Results 15,381-15,400 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (30 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.  Furthermore, the allocation of social housing supports to qualified households is a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (30 Jun 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. The Council has advised that Phase 1 of the works, which involves the refurbishment of 34 homes, was completed in October 2019 and that plans for the next phases have been developed following public consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (30 Jun 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: Housing Provision (30 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes, on average, per year over the next decade. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (30 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Government's Housing for All strategy, 10,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered from 2021 to 2026 by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency (LDA). AHBs will be supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding and Local Authorities will be able to avail of funding for Cost Rental delivery through the Affordable Housing Fund. The LDA...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (30 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. The regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (30 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level.  Under the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Shared Ownership scheme was one of the measures introduced by the Department under the policy document "A Plan for Social Housing" in 1991. The Shared Ownership scheme facilitated access to home ownership in two stages for those who could not afford full ownership immediately. The applicant acquires a share of the property and rents the remainder from the local authority, with an...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce this Bill and thank Members for facilitating the passage of this important substitute consent legislation through the Houses in advance of the summer recess. The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Planning and Development Act 2000, as relating to substitute consent procedures. Substitute...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not rule on amendments.

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank colleagues for their contributions. I will deal with a couple of items regarding where we were in June 2020 and where we are now. All Deputies will recognise that there have been major changes to the previous defective blocks scheme. It is important for the House that we set some of those changes out. I thank all the homeowners from all the affected counties for their constructive...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not interrupt any Deputy.

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Tuigim é sin. I am saying that a number of matters were raised by this amendment and I would like the opportunity to address some of the points that have been raised, particularly relating to foundations and guarantees of works. I will be brief. I do not want to detain people for longer than they need to be. The grant options have been drastically changed and rightly so. The...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I assure Deputies that I will be brief. A number of points were raised and I will conclude quickly. We have substantially changed the grants, with 100% options all the way through. We have also provided a guaranteed second grant option for non-rebuild remediation if required, with a 40-year guarantee, which is something that residents rightly looked for. It was not there before. It has...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond specifically on amendment No. 9. I want to make sure that people are aware that the Housing Agency will look at foundations and particularly the foundations of homes that have been proven to have pyrrhotite in the block. That work is under way and will be under way by the NSAI, to test scientifically should there be an issue with the foundations. I said this clearly on...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond to the amendment the Deputy has tabled. It proposes to add a new definition in section 2 in respect of a “standards assessment and compliance report” and insert the requirements in respect of the said report in section 41. The report would require the Minister to publish a report confirming the amendment of various standards in full compliance with others. It...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: At the committee hearings, one of the most eminent and respected experts on pyrite and deleterious materials, Mr. Paul Forde, presented to the committee and did a really good job as chair of the expert group. He was very clearly of the view that an independent review and a scientific study of the material needed to be done. By the way, he had another view on foundations that was contrary to...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I read the amendment. When an amendment includes the words "as far as is possible", it leaves it open to interpretation. What is as far as possible? I am explaining where we are at. This review is important. It will be based on scientific research done independently. I reiterate that should problems or issues be found within it, we will amend the scheme accordingly. Everyone would say...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputies will be aware that the €420,000 overall cap is set by the Government. It is a significant change from the existing scheme, at 90% maximum grant, to 100% maximum grant under the new scheme for different house types. There is a cost per square foot of between €161 and €145 per square foot.

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: They are very significant changes. Under the Bill, every 12 months those rates can be varied by a Minister by regulation without changing the Bill. The SCSI set the rates, and I commend it on the work it did. It was an important piece of work. I committed to homeowners at the time with regard to the previous rates, and homeowners had understandably been very critical of those rates, that...