Results 12,001-12,020 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: There is one employee in my Department in receipt of a higher duty allowance for over two years. My Department does not hold the requested information in respect of the State Bodies under its aegis. These State Bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below. State Body Contact E-mail Address An...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cork Event Centre was included as a commitment under Project Ireland 2040 and it underlines the Government’s objectives around urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. It was agreed in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility at central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 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 with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/and are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the long term leasing of houses and apartments from private owners and Approved Housing Bodies. At end Q1 2021, a total of 289 leased properties were supported under SHCEP across all leasing delivery programmes in Wexford County Council. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Bill 2021, which is currently before the Oireachtas, provides for three schemes delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme, and (3) the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seanad Reform (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Seanad plays an important role as part of our legislature under the Constitution. In a democracy, any reform of the legislature must enjoy the confidence of the public as well as legislators. In this regard The Programme for Government contains a broad range of electoral reforms including a commitment to establish an independent, statutory Electoral Commission. The Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 122 together. Applications for social housing support 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which the owners and residents of buildings face when defects occur in their homes. I believe that the ongoing building control reform agenda, with its many initiatives, already provides a comprehensive roadmap for embedding a culture of real compliance within the construction industry. The reform agenda includes: -...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave. The full conditions for eligibility under the Scheme are available on the Pyrite Board’s website at www.pyriteboard.ie. €20m was provided under Budget 2021 to cover the implementation of the pyrite...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Real Estate Investment Trusts (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. My Department does not collect data in relation to the ownership or construction 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, making up less than 1% of over 2...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with the provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2009, local authorities are responsible for the management and of housing stock in their ownership and my Department does not hold the details requested by the Deputy. Statistics relating to social housing stock have been published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Performance Indicator...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: While the Government’s objective is to focus strongly on local authority led build activity, long term leasing is an important option available to local authorities to supplement delivery and secure high quality social housing on a long term basis. The social housing leasing programme, which began in 2009, allows local authorities and approved housing bodies to lease suitable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: All social housing projects, like all publicly funded construction projects, must comply with the Government’s Public Spending Code and Capital Works Management Framework and therefore require prior approval by my Department. The table below provides data on social housing projects under €6 million submitted by local authorities under the Single Stage approval process. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) has not been discontinued and remains a significant part of the suite of social housing options currently available across the country. It has been an important contributor to social housing supply since its introduction on a pilot basis in 2005 and continues to be delivered by all local authorities, who source accommodation from the private market and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's Appropriation Accounts which are published by the Comptroller and Auditor General set out the full details of expenditure for the relevant years and can be found at by clicking on "Appropriation Accounts". Summary details of the Allocations and Final outturn of expenditure for the years 2017-2020 are set out below: Vote 34 - DHLGH REV Allocation ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electric Vehicles (16 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is set out in the following table. Year Electric Vehicles Purchased Hybrid Vehicles Purchased 2020 2 0 2021 0 0