that if we keep doing the same things, we will get the same results. We need new initiatives. We need to help first-time buyers and the members of "generation rent" who are stuck paying exorbitant rents. We are going to introduce our new cost-rental scheme, the first national scheme of its kind ever. The affordable purchase...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: A number of questions have been asked and a number of charges have been made. I believe in home ownership. Some others do not and that is fine. I believe it is an honest and just aspiration for people to have, and one that the State should support. I am not sure what Deputy Barry has against young people or potential first-time buyers and why he would not want to help them to own their...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is hard to know where it begins and ends with Deputy Barry. I will say it again. There was 1% house price inflation over that period. There has been house price inflation. That is what we are talking about. This scheme is focused on those who need it most. I heard Deputy Barry and Deputy Boyd Barrett, in particular, talk about price caps. They are caps, not targets. In every...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a fair question, and one that I have asked. Deputy Pringle will respond to my reply. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility conditions set down under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated social housing assessment regulations 2011, as amended. The regulations prescribe net...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Pringle has asked a question and I have answered it straight. The review is under way. The Deputy need not try to make something out of it that it is not. I have said it on the record of the Dáil. I mean it. The review needs to happen, and it is happening. It has to take into account the new measures on affordability we are introducing. I am bringing changes forward for...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I expect to have a full and wide-ranging debate in the autumn when we bring forward some of the changes. A fair bit of work is required. We have not had a review in this regard for well over ten years. It is long overdue. We face a major challenge in regard to social housing delivery. We have to be ambitious in terms of delivering them, but we also have to be realistic. I think we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Issues (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá an cheist seo faoi thithíocht. On the Deputy's specific question, I can take that up. To follow on from previous Deputies and our colleagues have said, there is work to be done by Irish Water. They have more funding this year than they have had in many years. The national development plan review includes some requests about provision of waste water treatment and increasing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Issues (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is about the delivery of the capital plan. The Deputy is correct, in that Mitchelstown, Glanmire and Midleton have capacity issues. He has raised this with me before. We need to see the delivery of the capital programme. I am happy to meet the Deputy regarding these specific issues in the towns in question. We will not be able to deliver the affordable homes we need for working people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Issues (5 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Affordable housing and its delivery for working people are central to the Government’s response to the housing crisis. As a Government, we believe in homeownership. It is a just and honest aspiration and it is one that should be supported by the State. That is why the affordable housing Bill we published yesterday is so important. It is to deliver a suite of measures to people all...