Results 16,141-16,160 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Acts apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy, subject to a limited number of exceptions. Section 3(2)(g) provides that the Acts do not apply to a dwelling within which the landlord also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 337 of 18 October 2022 which sets out the position in relation to the annual average number of new private rental homes required to meet the total annual average target of 33,000 homes under Housing for All. I also refer the Deputy to the Housing for All Action Plan Update which was published on 2 November 2022. Specifically,  page 9, section entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am currently considering potential changes to the social housing income eligibility model. In the meantime, I have approved proposals to scope and develop options for a new income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency who have been tasked with commissioning it and I expect that the work will complete by end Q4 2022. I have also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The tenancy agreement between the tenant and the local authority or the Approved Housing Body, who is their landlord, sets out the conditions of the tenancy, the rules by which the tenant must abide, including those related to sub-letting or participation in schemes such as the Rent a Room Scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners, and the responsibilities and obligations of both parties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (10 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Once approved for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the local authority will expect the tenant to stay in the same property for at least two years. However, a tenant may be able to apply to their local authority for a new HAP payment for another property sooner if their circumstances change. For example, if they receive a job offer in another area, or if their family changes in size and...

Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022: Referral to Joint Committee (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 2nd November, 2022, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5),...

Retained Firefighters: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "acknowledges that: — Retained Firefighters are highly committed frontline responders providing an exceptional service within their communities; — the retained fire service has been shown to be highly effective in dealing with a wide range of emergencies, working...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is continuing to work closely with local authorities and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), as well as engaging with private owners, the Department of Justice, the OPW, the HSE, and the Department of Education to identify, refurbish, and bring into use, multi-unit vacant properties that may be suitable and available as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cost of Living Issues (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. These schemes assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs, with Exchequer funding of €65 million available nationally in 2022. As part of the annual budgetary process the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Retained local authority fire services are made up of both the senior fire officer ranks the Question refers to who are are whole-time fire service officer grades employed by local authorities, as well as ‘retained’ local authority firefighters. Retained firefighters are men and women who are ‘on call’ to respond to a range of fire service emergencies. Many...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In October of last year I requested National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office, in partnership with Donegal County Council and Geological Survey Ireland, to carry out an audit of all quarries in Donegal to evaluate relevant economic operators’ compliance with the Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 when placing relevant construction products (aggregate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently preparing the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, to cover the period up to 2027. This plan will build on the work of the second-cycle, and will again describe the main pressures and activities affecting water status, set out the environmental objectives to be achieved up to 2027 and identify the measures needed to achieve these objectives, including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The European Union’s Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) (as amended) requires Member States to protect habitats and wildlife areas of European interest by, among other things, designating sites as Special Areas of Conservation. The European Union Habitats (Lough Corrib Special Area of Conservation 000297) Regulations 2022 completes the formal designation of Lough Corrib site as a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: All landlords, including Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority. There is no legal obligation to conduct virtual inspections, however a number of local authorities piloted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am currently considering potential changes to the social housing income eligibility model. In the meantime, I have approved proposals to scope and develop options for a new income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency who have been tasked with commissioning it and I expect that the work will complete in the next few months. I have...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government committed to working with stakeholders such as the Apartment Owners' Network and the Construction Defects Alliance to do the most comprehensive report that has ever been done with regard to the scale of apartment defects. Some 28,000 homes were included in those surveys. We have a very good handle on the types of issues that have arisen and what needs to be done. The...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I take it that the six councillors that Deputy Collins referred to probably opposed the local property tax in the first place.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There you go. Now the Deputy is bemoaning the fact that Dublin City Council does not have enough property tax, yet those councillors opposed the local property tax in the first instance.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I advise the Deputy that this Government has given more funding to local government in the last three years than it has received in decades. This week, we will supply further funding of €5 million to Dublin City Council to assist it with additional energy costs. We have already dealt with the rates revaluation with Dublin City Council and filled that gap. For councillors who opposed...

Declaration of a Housing Emergency: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland, the Government's housing plan, is working, and supply, which is key to improving our housing system, is increasing, and to the end of September over 55,000 homes were either commenced (27,417) or...