Results 19,901-19,920 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (1 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (1 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Dáil Question No. 334 on 30 January which sets out the position.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (1 Feb 2024)

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. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. 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: Water Services (1 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding directly to Local Authorities for capital investment in water services infrastructure through the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme and Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme. Details of funding I have approved under these programmes are available at the following links: www.gov.ie/en/circular/cf807-circular-l219-approval-of-schem...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (1 Feb 2024)

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: Housing Schemes (1 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 206 of 26 October 2023 which sets out the position on this matter. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in different bands according to the area concerned, with income defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The policy provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities have discretion to disregard income that is temporary,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (1 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293, 294 and 295 together. Uisce Éireann was established as a company under Part 2 of the Water Services Act, (No. 6 of 2013) as a subsidiary of Ervia. The subsequent Water Services (Amendment) Act, (No. 39 of 2022) separated Uisce Éireann from Ervia and established it as the standalone national authority for water services. Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Feb 2024)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/9e4ee-get-planning-statistics/. The data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 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. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cork Events Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. It was agreed by Government in the context...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regional Development (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a broad national plan for strategic planning and sustainable development of urban and rural areas, with the objectives of securing balanced regional development and a sustainable approach to the form and pattern of future development (a ‘compact growth’ approach). The necessary co-ordination of plans at regional and local level to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tenants in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Properties (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Recommendations on all sites identified in the Report on Relevant Public Lands which was published by the LDA in 2023 are now under consideration. Sites which are being recommended for transfer to the LDA will be submitted to Government for consideration in sets, based on highest priority sites and lowest level of site constraints. Subsequent sets of sites will be considered by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As the national standalone public water utility, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for the provision and maintenance of fire hydrants in Ireland. The upkeep and maintenance of these fire hydrants is an operational matter for Uisce Éireann.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that a review of the private wells grant schemes is ongoing. As part of this review, my Department is engaging with key stakeholders in the Rural Water Sector. I expect to receive recommendations for my consideration shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is governed by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. Changes to the scheme were introduced on 29 January 2024 when the Housing (Sale of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Dáil Question No. 356 of 30 January 2024 which sets out the position on this matter.