Results 14,501-14,520 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 introduced maximum net income limits for each local authority in 2011. The limits are unchanged since then. Cognisant of significant rental price growth across the country since thresholds were originally set and the need to take account of the variation in the cost of private accommodation across the State, Housing for All committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Group Water Schemes are community-owned and community-run enterprises. In order to be eligible for support from my Department (as administered by local authorities) Group Water Schemes must meet the general terms and conditions of my Department's funding schemes. In particular schemes must also be, for their enduring operation, properly constituted in a way that recognises the members as the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The appointment of Education Liaison Officers is a matter for the Minister of Education and Skills. My Department is engaging with that Department to optimise the appointment of these Officers. The National Parks and Wildlife Guide Service which operates from our National Parks and a number of other centres across the country provide a different service than that of the Education...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (5 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The table below shows the cost of consultants for the Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022. It also outlines the role of each consultancy. Consultancy service providers are only engaged by my Department where specific expertise is required which is not available in the organisation at the relevant time. Consultant Name Role Year Paid Cost ...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy can give me a copy of her script if she likes, if she thinks I missed any of it.

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am not sure how I feel about that.

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The system works, though.

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The most important thing is that the Deputy is here now.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The issues referred to in the Question are a matter for local Building Control Authorities, who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2020. The 31 Local Authorities are designated as Building Control Authorities under the Building Control Acts and monitor compliance with Building Regulations 1997 to 2021 in their area having regard...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department administers a number of funding support schemes to support local authority delivery of social and affordable housing. Each scheme, depending on its objectives and delivery mechanism, has a process in place whereby local authorities secure approval for funding support for particular developments. For affordable housing, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) provides exchequer...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 58 of the Housing Act provides for the setting and collection of social housing rents by local authorities. The making or amending of such rents schemes, including how the rent charged is calculated and any increases or decreases that may be appropriate, is a matter for local authorities. That said, rent schemes should be consistent with the broad principles set out by my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Property Registration Authority (PRA) continued to maintain a high level of service to support a robust property market throughout the period of Covid-19 restrictions. In 2021, overall application completion levels recovered to 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Notwithstanding this level of activity, there has been an increase in the length of some completion times. As set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. Requests for housing transfers are matters solely for local authorities in line with their respective allocation schemes, made in accordance with s.22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations. Local authorities are responsible for assessing housing applicants, taking into...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 83 and 84 together. 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. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. The Plan is backed by historic levels...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We are committed to working with industry stakeholders to increase the use of low carbon materials and technologies in the construction and renovation of buildings in Ireland, informed by evolving EU standards and by best practice in other jurisdictions. Action 197 of the Climate Action Plan sets out that the Office of Public Works is developing a roadmap to promote greater use of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes. Housing for All commits to undertaking a review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs both for our ageing population and people with a disability. An...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The newly revised Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme was introduced in 2021 providing for a 'deeper' retrofit programme designed around the Programme for Government commitment that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes. Works eligible under the revised...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (6 Apr 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. As part of its response, Government is providing accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and is working closely with Local Authorities to provide accommodation for Ukrainian arrivals...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on the 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...