Results 16,721-16,740 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Archaeological Sites (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The costs of archaeological work necessitated by development are a legitimate part of development costs. There is no fund maintained by the Department for assistance in such cases. The legal obligation arising in regard to complying with planning conditions or requests for further information by a planning authority falls on the applicant/developer. The licensee holding an archaeological...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 Jan 2023)

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 Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: From records available to me, all State Boards, commissions or other such bodies to which Patricia King has been appointed by my Department, from 1 January 2011 to date are set out in the table. State Board, Commission, Body Details Housing Commission Patricia King was appointed as a member of the Housing Commission in December 2021. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 552 together. The planning arrangements in respect of Strategic Housing Developments (SHDs) - allowing planning applications in respect of such developments to be submitted directly to An Bord Pleanala - were introduced under the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016. These arrangements have now been replaced by revised...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I am currently considering the matter of the delegation of particular functions to Minister of State Noonan and Minister of State O’Donnell, respectively, both of whom were recently appointed to my Department. Once this work is completed the appropriate Delegation of Functions Orders will be prepared in respect of both Ministers of State.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not contracted any company, organisation or person on my behalf to provide media training for me during the period specified.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with scheme's rules, the Local Authority Home Loan has an upper gross income limit for scheme eligibility, which takes into account all relevant household income. The income limit is €75,000 for joint applicants nationwide. It is €65,000 for individual applicants seeking to buy a home in the Greater Dublin Area, Cork and Galway and €50,000 in the rest of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (18 Jan 2023)

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. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála 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. A breakdown of the exchequer funding budget allocation for An Bord Pleanála for the years 2016 to 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 126(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), An Bord Pleanála (the Board) has a statutory objective to determine planning appeals within 18 weeks of receipt of the appeal. In accordance with section 126(3) of the Act, where the Board does not consider it possible or appropriate to reach a decision within 18 weeks (e.g. because of the particular...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 581 together. The Local Authority Home Loan was launched in January 2022. It is a Government backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It is available to first-time buyers and "fresh start" applicants to purchase a new or second-hand property, or to self-build. The Local Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 558 together. 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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Centres (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In general, it should be noted that there is an established legislative process set out in the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) in relation to the review and adoption of a city or county development plan by a local authority, which is a reserved function of the elected members. Since the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator (the Office) in April 2019,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All, the Government's housing plan for Ireland, commits to developing proposals for a standardised national differential rents scheme across the country. Following the publication of Housing for All Action Plan Update in November 2022, and having regard to the significant changes in the economic environment over the past year, this action is now scheduled for completion in Q3...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the 2022 Act) is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the grant scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. The 2022 Act has currently designated 4 local authorities for inclusion in the Enhanced DCB Scheme, namely Clare,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Inflation/Supply Chain Delay Co-operation Framework does not cover Part V agreements as they are not public works contracts. Part V units are privately developed units acquired by local authorities. Generally, a local authority will negotiate a price with the relevant developer for the construction of Part V units. This price is specified in the Part V agreement, which is a legally...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 567 together. Under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, a grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in the Topical Issue debate of 15 December 2022 the operation of the Whitegate Public Water Supply is a matter for Uisce Éireann, who has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A driving license or passport is requested as proof of identification on the social housing application form. However, where a particular document cannot be provided, the local authority may, at its discretion, request alternative documentation to satisfy itself in relation to the specific information being sought. Ultimately, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Working Group for the review of the bird species on the Open Seasons Order is proceeding with its plan for a public consultation on the matter. A Chairperson for the public consultation will be appointed in the coming weeks and dates for the consultation will then be finalised.