Results 13,841-13,860 of 26,245 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (26 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In April 2018, a Working Group was established to conduct a review of the wider investment needs relating to rural water services. The Group's aim is to recommend measures to ensure an equality of outcome between those who receive water services from Irish Water and non-Irish Water customers. The terms of reference of the review provide for a two-strand approach. Strand 1 is considering...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland was published in September 2021 and, as part of a broad suite of social housing reforms, committed to reviewing income eligibility for social housing. The review, which examined inter aliathe efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, was completed in Q4, 2021. I expect to make a decision...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (26 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched in 2018 to support more compact and sustainable development. The Fund is providing part-funding for projects that will enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns, while also ensuring that more parts of our urban areas...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The local authority mortgage protection insurance (MPI) scheme has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities after 1 July 1986, including the Local Authority Home Loan introduced on 4 January 2022. It is important to note that there are a number of differences between the local authority MPI scheme and standard MPI products available on the market. Most notably,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The local authority mortgage protection insurance (MPI) scheme has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities after 1 July 1986, including the Local Authority Home Loan introduced on 4 January 2022. It is important to note that there are a number of differences between the local authority MPI scheme and standard MPI products available on the market. Most notably, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (26 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department maintains a contracts register for contracts with a value in excess of €25,000 (excl. VAT). Details of the contracts granted, including the tendering process used, in relation to Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic are set out in the attached table. The procurement regulations and guidelines in place throughout the pandemic enabled contracting authorities to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making an important contribution to social housing delivery, as envisaged under the Housing for All Plan. The Government is committed to increasing social housing delivery and plans to deliver more than 90,000 social homes to 2030. My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with AHBs to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In July 2020 approval was granted by Cabinet to allow the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR) to proceed to tender for the construction of 597 units at Shanganagh Castle. This flagship LDA project will deliver 597 homes on public land, combining social, cost rental and affordable homes in the first such development in the State. This important...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not commissioned any polling since 1 January 2021. An online survey in relation to defects in housing on behalf of the working group established by me to examine defects in housing is being prepared by my Department with the support of the Housing Agency. It is intended to go live at the end of the month. The survey audience is homeowners and landlords of apartments...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Detail on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA captures the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need has not yet been met and helps better inform policy and planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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). In line with the Regulations, applicant households are assessed for eligibility in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Donegal and Mayo County Council have responsibility for the 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. Budget 2021 provided funding of €20 million to fund the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am supportive of a recommendation of the working group on Defective Concrete Blocks which would allow for enhancements, as announced as part of the Governments decision on the 30th November 2021, to be made available retrospectively to current eligible scheme applicants if applicable. I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (27 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The main objective of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2021, is to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the Building Regulations in the construction sector, which will benefit consumers and the general public. The legislation will require providers of building services to register with the appointed statutory body. This will apply to...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Tithíocht agus Cúrsaí Pleanála Fisiciúla sa Ghaeltacht: Plé (Atógáil) (26 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim mo mhíle buíochas leis an gcomhchoiste as cuireadh a thabhairt dom labhairt anseo tráthnóna agus cuirim fáilte roimh an deis seo leis an eolas is déanaí a thabhairt do chomhaltaí ar an obair atá ar siúl laistigh de mo Roinn maidir le ceisteanna pleanála inár nGaeltacht. I dtosach, is mian liom a rá go bhfuil mé...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Tithíocht agus Cúrsaí Pleanála Fisiciúla sa Ghaeltacht: Plé (Atógáil) (26 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá gearr-ráiteas á léamh agam. Níl ann ach na príomhphointí.