Results 19,081-19,100 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (8 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 67 and 68 together. I note the report of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE), adopted on 25 October 2023, concerning the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Ireland. The report follows a process of engagement by a delegation of the Congress’s monitoring committee with a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for creditworthy applicants 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 properties, or to self-build. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (8 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to the coordination of national level responses to flooding emergencies, where warranted. My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management undertakes this role and works closely with Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (8 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under Housing for All to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Nov 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 and is the first multi-annual fully funded housing plan in the history of the State. The Plan is supported by an investment package of over €4 billion per annum, through an overall combination of €12 billion in direct Exchequer funding,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2022 10,263 new social homes were delivered, including 7,433 new-build homes which represented the highest delivery of new build social housing since 1975. In the first half of 2023, 2,298 new social homes were delivered, including 1,401 new-build homes. Social housing delivery is traditionally weighted to the second half end of the year so we do expect to see a significant increase,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The approach taken under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme was considered in the development of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. However, due to the different scale of both schemes and the flexibility sought by homeowners the DCB Grant scheme required a different approach. The enhanced scheme, as legislated for by the Oireachtas, is now up and running. It is a significantly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. Housing for All, sets out a suite of measures to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant properties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Risk Management (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 111 and 117 together. 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). The arrangements for emergency management are seen as having worked extremely well, in particular the responses...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Nov 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 by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address increased housing delivery and methods to support increased use of MMC are set out in Pathway 5 of Housing for All. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction. The Housing for All Action Plan Update and Quarter 3 2022 Progress Report,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 138 together. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this Act and in order to inform decisions on the commencement of this measure, work is underway in my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 116 together. 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, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. The 54,000 affordable home interventions that will be delivered between now and 2030 will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I, together with Minister O’Donnell, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, published Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (SCSGs) and associated environmental reports (SEA and AA) for public consultation on the 30 August 2023. The draft guidelines are available to view on gov.ie - Public Consultation on the Draft Sustainable and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grúpaí Idir-Rannacha (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá Grúpa Idir-Rannach (ina bhfuil oifigigh ón Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta; An Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán; agus Údarás na Gaeltachta) ag leanúint lena chuid oibre maidir le treoir phleanála ar leith a fhorbairt do cheantair Ghaeltachta. Tá Grúpa...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 129, 143 and 149 together. In July 2022 my Department launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. On the 1st May 2023, I announced a revised grant rate of up to a maximum of €50,000 available for the refurbishment of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In May 2021, guidelines were issued to planning authorities advising that conditions should be imposed on planning permissions to prevent multiple housing and duplex units being sold to a single buyer. Under this measure, all houses and duplexes would have to be made available to sale and for first occupation by separate, individual households for a period after completion of the unit. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to work proactively with both Galway City and Galway County Councils. Quarterly meetings are held between representatives from my Department and the Councils housing teams to cover a range of issues relating to the Councils' social housing programme, including reviewing progress in advancing individual projects and to seek to resolve any challenges arising. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Nov 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, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...