Results 17,681-17,700 of 26,320 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum annual reckonable income. In determining a tenant’s minimum annual reckonable income, local authorities can include incomes from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins the policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All. In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The policy objective of the First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, is to encourage greater supply of new build homes and to increase home ownership by supporting eligible first-time buyers in acquiring new homes in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The First Home Scheme is administered by the First Home Scheme Ireland DAC, which is responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) provides an upfront loan, to a maximum of €60,000 (including VAT) per unit, to owners of vacant properties that require work to bring the units up to the required standard for rental properties. Under the scheme, the local authority, or approved housing body, pays for the repairs upfront and the home is taken into social housing stock by way of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (30 Mar 2023)

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. While the reasons for vacancy are often complex, the re-use and regeneration...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 30 January 2023, I announced details regarding a third round of funding under the URDF. Supporting key objectives of Housing for All, Town Centre First, and the Vacant Homes Action Plan, this round of URDF support has been specifically designed to address long term vacancy and dereliction across URDF eligible cities and towns. It is proposed that a revolving fund of up to €150m of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects and programmes is a matter for determination by Uisce Éireann. The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Uisce Éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum time in receipt of social housing supports. The tenant or, in the case of applications from joint tenants, both tenants, must be in receipt of social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (30 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There are the AHBs.

Department Underspend and Reduced Delivery of Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (18 Apr 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: To delete all words after "That Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government recognises there is a housing crisis in Ireland affecting ordinary working people who aspire to affordable, stable tenancies or the security of home ownership, and this demands a response from the Government on an unprecedented scale; —...

Department Underspend and Reduced Delivery of Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (18 Apr 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I was delighted to see the scheme in Ballymastone receive approval from An Bord Pleanála. That will deliver 253 social homes and 253 affordable homes, as well as private houses. Sinn Féin councillors in Fingal did not support that scheme. That is fair enough but it is on the council record. There are many other such examples. That is one aspect of matters. We must deliver more...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pension Provisions (18 Apr 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Question No. 168 of 30 March 2023, which outlines the situation in respect of Dublin City Council. Matters are currently with that local authority for resolution. My Department is not currently aware of any significant, systematic employee misclassification of pay-related social insurance categories in any other local authority.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). The HSF is for conservation and enhancement to heritage structures and historic buildings, in...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In 2013, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) established a special purpose vehicle, National Asset Residential Property Services Limited (NARPS), to take direct ownership of properties, where there was an established demand for social housing, and lease those properties on a long-term basis to an approved housing body (AHB) or local authority. NAMA funded the remediation of the...

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

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. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins the policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All. In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched as part of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 789 together. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Article 12 of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC) requires Member States to report on the implementation of national provisions taken under this Directive, including specific reporting on status and trends of bird species. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department considered the results of its 2019 Birds Directive Article 12 reporting to the European Commission....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 707, 708, 752 and 759 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Compulsory Purchase Orders (18 Apr 2023)

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. While the reasons for vacancy are often complex, the re-use and regeneration...