Results 16,441-16,460 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry about that, but I have committed to speak at a Safe Ireland event on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My purpose in being here today is to explain what we will do with that money. We have discussed the legacy debt and the land acquisition fund, and what is happening in those respects is generally seen as positive. We asked each local authority what level of additional staff it required or wanted in respect of social housing specifically, not affordable. Two hundred and fifty new posts have...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We will consider all aspects in trying to deliver more homes. Local authority-led delivery is good delivery, as are AHB-led delivery and LDA-led delivery. We need homes. However, if the Deputy is asking me whether I will establish a building unit in local authorities to build their own homes, how long will it take to scale that up? Each local authority would have to employ builders to...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We dealt with this in some detail in response to Deputy Duffy. We are working on doing that exact thing, that is, working a procurement framework for local authorities in the delivery of rapid build timber frame and other modular homes. We are doing that right now. I mentioned to Deputy Duffy that I thought approximately 48% of the homes being build are timber frame. They are not all...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank all the members for their input and questions. We will respond in writing with any answers which have not been given today.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All sets out national housing policy and implementation measures for the period to 2030. As part of the objective to increase social housing delivery, the plan recognises the significant role that Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s) have played as partners in social housing delivery and will continue to play over the next five years. The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 in Housing for All is focused on addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock. With regard to the vacant units referenced in the details supplied, I understand that these properties are over a commercial premises and have been vacant for some time. Following engagement by Cork County Council with the property owner, discussions are currently ongoing between...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 55 and 68 together. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes 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 State and retail banks. 2022 represents the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. Significant funding has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the publication of Housing for All, 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. Local authorities with a strong and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Modern Methods of Construction(MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for AllPathway 5 Section 5.3.2. MMC encompasses a broad and diverse range of innovative construction practices with huge potential to boost productivity and increase efficiency (avoid waste)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 36, 37, 39, 41, 49, 69, 201 and 202 together. The social housing income eligibility bands, the respective thresholds, and the local authorities assigned to each band were introduced in 2011. They were developed with reference to the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Dec 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: Homeless Persons Supports (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The continuing increase in the numbers accessing emergency accommodation is a serious concern for me and for the Government. We are doing everything in our power to tackle this problem, both by increasing housing supply and investing in homelessness prevention. The Government is investing significantly in social and affordable housing, with record funding allocated for current and capital...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (1 Dec 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. 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 Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 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 Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: An Affordable Housing Fund application was recently submitted by Mayo County Council to my Department to support a development of 13 affordable purchase homes in Springfield, Westport. I granted approval in principle to this application and Mayo County Council were advised of this last week. Scheduled delivery of these affordable homes will be in 2024. Furthermore, I recently announced...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No 341 of 11 October 2022 which sets out the position in this matter and the process, which is still on going. The Department of Transport, as the parent Department of the Shannon Group, have the lead role in the transfer of heritage sites from Shannon Group to relevant local authorities. Officials from my Department continue to engage with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Site Acquisitions (1 Dec 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, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 52, 76 and 78 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...