Results 18,721-18,740 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme is operated by a Designated Activity Company (DAC), governed by a Board of Directors comprising representatives of the scheme funders, i.e. the State, AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB. First Home does not apply an interest rate. A service charge applies to the percentage value of unredeemed equity from year 6 in order to cover administrative costs associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Maximum rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. In prescribing these limits, household size and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 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.In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: During the Covid-19 emergency, the HAP Debt Management Process (DMP) was suspended from March 2020 and partially re-commenced in October 2020. This meant non-payment of differential rent by a tenant during that time did not affect payments to HAP landlords. Tenants were, however, expected to continue to pay their rent with supports available for those financially impacted by Covid. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the interest in this emerging and frontier arena in support of biodiversity. Ireland's forthcoming 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP 2023-2027) sets out Ireland’s vision for biodiversity by 2050 as follows; “Biodiversity in Ireland is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Staff (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A recruitment competition for Conservation Rangers was run by the Public Appointments Service in recent years and the relevant terms and conditions including payscales were advertised in the campaign booklet. The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform determine the starting pay on promotion and appointment to the civil service for existing civil and public servants....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. Guidance on the noise aspect, which is highly technical in nature, is currently being advanced by my Department in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has been working in close collaboration with Parliamentary drafters over the past months to develop the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Bill. I anticipate that the Bill will be published before the end of the year. The Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the receipt of Government approval in January of this year, I have been working to progress the various programmes of work that are required to place the scheme to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013 on a statutory footing. Key to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Correspondence (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm a reply issued to the constituent referred to on 2 October 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The report of the AHB Unencumbered Units Working Group will be published in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The requested information for the time period in question in respect of the State bodies under the aegis of my Department, as extant on 3 October 2023, is as set out in the attached document. In respect of the non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of my Department, the appointment of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) is governed by the provisions of the Guidelines for Appointments of CEOs...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Protection (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018. In January 2018, my Department appointed a Data Protection Officer as required under Article 37 GDPR and subsequently established a Data Protection Unit. The table below sets out the number of data breaches recorded by my Department since the introduction of the GDPR. All breaches were dealt with in line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has not provided any capital or current funding to Dublin Zoo in either 2022 or to date in 2023. My Department has responsibility for the implementation of the European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 440/2003) which deal with the inspection, licensing and regulation of zoos and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A public consultation of the Open Seasons Order (OSO) was carried out in early 2023, providing all interested stakeholders, and the general public with an opportunity to input their views on policy issues. NPWS subsequently engaged external expertise to review the c. 2,500 responses to the survey on the OSO, along with the outcome of the very productive stakeholder engagement meeting held in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department prioritises the ongoing management and eradication of invasive species as part of its conservation role, dedicating a significant level of its resources to these management activities each year. Staff at the NPWS have surveyed the area around the property in question and have attempted to contact the individual in question to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seanad Elections (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In a judgment earlier this year the Supreme Court determined that sections 6 and 7 of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937, which sets out the current legislative provisions governing the election of university senators to Seanad Éireann, are unconstitutional because they are not consistent with Article 18.4.2 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court suspended its declaration...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A range of supports are available for persons who wish to purchase their primary residences. These include examples such as the First Home Scheme which has recently been extended to people building their own homes, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, and the National Home Upgrade Energy Scheme. These supports are not directed towards specific building types. All new dwellings must...