Results 15,221-15,240 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this matter. One of the reasons we have seen the reduction in these payments being made over the past number of years is because there are more people working. More than 2.5 million people are working in the State, which is the highest we have ever had. That said, there are people who still need to access support by the State and the supports are there....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The recent increase in homelessness is of great concern to me and to the Government, as it is to all Members of the House. I assure the House that we are doing everything in our power to tackle this problem. As the Deputy is aware, I established the national homeless action committee, which I chair and which is made up of representatives from my Department, all the State agencies and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I share the Deputy's concerns and I am acutely aware of our responsibilities in this regard. We must accelerate the supply of social homes. We are going to build more social homes this year than in any year since the foundation of the State. This is welcome, but also badly needed. I am also targeting a new voids programme for each local authority that will be fully funded. I have asked...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Sorry, the target for this year is 9,000 new build homes, and this is just on the new build side of things. To speak directly to the issue of the purchase of properties with tenants in situ, I have also established our housing delivery team, which is made up of representatives of our local authorities. I have made it abundantly clear to all of them, and through the County and City...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with the Deputy that the Emmet Road scheme will be a flagship project for the Dublin City Council and will deliver social, cost-rental and community facilities to a very high standard, in full consultation with the local community. I have met the local community and intend to do so again very shortly. In July 2020, as the Deputy will know, a serviced sites fund application was...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Thankfully, we see more and more affordable housing sites open up right across the country now. We have our advance purchase schemes. We approved five more last week. That is good. That is moving. As for St. Michael's Estate specifically, I know the Deputy raised that a number of weeks ago during Question Time. I am more than happy to sit down at the appropriate time with Opposition...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Last year, when Poolbeg had run into the sand and there was nothing happening with the site, I held a round-table meeting in the Custom House with all interested parties, including residents and local representatives. I want to see the site move forward, but it will move forward only if a reasonable deal can be done. I want that to happen. As I said, I briefed residents just yesterday...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. I am happy to advise the Deputy that both Cork City Council and South Dublin County Council will be delivering affordable purchase homes this year. Cork City Council has advised that 117 affordable purchase homes will be delivered in the Boherboy Road in Cork City. The first two phases of this development involving 37 homes will be delivered this year...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There will be a substantial number of affordable homes delivered this year and even more next year. The pipeline within the Deputy's own constituency, in South Dublin County Council, is very strong. We are adding to that through the advance purchase arrangements. One can look at Rathcoole where there are 100 affordable homes, in Clonburris there are 184 and in Killinarden there are 372....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Aside from what will be delivered through the first home shared equity scheme in South Dublin County Council there are more than 1,100 affordable homes in the pipeline between now and 2026. We will have thousands more through the first home shared equity scheme that will launch in July. It will give first-time buyers and those on the fresh start principle the opportunity and choice to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We are doing something about it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Deputies stop?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputies should try to behave themselves. They were doing well up to then.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 81 together. Following the Government decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the remediation of dwellings damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and I intend to progress the legislation before the end of term in order to ensure we can have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We want to get the scheme up and running. Apologies, I did not realise Deputy Mac Lochlainn was to ask a question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies. I have been very clear. We need scientific evidence on this and it is being done independently through the review by the NSAI of the standard. We need scientific research and testing on infill as well. If the Deputies were on this side of the House they would do the same. We need to bring forward the legislative basis to provide for what is effectively a new scheme....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputies can trust me on this----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Is this permitted?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: No one will dispute the level of work that has gone into bringing about this legislation. When Deputies look at what is in it and see the published Bill later today in the hearings, it is a significant improvement on the previous scheme that was simply set up by way of regulation itself and was not on a sound footing. I said yesterday in response to Deputy Ó Broin that I will continue,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: This is an important matter. I will give the Deputy the official response as to what the target is. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority in accordance with eligibility and need criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The regulations require that local authorities, subject to conditions, deal with social housing...