Results 18,761-18,780 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: 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 authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of recent views expressed by the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on 27 September, 2023. The BPFI advised the committee that only homes remediated to current building regulations would be mortgageable in the future. Officials from my Department met with the BPFI on 28 September,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Oct 2023)

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 and 54,000 affordable homes by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4 billion per annum, through an overall combination of €12 billion in direct Exchequer...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A funding application to progress 19 new social homes at the old Castleblayney fire station in conjunction with an Approved Housing Body has recently been submitted by Monaghan County Council to my Department and this proposal is currently being considered and evaluated. While at an early stage, the Council's proposal involves some age friendly housing and homes to cater for persons with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (5 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Waterways Ireland proposes 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An external supplier was engaged by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) on behalf of my Department following a competitive procurement process to assist in the search for a permanent replacement for the role of Chief Executive of Dublin City Council. My Department had no role in respect of the selection of the successful supplier. PAS manage the executive search process and consult with my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (5 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister for Social Protection is responsible for various schemes to assist people with insufficient incomes to meet their needs and the Minister for Finance is responsible for taxation. A landlord may be allowed to claim Mortgage Interest Relief against rental income from residential accommodation. The interest must be from a mortgage that is used to purchase, improve or repair a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: International Agreements (5 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) requires Parties to prevent, control and reduce transboundary impact, use transboundary waters in a reasonable and equitable way and ensure their sustainable management. While Ireland intends to ratify the Convention, there is no agreed timetable to do so at this time....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Modern methods of construction (MMC) is a key way of helping to address Ireland’s housing needs, be they urban or rural. Modular and timber are key components within the range of MMC categories. MMC has the potential to increase productivity and efficiency, improve delivery, and reduce cost and waste in construction. Coordination of activities to promote MMC adoption is being led under...

Financial Resolution No. 4: General (10 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: THAT it is expedient to amend the law relating to inland revenue (including value-added tax and excise) and to make further provision in connection with finance.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Delivering on housing is the defining challenge of this Government. After over a decade of undersupply, our country is catching up but too many of our people are still left behind. We need to do more and do it quicker and we will. I know how hard things are for people but we are making progress. In 2023, more homes will be built and more homes will be bought than in a generation. We will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (10 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not allocated or provided any funding to Ervia for the period 2014 to date. In the period to 2022 and while Uisce Éireann was a subsidiary of Ervia, funding was provided by my Department to Uisce Éireann pursuant to the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022. However, due to its share ownership structure, Uisce Éireann did not meet the definition of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (10 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The administration of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and HAP application processing times within local authorities may vary. Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is entered on the system by the local authority and then submitted for processing and payment by the HAP Shared...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 262, 263, 264 and 282 together. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). For 2023, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Domestic Violence (10 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Where an applicant for social housing support owns accommodation that is occupied by his or her spouse, from whom he or she is formally separated or divorced, a deed of separation is required. Local authorities may provide such households with social housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) or the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme until ownership of the family home is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (10 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Brú na Bóinne is a complex and multi-layered archaeological ensemble and an extensive UNESCO World Heritage property. The upstanding monuments, most notably the great passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, constitute only a fragment of the overall archaeological resources across the World Heritage property, with new discoveries constantly being made and records often...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (10 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: Housing Schemes (10 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: Approved Housing Bodies (10 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). I am not aware of any housing developments or projects under the aegis of this...