Results 14,361-14,380 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As provided for in Housing for All, the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) was established in Q4 2021. The overarching objective of NHAC is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in Housing for All, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Control Act 1990 provides, inter alia, for the making of Building Regulations in respect of the construction of buildings. The aim of the Building Regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) and certain works to an existing building. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In April 2018, a working group - the Rural Water 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight of social housing provision in any area is the responsibility of the relevant local authority which has statutory responsibility for these matters.  This responsibility includes housing provided in the operational area of a local authority by an Approved Housing Body (AHB), as the local authority will hold the mortgage for such AHB housing.  Local authorities have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2013, NAMA established a special purpose vehicle (National Asset Residential Property Services Limited ‘NARPS’), to take ownership of suitable residential units directly from NAMA debtors and receivers in areas where there was an established demand for social housing and then lease these units on a long-term basis to an approved housing body (AHB) or local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the provisions of which I commenced in August and September 2021, laid the foundation for two new affordable purchase schemes: the first to be delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency, and the second a national 'First Home' shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market. Together these two schemes will support the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The current cost guidelines for the acquisition of houses and apartments for social housing use were updated and issued to local authorities in May 2021. A copy of these, in tabular format will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders. The guidelines are generally reviewed annually and the intention is to conduct a further review in Q2 of 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 355 together. As they did throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, local authorities will play a full and vital role in the national response to the humanitarian crisis created by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, particularly in helping to address the needs at local level of Ukrainian refugees who come to Ireland to escape...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Mar 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 (DSP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade.  This includes the delivery of 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026.  Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade.  This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes by 2030, including 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026.  Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response, and has ramped-up the humanitarian response in order to provide accommodation and other essential supports rapidly and at scale. This work is taking place with the support of the Irish Red Cross and many NGOs and charities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes. Voted capital funding of €65 million is available in 2022, which is an increase of €5 million on the 2021 provision of €60 million, continuing the year on year...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (22 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. The Environmental Protection Agency, through its Office of Environmental Enforcement, exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Prices (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the energy sector is assigned to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, which is under aegis of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Questions or concerns regarding charging arrangements for customers are a matter in the first instance for energy providers. Any concerns which cannot be resolved...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Mar 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 available to the end of Quarter 3 2021 and are published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-hou sing-provision/. The data for Quarter 4...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage 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. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home...