Results 2,141-2,160 of 25,975 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: In the past quarter, as the Deputy is aware, 1,279 people, including children, have been prevented from going into homelessness or have exited homelessness. Those numbers are increasing. The measures are working. We appreciate that the numbers are very high.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: They relate to preventing people from going into and exiting homelessness. The NHAC subgroup put forward 15 recommendations and the Department reports progress regarding the recommendations of NHAC members. There are fine Government policies on homelessness, including among children.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. We are supporting households to exit homelessness by increasing the supply of housing. The Department has prioritised measures that focus on accelerating social and affordable housing supply through a combination of new builds, targeted acquisitions and leasing. A record €4.5 billion was available...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fire Safety (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy has a long way to go.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fire Safety (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy needs a full preamble.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Sinn Féin has a different scheme. Nevertheless, if Deputy Ó Broin wants to adopt our policies, we would be delighted.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Maybe he has seen the light. In the interests of clarity, Deputy Tully asked about people being able to build in rural areas. I very much support that. We increased the grant from €30,000 to €50,000 and from €50,000 to €70,000 in terms of the costs involved. We extended it to rental properties. We brought the period of time back two years from pre-1993. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is coming.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: In Carlow.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputies. Yes, we have given directions and guidelines to the local authorities. However, in the interests of absolute clarity, we will write to the local authorities again on this specific area of discretion. On a couple of points, if an application was approved prior to 1 May 2022, the Deputy will probably be aware that applicants have 18 months. We have now extended the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We in government would very much welcome any change of mind on Sinn Féin's part on particular policy dimensions.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I think that Deputy Ó Broin, in his interpretation of Croí Cónaithe, is trying to do a twist of faith. He is basically changing the scheme. Our scheme works.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 154 together. In July 2022 we launched the vacant property refurbishment grant under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund. This supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. In May 2023 we announced a revised grant rate of up to a maximum of €50,000 available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As the Deputy is aware, the local authority affordable housing fund scheme is equity based. We have made changes to that scheme in the current year. It ensures people will get a discount of at least 22% when they qualify for the help to buy scheme, which Sinn Féin opposed. Our system of people being able to purchase their own homes is not binary. Sinn Féin's system is binary....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes on average per year over the next decade. Some 54,000 affordable homes will be delivered between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, approved housing bodies, AHBs and the Land Development Agency and through the first-home scheme, which is a strategic...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The target for the period up to 2030 is to complete 54,000 units. Our target for this year is to deliver 5,500 units. Last year, we delivered 1,750 units and from looking at the various aspects, the momentum is good. The local authorities have affordable homes projects for 4,300 units in total across 72 projects in 20 local authorities. As the Deputy is aware, they have already advertised...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Since 2013, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme which has supported retrofit work on over 77,500 social homes to the end of 2022 with a total exchequer spend of €251 million, this figure includes those dwellings retrofit under the Midlands Retrofit Pilot. In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: The Affordable Housing Fund is one of a number of funding streams the Government has made available to support the delivery of affordable housing. The AHF is specifically for the provision of affordable homes by local authorities. An allocation of €100m in capital funding will be provided for AHF for 2024. The AHF is available to contribute towards the development costs of...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides an important funding stream to address the key challenges facing the Rural Water Sector. Under the upcoming programme, funding is available to support the Rural Water Sector to build on the achievements and lessons learned from previous multi-annual programmes. Capital funding of €175m is committed to the MARWP under the National...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the...