Results 14,181-14,200 of 26,290 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (23 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently developing proposals to support the provision of waste water treatment requirements for villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public waste water infrastructure. I propose to make an announcement in relation to these proposals in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (23 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The position in relation to legal responsibility for water services infrastructure is set out in the Water Service Act 2007. In line with this Act, a water services authority is responsible for water services infrastructure, including manholes, extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a private property. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has been responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA)details the number of households qualified for social housing support, and whose needs have not been met, in each local authority area. The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2020, is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/970ea-summary-of-social-housing-as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electric Vehicles (23 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Overall strategy for sustainable mobility/electric vehicle recharging points is within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport and is co-ordinated by the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce. Their report is available at the following link and contains recommendations for Local Authorities: www.gov.ie/en/publication/101f0-low-emission-vehicle-taskfor ce-phase-2-report/. The Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. Applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports, to be eligible. The Government has recently reduced the minimum reckonable income required under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021, which I commenced in August 2021, laid the provisions for the introduction of two new affordable purchase schemes: an affordable purchase scheme delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency delivering primarily on own lands, and also the national First Home shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market. Part 4 of the Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (24 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (24 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on 30 November 2021. It included an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2Bn. I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. Maximum rent limits for HAP were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection. Local authorities also have the flexibility to agree to a HAP payment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Feb 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 alia the efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, was completed in Q4 2021. I am currently considering...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on social housing delivery for each local authority on a quarterly basis. The statistics are currently available to the end of Quarter 3 2021. In the first nine months of the year, a total of 5,187 social homes were delivered, including 3,144 social homes delivered through new build, 1,576 social homes delivered through leasing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (24 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In the period under question, my Department had 13 engagements with the National Women’s Council of Ireland; 3 of them included attendance by a Minister of State at my Department. The engagements included research briefings and meetings on the participation of women in local government.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021, which I commenced in August 2021, laid the provisions for the introduction of two new affordable purchase schemes: an affordable purchase scheme delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency delivering primarily on their own lands, and also the national First Home shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market. Part 4 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (24 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan has only been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. Prior to that, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was the mortgage available from local authorities. As of 4 January 2022, no new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan applications will be accepted, although applications/approvals already in process will be honoured. Therefore, information on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (1 Mar 2022)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (1 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Primary responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level, including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (1 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is supporting Kildare County Council who are advancing the refurbishment of St. Patrick's Park, Rathangan, including an element of additional, new build social housing. Full details on the advancement of the project are available directly from the Council. They have advised that Phase 1, which involves the refurbishment of 34 homes, was completed in October 2019 and that plans...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (1 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently leading on the work as committed to under the Programme for Government to realise the outstanding target of 10% marine protected area (MPA) coverage in Ireland's waters as soon as is practicable, aiming for 30% by 2030. This work is being led by my Department, in consultation with other Departments and Agencies, with maritime stakeholders and with the wider...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (1 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 amended section 3 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 so that dwellings let by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to social housing tenants now come within the remit of the Act. The position of these tenants is significantly improved by the change, which commenced on 7 April 2016, as they now benefit from the following: - Increased security...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (1 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department received a submission from Clare County Council, dated 23 July 2021, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme to County Clare. A response issued to the Council on 3 August 2021 indicating that my Department would review the submission and it also sought a detailed breakdown of costs associated with the Report. A breakdown of...