Results 16,261-16,280 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: Where an approved housing body has purchased or constructed housing, the responsibility for management and maintenance of the housing is a matter for them, in conjunction with the local authority. My Department will engage with the local authority in relation to the homes referred to in the question with a view to having them brought back into productive use and to reinforce the point that...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets 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. Generally, it is “house rules” agreed between a landlord and a tenant at the start of a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Following the publication of Housing for All last year, I asked local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. In preparing these Plans, local authorities were asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool and plan their provision accordingly. 18 local authorities,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: A funding application from Limerick City and County Council for this turnkey project was received in my Department on the 30 September 2022. The project was approved on the 18 November 2022 and the local authority has been notified.

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

Darragh O'Brien: In line with commitments in the Programme for Government and Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland, The Housing Commission was established by Government in December 2021 to independently examine and review the housing system in Ireland.  The Commission’s Terms of Reference cover a wide range of issues connected to housing, one of which is to consider the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing the legislative...

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

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. Sections 50, 50A and 50B of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, codify the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 was enacted on 24 July 2022. My Department is currently drafting regulations to provide for consequential amendments to the Planning and Development Regulations regarding the substitute consent procedure, following which the substitute consent provisions of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation...

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

Darragh O'Brien: 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.  Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.   While...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of addressing building defects. These include 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together. I intend to bring forward legislation early in the new year regarding eligibility of non-nationals for social housing, including provision for legal residence as an eligibility criterion in any assessment for social housing support.  In the meantime, my Department continues to provide guidance and updates as needed on related...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to concerns around the adequacy of certain local authority housing, my Department is committed to ensuring that tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards most recently laid down in the Housing (Standards For Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. All landlords including social housing landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. Under HAP, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. However, additional supports are available under HAP for homeless households or households at risk of homelessness. While eligible...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, launched on 7th July this year, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Full information on the First Home Scheme is available at the following link: www.firsthomescheme.ie The setting of the initial First Home Scheme price ceilings was informed primarily by an analysis of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 314, 315, 316 and 317 together. 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...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Read the report.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the truth.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: If I may, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Deputy will know we commissioned the apartment defects report, the largest ever survey of the apartment defects issue, in which 28,000 households participated, and that is how we know that close to 100,000 homeowners are affected. I intend to bring recommendations to Cabinet in advance of Christmas. I have been engaging directly with the Apartment...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this issue. Deputy Mac Lochlainn raised it previously and, obviously, so did my Government colleagues. I met with the chief executive and two directors of services from Donegal County Council very recently. We went through the specific issue regarding those homes that are deemed to be uninhabitable right now and discussed how we can advance the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: It is important that that is in place. However, I know homeowners are waiting for word on that.