Results 11,861-11,880 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Harbours and Piers (2 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no function in relation to the maintenance and development of local authority piers and harbours. The provision and maintenance of such facilities at a local level is a matter for the local authorities themselves. My colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine recently announced, on 3 May 2021, details of a €38.3 million Capital Investment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (2 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I met with representatives from the Donegal Mica Action Group on three occasions. The first was at the launch of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, which took place in Buncrana on 6 August 2020. The second meeting was held virtually on 4 February 2021. The third meeting was also held virtually on 20 May 2021. One of my special advisors was present at these meetings.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (2 Jun 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 only been open for applications since the end of June last year. A total of 352 stage one confirmation of eligibility applications have been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (2 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme is underpinned by regulations made under Sections 2 and 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (2 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas.  Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at reps@prai.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (2 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is clear in its policy position that the public water system run by Irish Water should remain in public ownership. The Programme for Government specifically provides that the Government will retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national, standalone, regulated utility. The realisation of this commitment will complete the broad policy and legislative reforms...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (2 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The ‘Programme for Government - Our Shared Future’ commits to ensuring that there is an appropriate mix of housing design types provided, including universally designed units, and accommodation for older people and people with disabilities.  In addition, the joint policy statement 'Housing Options for our Ageing Population', launched by my Department and the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Real Estate Investment Trusts (2 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) is within the remit of the Minister for Justice and any reviews of that programme will be undertaken by the Department of Justice. The regulation of the REIT sector is within the remit of the Minister for Finance, and any changes to the regulatory framework for REIT investment would be a matter for the Department of Finance. The Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (2 Jun 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 2020. The scheme was informed by the work of an Expert Panel and the current maximum grant amounts...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (2 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided that a rent increase was not permitted to take effect during the relevant emergency period from 27 March 2020 to 1 August 2020. From 1 August 2020, the blanket ban on rent increases inside or outside of a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) was lifted. Despite the lifting of the ban, the standardised average rent rose by just...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides financial support to eligible homeowners towards the remediation, repair, or upgrading works to, or replacement of, domestic waste water treatment systems where an Advisory Notice has issued on foot of an inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan.  Additionally, to support the attainment of water quality objectives in “prioritised areas for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The local authority has responsibility for the detailed administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved. While an engineer's report informs a local authority's consideration and assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I met with persons and representatives of persons, whose properties have been affected by the use of defective concrete blocks in County Donegal, on three occasions. The first was at the launch of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, which took place in Buncrana on 6 August 2020. The second meeting was held virtually on 4 February 2021. The third meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (D/CEDIY) recently published a White Paper on International Protection. Policy in this area and the management of the work programme is a matter for that Department. The authorities and agencies under my Department's remit will support D/CEDIY as appropriate in implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist eligible people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs.  The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (max grant €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (max...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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". The terms of reference of the working group to examine defects in housing does not include a review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Real Estate Investment Trusts (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collect data in relation to the ownership of individual housing units purchased and sold in the housing market. I understand that data published by market commentators indicates that approximately 15,500 units were owned by investment trusts at the end of 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Both the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan website and call centre are managed by the Housing Agency which has indicated that the chat function is available.  However the Agency has advised that under GDPR the user must activate the Zendesk permissions offered in order to initiate the chat function. Visitors to the site can update their preferences should they wish to avail of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided that a rent increase was not permitted to take effect during the relevant emergency period from 27 March 2020 to 1 August 2020. From 1 August 2020, the blanket ban on rent increases inside or outside of a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) was lifted. Despite the lifting of the ban, the standardised average rent rose by just...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (3 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In order for a household to qualify for the Housing Assistance Payment (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. Legislation provides that HAP is considered to be a form of social housing support and households in receipt of HAP are therefore, not...