Results 19,041-19,060 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are designated as lead agencies for coordinating the local response to flooding emergencies as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006), details of which are available on my Department's website at the following link: . The arrangements for emergency management are seen as having worked extremely well, in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004, all or part of any unspent appropriations for capital supply services may be carried over for spending in the following year. This provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. This must be expended in the following year i.e. it is not permissible to further defer any surplus. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently finalising the text and Programme of Measures for the third River Basin Management Plan which will cover the Water Framework Directive (WFD) third cycle up to 2027. The delivery of a new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, and will advance Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by, inter alia, providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Dwellings under the scheme come from a number of different sources including private owners, Part V and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Details of the number of units and funding of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I too welcome those homeowners affected by this serious issue, which the Government is committed to helping resolve. Since the receipt of Government approval in January of this year, I have made considerable progress on the various programmes of work that are required to place the apartment remediation scheme on a statutory footing. We all agree it is important that this happens. As the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In my initial answer I wanted to inform the Deputy, the House and most importantly residents that there is work ongoing on this on a daily basis. We have appointed the programme manager in the Housing Agency, who will be speaking to residents next week when we have a further webinar on 14 November. I am pleased to inform homeowners that the interim scheme addressing essential fire safety...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The legislation will be detailed and we need legislation to underpin this scheme. We have worked collaboratively on this. The Housing Agency is the lead agency on this and it has extensive experience in that regard. The legislation will be published next year and with the co-operation of Members across the House we can work together to get that through as expeditiously as possible. This...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Agency will be central to that scheme.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It will manage the scheme and we will work through that. Our focus, as my direct engagement with residents has been, is to get the interim scheme set up and I want to get that done and open for applications by the end of this month.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his question. Since the publication of Housing for All, the Government has focused on the activation of permissions, which we are seeing happen now. I will go through that in some more detail. The residential zoned land tax is a new tax, introduced in the Finance Act 2021, which seeks to increase housing supply by encouraging the activation of land which is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What is happening on the ground can be seen across the country, including in Deputy O'Callaghan's constituency in Dublin. We have not seen anything like the number of homes and apartments under development since 2007. Progress is being made. The residential zoned land tax is a big change in how we manage land and how we will deal with reducing speculation on land and people hoarding land....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: No one is delaying it. One has to get it right. This is a really-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: This is really extensive work.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Across every single local authority, all maps were published. We had to allow the public to make submissions if they wanted to request a dezoning of land too, where land was zoned residential, they had no intention of developing it and did not want to develop it. We had to engage with all relevant stakeholders to allow that public information campaign and for public consultation to happen....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with programme for government commitments I established the Housing Commission in December 2021 as an independent body to examine and evaluate Ireland's housing system, including issues such as tenure standards, sustainability, quality-of-life issues and the provision of housing. At the same time, I also tasked the commission to advise the Government on the critical factors to be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand the point Deputy Ó Broin has made. First I must get a decision from the Government based on the recommendations that I will bring forward as to what the next steps are. I know the committee has engaged on this and it is important that the committee views the report. I do not believe that should take a great length of time either but the committee needs to consider what is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. If a minority report comes forward that is fine. It is a good thing and it shows that people are taking the matter seriously. The commissioners are drawn from all different walks of life and perspectives. It is a small number of members and the vast majority are in agreement with the report as it is. I want to be clear that I have had no information on any...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Sinn Féin could have allocated money to it in its alternative budget.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There has been a Pauline conversion concerning this scheme, which they have consistently opposed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.