Results 19,221-19,240 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (16 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (16 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. The named organisation informed the DHRE, and my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is responsible for, inter alia, ensuring that there is a suitable social housing legislative and regulatory framework as well as making funding available for the delivery of social and affordable homes. Local authorities are the statutory housing authorities and their responsibilities are set out across the Housing Acts 1966 to 2022. The overall day-to-day operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (16 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 287, 297 and 318 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (21 Nov 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 Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme represents an additional strand of delivery to increase the supply of social housing. Housing for All includes a specific objective to increase the use of PPPs to deliver social housing and significant progress is being made under the new programme. My Department is actively working with relevant stakeholders including the National...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The day-to-day operation of the social housing system, including the oversight and practical management of existing tenancies is a matter solely for each local authority. It is, however, my understanding that persons who wish to move into an existing tenancy may apply to the local authority for the right to reside in a local authority dwelling and to be on to the rent account, for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage 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: Vacant Properties (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In acknowledgement of the administrative overheads for local authorities in managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, the Department provides an initial supporting allocation of up to €180,000 to each local authority in respect of processing applications for both schemes, which are funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, as follows:Up...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (21 Nov 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act), which contains the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme commenced on 22 June 2023 and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The Enhanced Grant Scheme provided for the extension of the scheme to include dwellings damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (21 Nov 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 under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cybersecurity Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has training and awareness campaigns in place in relation to its IT Systems and cyber security best practices. My Department works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which encompasses the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE), and operates in accordance with NCSC guidance in this regard. My Department does not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 304 together. My Department has Cybersecurity policies and plans in place in relation to its IT Systems. My Department works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which encompasses the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE), and operates in accordance with NCSC guidance in this regard. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has contracts in place to provide relevant services. My Department works in line with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance on Cybersecurity in the public service, and works closely with the NCSC which encompasses the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE). My Department does not comment on operational security matters as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together. As you are aware 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is my intention to bring forward a piece of legislation provisionally titled the Fire, Emergency Management and Public Safety Bill, whose primary purpose will be to update the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. It is also my intention that the Bill will place relevant elements of evolved emergency management practice at national and local level on a statutory footing. A General Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Constitutional Amendments (21 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 87 of 9 November 2023 which outlines the position on the matter.