Results 12,381-12,400 of 26,184 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: It is because I am going to tell the House what these amendments will do. In real terms, they will do exactly what Deputies Mattie McGrath and Matthews have said. I will explain this to Deputies by reading the provisions of the Bill. It must be put in this context. Most of my colleagues in the Opposition, including Deputy Ó Broin and others, do not want our State land development...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Are they still in public ownership?

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

Darragh O'Brien: I acknowledge the fact that, in fairness, there have up until now been differences of opinion in certain areas. This is a fundamental difference because it is about delivering affordable homes. I will stand over my position and others will stand over theirs. Deputy Boyd Barrett has a specific definition of what a public private partnership is that is actually not defined in this Bill....

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

Darragh O'Brien: You are conflating matters and it is irresponsible in the extreme.

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

Darragh O'Brien: It is totally wrong.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for tabling their amendments. This Bill will increase supply. We all want supply increased. I did not mean to interrupt Deputy O'Callaghan but I want to be clear that this is not about tipping any balance in favour of anyone else. It is about young and not so young people, and individuals and families being able to buy a home. We know this, so let us be clear. I...

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

Darragh O'Brien: On Deputy Boyd Barrett's point, there will be exceptions and exemptions for people. We discussed the affordable housing scheme. It will allow someone who may have gone through a marriage break-up or divorce and has not previously owned or have a financial interest in a property to apply. Someone who has gone through the personal insolvency process during the last crash and does not own a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Tá an t-am beagnach istigh. I will provide a briefing note via the committee and let its members discuss it. Through its Chair, we can then see if further briefings-----

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy seems like he is on it.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Exactly, and should be a full member. I would have voted for him. We will make sure that he gets a special briefing. Deputies Fitzmaurice and Cian O'Callaghan went to the trouble of tabling these amendments, so I will be brief. We know what the amendments propose to do, but I can confirm that they are not necessary, as their underlying intent is already contained within section 12,...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: From the Seanad (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: If I may, I will deal with all of the Seanad amendments together, as they all relate to changing rent pressure zone, RPZ, restrictions. I am grateful for the opportunity to return to the House with the Bill, as amended by the Seanad. There have been 13 amendments to the Bill since it was passed in the Dáil. Some are substantial and others are technical. I will run through them very...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: From the Seanad (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We addressed it in the affordable housing Bill.

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: From the Seanad (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Buckley for his amendment. I have addressed the Government amendments I have brought forward but I want to deal with a number of the questions that have been asked. The issue of Carrigaline has been brought to my attention by the Deputy, by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, and by others. We will have an opportunity to deal...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: From the Seanad (Resumed) (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: These are all Government amendments. Are we talking about amendments Nos. 4, 6, 9 and 13?

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: From the Seanad (Resumed) (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will go through those amendments briefly because it is important that people know about these changes. Amendment No. 4 inserts a new section 6 into the Bill, amending section 20 of the 2004 Act. It provides that, generally, rent reviews are allowed to occur no more frequently than annually in a rent pressure zone, RPZ, or biennially outside RPZs. However, a rent review is allowed during...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities so as to enable them administer the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme. These schemes assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The schemes are means tested and operate on a sliding scale with the highest percentage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not have data on the number of demountable dwellings by county. The use of demountables is not commonplace and where they might be used, it will a decision of the individual local authority for whatever specific reasons might apply to an individual case. On occasions some funding support may be provided to a local authority from my Department if a demountable was part of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not hold the details requested by the Deputy. The Land Development Agency (LDA) is currently developing a register of all relevant public lands, which is lands owned by public bodies in population areas greater than 10,000. An initial version of the register has been completed and is available on the LDA website. The Land Development Agency Bill will put the register on a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (8 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government includes a commitment that the Government will develop a scheme between local authorities and Irish Water to provide drinking water fountains nationwide to reduce plastic bottle litter. In addition, EU Directive 2020/2184 (the Drinking Water Recast Directive) as adopted on 16 December 2020 updates the obligations on Member States in relation to the quality of...