Results 19,541-19,560 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 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: Housing Policy (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Maximum rent limits for HAP were set for each housing authority area in 2016 in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is that eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 25 April 2023, as part of a suite of measures to help reduce housing construction costs and incentivise increased housing supply, the Government introduced a temporary time-limited arrangement to waiver the local authority “section 48” development contribution and a refund scheme for water and wastewater connection charges payable to Uisce Éireann. I can confirm that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 68 together. My Department’s Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to private domestic water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no Uisce Éireann water services. The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address some of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants and as such the issue referred to is an operational matter for the RTB. My Department is not aware of the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 79 together. According to the latest census data available there are almost 500,000 domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS), mostly septic tanks, in Ireland. Under the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012, it is the responsibility of the owners to ensure that their DWWTS is fit for purpose, operational and kept in good order. Owners of septic tanks...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Dec 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: Vacant Properties (7 Dec 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. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. While the reasons for vacancy are often complex, the re-use and regeneration...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) has a major role in the delivery of new homes, particularly on underutilised and vacant State lands. It has two primary housing delivery channels, which are Direct Delivery on State-sourced lands; and Delivery through housebuilder partners, known as ‘Project Tosaigh’. The LDA’s near to medium term delivery pipeline through these delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) scheme launched in May 2022 . The scheme is a viability measure designed to support the building of circa 5,000 apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The scheme aims to bridge the current 'viability gap' between the delivery cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). The scheme is managed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The approach taken under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme was considered in the development of the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) 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 and will see significant...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those 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. On 14 November 2023, I...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department and the Department of Transport jointly established a working group in December 2021 under ‘Housing for All’ to consider opportunities for Transport Orientated Development (TOD) in major urban centres. TOD is important to achieving the National Planning Framework’s (NPF) priorities for compact and sustainable growth, supporting climate targets under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The zoning of land for particular uses, including housing, is an exercise undertaken as part of the overall statutory development plan function under sections 9-13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). Under this legislation, the decision to zone land for development is a reserved function of the elected members of each planning authority. My Department published statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Help-to-Buy scheme is administered by the Department of Finance and any development or expansion of the scheme comes under the remit of that Department. I continue to engage with all key stakeholders to support innovation and the delivery of affordable homes under Housing for All. With that in mind, prior to the announcement of Budget 2024, officials from my Department engaged...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The provisions in Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 were formally notified in draft form to the European Commission in accordance with the notification requirements of Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 87 together. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes, by 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Bill 2023 provides for 10 year Development Plans, replacing the current 6 year cycle. The content of development plans will now be more strategic in nature. They will include an integrated overall strategy for the area and six thematic strategies. The longer cycle allows more time in between plan making cycles for effective implementation of the plan agreed by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (7 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: According to the latest census data available, approximately 10% of the population obtain their water from a private water supply (or private well). Owners must ensure that the water supply is wholesome and clean and is fit for human consumption. My Department, provides financial assistance with grants, which are subject to terms and conditions, to assist householders dependent on these...