Results 12,361-12,380 of 26,184 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The independent review referenced sought to establish the processes followed by Wicklow County Council and to identify any deviation from relevant legal requirements and administrative requirements or practices. The review found that there was no such deviation by the Council from such requirements. The review was carried out in accordance with the agreed terms of reference that addressed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is my intention to bring forward a piece of legislation provisionally titled the Fire, Emergency Management and Public Safety Bill, whose primary purpose will be to update the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Part of the impetus for this work arises from the review of fire safety in Ireland carried out in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy in the UK. It is also my intention that the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 to 235, inclusive, together. My Department publishes freedom of information disclosure logs on its website on a quarterly basis. The logs are up to date and in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act Publication Scheme requirements and can be found at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/5c178-foi-logs/. Details of fees collected annually...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Projects (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The primary focus of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is on supporting projects that will contribute to compact growth and that will improve the liveability of our cities and towns. Call 2 of the URDF was launched in 2020. To assist local authorities with the application process, my Department hosted a number of workshops to provide information on the purpose of the URDF...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seanad Reform (6 Jul 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: Approved Housing Bodies (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are independent not-for-profit organisations which operate in accordance with their Memorandum and Articles of Association. If a property is owned outright by an AHB and is not subject to public funding, the AHB may choose to sell that property, once this is allowed for in their constitution. It should be noted that AHBs must have as their primary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (6 Jul 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, in respect of private houses. Local authorities fund 20% of the overall budget from their own resources with the balance of 80% funded by the exchequer. Details of the funding drawn down for the grants up to 2020, are available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. My Department has informed Clare County Council that before any extension of the scheme can be considered, the same rigorous analysis as that put in place prior to the rollout of the scheme to the counties of Donegal and Mayo would have to be undertaken. Following further discussions between my Department and Clare County Council it...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is priority of this Government. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes. This commitment was underpinned by investment of €3.3bn towards housing programmes in Budget 2021. Subject to the impact of COVID-19, this investment will fund the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Semi-State Bodies (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The engagement of a contractor is an operational matter for which Gas Networks Ireland as contracting authority is wholly responsible. I can confirm that I have not engaged with any member of the Board of Ervia or GNI on the matter. However, it should be noted that as part of the governance arrangements between my Department and Ervia/GNI the company does update my Department on a regular...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of the submission to which the Deputy is referring to. My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. The Programme for...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Cé mhéad nóiméad atá fágtha?

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will do my best to address some of the points raised, specifically those relating to the grouping of amendments tabled. A briefing with officials was held for members of the Oireachtas joint committee. That needs to be recognised. I also note that the committee agreed to waive pre-legislative scrutiny. I thank it for that as the matters we are dealing with here are urgent. Other...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. My Department does not have the information requested but it should be available from each local authority. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together. Details of expenditure under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for the years requested are set out in the table below. Year Amount€m 2019 97.7 2020 95.1 2021 (end June) 36.2 The 2021 budgetary allocation for CAS is €96...

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Níl aon airgead fágtha agam.

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for the amendments that have been tabled. For context, I remind Members, although I am sure they are well aware, that although there may be issues with different perspectives, this is the most comprehensive affordable housing legislation ever published. One of the Deputies said it is scant on detail, but I ask him to compare it with any other affordable housing...

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will try to explain a few things in order to be helpful to Deputies. I will refer back to Deputy Boyd Barrett first, and then the other Deputies. We are dealing with the reality of the situation right now, which is that housing is not affordable for tens of thousands of people across the State. This legislation will bring about a national affordable purchase scheme and, pretty much for...

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies and particularly Deputy Duffy for tabling the amendment. I will address the amendments, but I sometimes find with Deputy Cian O'Callaghan that if I had a Social Democrats party policy document, turned it into legislation and brought it to the House, he would find something wrong with it and have a concern about it because it was me bringing it forward. We have to look...

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will address the amendments but I want to address some of the points that have been raised as well. We have had a detailed debate right the way through. Deputy Matthews, who is the chairperson of the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, clearly outlined the long process the committee has gone through to get to this Stage and I thank all members of that committee. On...