Results 14,901-14,920 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments. The amendments, which came into effect on 1st February 2022, include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) is an essential part of any PPP project. It contains commercially sensitive information in relation to the methodology used for costing public sector projects and for the pricing of risks by public sector bodies. In accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines (Guidelines for the use of Public Private Partnerships), the final PSB, or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I brought a Memorandum on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme to Government on the 30 November 2021 and 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. Full details in relation to the changes announced are available at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The appointment of Board members to An Bord Pleanála is governed by section 106 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), and Part 7 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. It provides that appointments to the Board by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage are generally made from candidates nominated by panels of prescribed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (19 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) sets out rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU. Where a construction product covered by a harmonised standard is being placed on the EU market, the CPR requires the manufacturer to draw up a ‘declaration of performance’ and affix a ‘CE’ marking to the product. In order to do so,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (19 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the responsible body for authorisation of glyphosate to the market including providing general use guidelines. Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions. Local authorities perform functions across a wide range of sectors which come within the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 May 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 was estimated would cost approximately €2.2Bn. 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: Departmental Properties (19 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The procedures to be followed by the Office of Public Works, Government Departments and certain State Agencies in relation to the maintenance of State Property Assets are outlined in theDepartment of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 1 of 2013. This circular outlines the funding arrangements for elective and non elective works in State buildings. Generally, Departments fund elective...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (19 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I assume that the Deputy is referring to Kilteel Group Water Scheme (GWS) in the details supplied. In the interest of public health, Kildare County Council, as the supervisory authority under the Drinking Water Regulations for private water supplies, issued a ‘Do Not Consume Notice‘ to the Kilteel GWS earlier this year. The notice prohibits the use of the water supply for either...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach, na Teachtaí agus na Seanadóirí as a gcuid ama chun na moltaí tábhachtacha agus dearfacha seo a phlé inniu. I thank the Acting Chairman, the Deputies and the Senators for their time and for affording me the opportunity to present to the committee these proposed planning regulations. As the Acting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Come see me the next time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator for his observations and his questions. I very much appreciate his broad support for it. We have been clear with local authorities. Accessibility, particularly for those who may be physically impaired in any way is really important. To go back to the letter to the committee from back in July 2021, we have been clear that is why the licensing system is in place. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the committee for its time and indulgence here today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his comments. He mentioned communities, and where any of them want to install street furniture, seats, bedding or whatever else, the local authority does not need a licence. I encourage any groups to enhance their public space. Much good public realm work has been done throughout the country and there are very good plans in our towns and villages, both rural and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his continued support for these measures. We appreciate it. Unlicensed street furniture is an issue in places. I am aware of it. To answer his question directly, the Roads Act allows the local authorities to remove material on the public road, or indeed the pathway, that is unlicensed. That requires resources - to speak to the last point the Deputy made - to have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a good point. I agree completely. We need to ensure this affords an opportunity for us to further advise people and publicise the fact the regime is being extended and people can apply. They can apply for new licences and extension of licences and those will be granted where appropriate. It speaks to what Deputy McAuliffe was saying earlier. It is devolved to the local authority...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: That is something we were careful in doing. With some areas of architectural conservation, protected structures and so on planning permission will be required. It is an important point and I am glad to have the opportunity to further clarify that here. The point about the use of the partitions being mainly used by drinks firms is interesting. I have seen it right across the place. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy and Senator for their comments. Deputy Higgins is correct when she refers to places being used that one would never have thought would be and referenced two bars in Lucan. It helps them and also improves the experience for people. It makes them more accessible in many instances and uses space that was not used before. The Department with responsibility for enterprise...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: If we are serious about compact urban growth, getting brownfield built again, tackling a viability issue, people being able to own apartments and families being able to live in cities, then we need to take radical measures. This will be targeted and timebound. It will be on an open call and open book basis. We are working through this with the Commission. We have opened for expressions of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: -----that we will get an opportunity to debate this. I want people to own their own homes and to be able to live in their cities. They need-----