Results 19,481-19,500 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Following an open competition the consultancy firm referred to has been contracted to provide environmental assessment services to the Department in respect of the first revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF), namely the Strategic Environmental Assessment, Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. This is to ensure that the revision to the NPF complies with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Roadmap for the First Revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF), published in June 2023, provided an outline of the indicative timelines for the revision process. A copy of the Roadmap can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/deef6-a-road-map-for-the-first-rev ision-of-the-national-planning-framework/. A core objective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seanad Elections (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 sets out the current legislative provisions governing the election of university senators to Seanad Éireann. In a recent judgment the Supreme Court determined that sections 6 and 7 of that Act, which provide for the election of members of the Seanad by certain university graduates, are unconstitutional because they are not consistent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In July 2022 I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. In May 2023, I announced a revised grant rate of up to a maximum of €50,000 available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and also for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates an X account and has a grey checkmark as a government organisation. Further information on this type of profile label can be accessed on the X website at the following link: help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/profile-labels. My Department does not have this verification through a subscription fee. My Department has a social media policy is in place and Departmental...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Framework for Future Delivery of Water Services (June 2022) was agreed following a comprehensive process of engagement with unions under the aegis of the Workplace Relations Commission and enables the integration of public water services into Uisce Éireann's organisational structure, as envisaged in the Government’s Policy Paper on Water Sector Transformation (February, 2021)....

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 to 338, inclusive, together. Local authorities derive their income from a variety of local sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government. It is taken that the questions relate to income from commercial rates. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. The funding system that applies to local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from central Government. Local authority income and expenditure is reported in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Income...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Data on the commencement of residential dwellings, at local authority level, are published monthly on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts /

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (6 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Bill 2023 outlines significant organisational restructuring of An Bord Pleanála, notably the separation of the decision making element of the organisation (the Planning Commissioners) from those with responsibility for oversight of its governance. It is in this context that the proposed new name of An Coimisiún Pleanála arises. The Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (6 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (6 Dec 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 Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (6 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In making decisions on a planning application for any type of development, a planning authority, or the Board as appropriate, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area having regard to the provisions of the local development plan, any submissions or observations received from the public and the statutory consultees, and any relevant Ministerial or Government...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (6 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the publication of Housing for All, the Government has focused on the activation of permissions and land for housing. The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) is a new tax introduced in Finance Act 2021 which seeks to increase housing supply by encouraging the activation of lands which are suitably zoned and appropriately serviced. Draft maps were published by local authorities on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (6 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department providing information on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in their functional areas, including on the amount of derelict site levy collected. However data in respect properties levied in which a statutory body or a State authority may have an interest is not collected as part of the annual returns and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The regeneration of Poolbeg West is an important step in the transformation of the Dublin Docklands area, with the potential to provide for 3,500 homes. A condition of the planning scheme for the Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone, as modified by An Bord Pleanála on 9 April 2019, is the provision of 15% social and affordable homes on this site in addition to the 10% statutory social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (6 Dec 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: Housing Provision (6 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department engages with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research and Science and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment through the Housing for All governance structures. These include the Housing for All Industry Capability Working Group (ICWG), and the Modern Methods of Construction Leadership and Integration Group (MMC LIG) chaired by the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (6 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (ABP) is a quasi-judicial body which carries out its statutory functions independently of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. An Bord Pleanála appointed an external reviewer, Ms. Lorna Lynch, Senior Counsel, to carry out a scoping investigation into certain matters. An Bord Pleanála have advised that, in conducting this scoping...