Results 13,041-13,060 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433, 475 and 476 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. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 325 of 28 September 2021. The position set out in the response has not changed since that date.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. If a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (19 Oct 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: Fire Stations (19 Oct 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 supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: A range of work is already ongoing to deliver Cost Rental housing, with State support, through a number of avenues. Under Budget 2021, €35 million was allocated to the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, designed to facilitate Government loans to Approved Housing Bodies, to finance up to 30% of the capital costs of new homes for Cost Rental. My Department is utilising the expertise...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: To be eligible for a Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, you must be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as a primary applicant or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary applicant. For persons employed on a contract basis, details of contract income over the last two years must be provided. Evidence that tax payments are up to date is also required....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to better protect tenants with affordability challenges by extending the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024 and prohibiting any necessary rent increase in a RPZ from exceeding general inflation, as recorded by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). This measure significantly reduces...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 444 and 445 together. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, responsive repairs and implementing planned maintenance programmes, is a matter for each individual local authority, in line with Section 28 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2009. Notwithstanding the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446, 447 and 448 together. The Defective Concrete Blocks Working Group which I established, was tasked with a review of issues of concern which had been raised by homeowners in respect of the Scheme, which applies to Mayo and Donegal only. Under the agreed Terms of Reference, one of the areas in scope for review was the issue of "Eligible Homes". This...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 450 together. The regulations for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme came in to operation on 31 January 2020. The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Group is comprised of senior officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2021-2030. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. As part of Budget 2022, I secured funding of over €1.57 billion to support water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Oct 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: Departmental Funding (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent, quasi-judicial, statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. In order to ensure that the RTB is fully resourced to deliver on its ever increasing mandate, I secured...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is acutely aware of the housing accommodation and affordability challenges faced by many sectors of society including healthcare workers. The Programme for Government has committed to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and increase the supply of public, social and affordable homes. A multi-faceted approach is being implemented to achieve this.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Finance Act 2004, section 91, provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. As the Deputy is aware, 2020 and 2021 saw very significant disruption to the construction sector due to Covid-19 and there have been consequential impacts on drawdown of capital funds. For 2022, I have confirmed to the Minister for Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) was established by the Housing Finance Agency Act, 1981 and its function is to advance loan finance to local authorities, the voluntary housing sector and Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), to be used by them for any purpose authorised by the Housing Acts, 1966-2014, and to borrow or raise funds for this purpose.  The Housing Finance Act 1981 was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Projects (19 Oct 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions that are delivered primarily by local authorities and bodies under the aegis of my Department. Details in relation to specific projects (which are being advanced primarily by local authorities and Irish Water) under my Department's range of capital programmes as part of Project...