Results 11,821-11,840 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 came in to operation on 31 January 2020 and the resulting Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme has been open for applications since the end of June last year. The scheme design was informed by the comprehensive work of an Expert Panel and the current...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q4 2020 there were nearly 60,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 33,520 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick City and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Minister responsible for the development and implementation of marine environmental policy and the safeguarding of our seas and ocean, I recognise that transboundary cooperation plays a significant role in marine conservation and prevention and elimination of pollution.  Our primary mechanism for marine environment cooperation is through the European Union and the Marine...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The current maximum grant amounts payable under the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme were finalised in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This process also took account of the comprehensive engagement that took place between my Department and both Donegal and Mayo County...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Pollution (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am very aware of the recent increase in people swimming in Dublin Bay.  In response, I have tasked the Bathing Water Expert Group with examining the frequency of bathing water monitoring and with developing measures to improve the availability of water quality results.  This will help safeguard people and improve information for everyone,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. In order to be eligible for HAP support, a household must first qualify for social housing support through the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Firstly, it is settled Government policy to support older people to live in their own homes and communities with dignity and independence for as long as possible, as this has the best outcomes both for the individual and for society as a whole. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, is developing policy options for supported housing/housing with care in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2018 set out the statutory provisions which allow local authorities and Irish Water to take control of water and waste water services infrastructure, including developer provided wastewater treatment systems, where it is appropriate to do so. Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Funding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. This funding has increased year on year since 2014.  As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to this funding in future years in line with the Programme for Government commitments and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25th May 2018. The nature of the data breaches identified by my Department since 25th May 2018 fall into three broad categories:  personal data being shared accidentally with unintended recipients; the loss or theft of equipment (phones/laptops); or the accidental exposure of personal data to unauthorised persons....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (1 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Despite the challenges faced throughout 2020 due to the Covid 19 emergency measures, local authorities and the Housing Assistance Payment Shared Service Centre (HAP SSC) have continued to provide a critical service to all HAP customers. This is evident in the high number of HAP tenancies that continued to be set-up this year. The 2021 HAP target is for 15,000 additional tenancies and, at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q1 2021, there were over 61,300 households in receipt of HAP and nearly 34,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is supporting Kildare County Council in the major refurbishment and new build social housing scheme at St. Patrick's Park, Rathangan. Kildare County Council has advised that Phase 1, involving the refurbishment of 34 homes, was completed in October 2019 and that Phases 2 and 3 of the programme have been developed following public consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recent summary, conducted in November 2020, shows that 61,880 households were assessed as qualified for, and being in need of, social housing support. This represents a decrease of 6,813 households...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003.  My Department, primarily through the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Constitutional Convention (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: A Convention on the Constitution was established in 2012 to discuss proposed amendments to the Constitution.  The Eighth Report issued by the Convention dealt with the matter of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and was published in March 2014. The most popular option for reform was the insertion of a provision into the Constitution that "the State shall progressively realise...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: To date, my Department has issued two broad-based Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) calls for proposals to local authorities. Funding of almost €200 million has been approved in principle in support of 40 infrastructure projects in 14 local authority areas across 9 counties, which will assist in the delivery of almost 4,200 affordable homes for purchase or for rent. Details of 35...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tax Code (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or since 2018 a private funder to acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage from a lender, which also enables the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant.  The scheme is an established part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of...