Results 18,741-18,760 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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. Monitoring of invasive species at Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve in County Wicklow continues throughout the year. There has been...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that my Department has been notified of potential legal proceedings. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for Allis the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing over the next decade. It includes unprecedented State investment of €4.5 billion per annum to facilitate the supply of housing at the substantial scale required to meet demand, including 54,000 affordable homes by 2030. Greater supply is key to meeting demand and facilitating access to affordable housing....

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides financial support through the domestic waste water treatment system grant schemes to assist householders to carry out works to repair or upgrade defective septic tanks. I can confirm that a review of the grant schemes has been recently completed by my Department. As part of the review, there was extensive consultation with stakeholders, including convening a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In April 2022, I announced a new funding measure, as an advance stage of the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services. Funding of €50 million has been specifically allocated under the National Development Plan 2021-2030. The first round of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently finalising the drafting of the regulations to provide for consequential amendments to the Planning and Development Regulations regarding substitute consent procedures, following which the substitute consent and other relevant provisions of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 will be commenced. The regulations are in the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not use ChatGPT or any other Artificial Intelligence (AI) to conduct business. As with all new technologies, my Department is assessing the potential of AI in the delivery of services, in line with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance on its usage in the public service, and works closely with the NCSC which encompasses the State's national/governmental...

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

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently 450 AHBs registered with AHBRA. My Department does not hold information on organisations that may have registered as AHBs in the past but are no longer on the register. The Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act makes it an offence for a person, other than an AHB as defined in the Act, to describe themselves as or hold themselves out to indicate that they are,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: One of the functions of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) is to collect and publish information (including statistical information) concerning AHBs as it considers necessary and appropriate. AHBRA conducted its first monitoring programme in September 2022, the results of which have been published in its first Sectoral Analysis on 8 May 2023, and is available on their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commit to strengthening the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme and ensuring that it is helping those who need it. Building on the significant amendments already made to the scheme in 2017, the 2021 Review, published on 24 January 2022, examined the impact of these changes and what further changes would benefit those in need of the scheme. While...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 141 together. 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 the fire...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. Waterways Ireland is proposing to update the Shannon Bye-laws and Canal Bye-laws which are more than 30 years old. The needs of users have changed, environmental landscape and health and safety considerations have developed significantly and the waterways themselves have been transformed over these decades. There is an open public...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Waterways Ireland is proposing to update the Shannon Bye-laws and Canal Bye-laws which are more than 30 years old and no longer fit for purpose. The needs of users have changed, environmental landscape and health and safety considerations have developed significantly and the waterways themselves have been transformed over the past thirty years. The purpose of updating the Bye-laws is to make...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Solar Energy Guidelines (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the programme, designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. My Department has been working closely with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Public Drinking Water Fountains have been installed by many Local Authorities in recent years. In response to the Programme for Government commitment to install drinking water fountains two pilot projects are being undertaken. These projects are being led by Uisce Éireann and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) respectively. Any future funding from my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (4 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan, which is available since 4 January 2022 is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants, who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. As part of the eligibility criteria, applicant(s) of the Local Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Oct 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...