Results 16,241-16,260 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 303 together. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) involves a three way contractual relationship between landlord, tenant and the local authority with each party having their own responsibilities. The main landlord and tenant relationship is between the property owner and the RAS tenant. The local authority is not the landlord, but acts as an agent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: House Prices (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no role regarding the control and regulation of property service providers, including setting and enforcing standards in the provision of property services. These functions are a matter for the Property Service Regulatory Authority, a body established under the aegis of the Department of Justice by the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2009 my Department issued guidance to local authorities on the use of unsold affordable properties to provide social housing. The majority of units were leased to approved housing bodies (AHBs); who act as landlords under a service level agreement with the relevant housing authorities. The local authority retains ownership of the units.  In September 2020, I convened a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (22 Nov 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. While responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not utilised the services of public relations agencies or PR consultants for advice since I took office.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A five year delivery target from 2022 - 2026 has been set under Housing for All, for 28,500 affordable homes to be delivered for affordable purchase and cost rental across the various delivery streams. In implementing the key objectives under Housing for All, each local authority has prepared and published a Housing Delivery Action Plan in respect of local authority supported or overseen...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Official Travel (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Two officials from my Department attended the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP27). These officials were from the Climate Services, Research and Applications Division of Met Éireann. The costs incurred from this travel to date, is approximately €4,320 in respect of flights, hotels, transfers etc. Given that the conference has finished just recently, it is expected...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool is key to estimating likely future housing need across the State by tenure type, including private ownership, private rental, social and affordable homes. The tool is underpinned by independent research undertaken by the ESRI on behalf of my Department. Drawing on Census 2016 population data, and incorporating CSO estimates on net...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The process of gathering and collating social housing delivery statistics is managed by the Department’s Statistics and Data Analytics Unit (SDAU). A circular is issued to local authorities each quarter requesting social housing delivery details and returns submitted by the local authorities are collated for publication. For local authority new build, completion is when the keys...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Priorities (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department and local government are collaborating in a call to property owners with unoccupied properties to offer them as temporary homes to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection. Under this programme, local authorities will accept offers of houses, apartments or holiday homes for temporary accommodation, liaise with owners to assess suitability, and arrange for their use...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 234 of 10 November 2022 which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 283 together. 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. Since 2014, Exchequer funding has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (22 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: Water Services (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Legal responsibilities in relation to the repair and maintenance of stormwater pipes are set out in the reply given to Question No. 142 of 28 September 2022 and the position remains unchanged. As Minister, I have no function in relation to the matter. At the time of responding my Department is not aware of any correspondence from Cork City Council in relation to the matter. Any correspondence...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the implementation of Housing for All, each local authority has prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan for the years 2022 to 2026. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were asked to include planned affordable housing delivery in their Action Plans. I have also set five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets for those local authorities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In September 2004, Government approved a national flood risk policy which assigned OPW the lead role for flood risk management and mitigation. The OPW is responsible for overseeing Ireland’s approach to flood risk management across three strategic and policy areas, i.e. prevention, protection and preparedness. The 2004 report also acknowledged that the primary concern of my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 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: Departmental Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability scheme, in respect of private houses. The scheme comprises a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses, in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 15 November 2022.  The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to bridge the current “viability gap” between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). The scheme is targeted principally at activating planning permissions already in place for such homes. The...