Results 16,201-16,220 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. 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 which has been tasked with commissioning it and I expect the work...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: On the 28 April 2022, I announced a new funding measure, as an advance stage of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2025, for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services. An allocation of €50 million has been committed under the National Development Plan for up to 2025 for the measure, which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021 included a measure to fund Community Waste Water Connections (previously called Public Group Sewerage Schemes), Measure 6(b). This measure aims to facilitate the continued expansion of central waste water collection systems by extension off the public (Irish Water) network where it is technically and economically viable to do so. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Capital Expenditure Programme (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004, all or part of any unspent appropriations for capital supply services may be carried over for spend in the following year. This provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. This must be expended in the following year- i.e. it is not permissible to further defer any surplus. Details of the capital...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. Under this procedure, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to examine defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report Safe as Houses?,and to assist owners of latent defect properties by identifying options for those impacted by defects, to access low-cost, long-term finance. In response, in February 2021, I established a Working...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278, 279 and 289 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to the project referred to in the Question, my Department issued Stage 4 approval to proceed to tender on 5 September 2022.  My Department has been made aware that the local authority is working with the relevant Approved Housing Body to satisfactorily resolve some issues, which have arisen during the contract award process.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: On 1 January 2021, there were 19 staff working in the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM). This equated to 18.48 staff on a Full-Time Equivalant (FTE) basis as there were three staff on worksharing attendance patterns. On 9 November 2022, there were 19 staff working in the NDFEM. This equated to 18.73 staff on a FTE basis as there was one member of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) to each local authority as a key benchmark for the development and costing of new build social housing.  As UCCs are based on previously tendered social housing construction projects, they act as useful guide costs for local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies against which to benchmark their projects. UCCs are representative of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay. Local discretion and flexibility are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 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 (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traffic Management (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traffic Management (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traffic Management (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department currently publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these Regulations. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is underpinned by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to extend the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024. Section 24A of the...