Results 2,401-2,420 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: -----which would reduce the pension tax relief that they receive. Regarding the Government's decision, the Minister for Finance considered the independent de Buitléir report carefully, taking into account its recommendations. If the Deputy has seen the report, then he will know that we have not accepted all of its recommendations. The Government has agreed to implement a staggered...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Our focus has always been on, in the first instance, average workers and those who assist them in making provision for their pensions and, in the second, ensuring a continued increase in the State pension, which the Government has always prioritised. We will make it a priority in this budget as well. There has been an increase of €29 in the standard weekly State pension since this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Which ones?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The principle of the purchase of homes of tenants in situ is one that everybody in the House supports.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Last year, we bought 1,830 homes. The original target had been 200. It was reset to 1,500 and we increased it further. Deputy Troy, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, and I met the chief executive of Westmeath County Council yesterday. For clarification, so that everyone is clear on this, there is no ceiling on the number of homes a local authority can purchase under the scheme...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The cost-rental tenant in situ scheme is working very well and has been set up on an administrative basis.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not interrupt the Deputy once. I ask him to let me answer. The cost-rental tenant in situ scheme does exist. It is administered by the Housing Agency and we have purchased more than 200 homes in that space already.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Let me answer the question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is in bad form today. I do not know why.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will attempt to answer the question because I respect Members when they ask questions. They might respect that I always speak through the Chair.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I always speak through the Chair. Very clearly, with regard to exhausting other options that are available, if a tenant receives a notice to quit, there may be other options available and those should be looked at. It could be a social housing allocation, which happens in many instances. So far this year, 4,210 adult preventions and exits have been achieved. I want to talk about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is very good.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Wynne asked about capital and the provision of funding to local authorities to continue the e tenant in situ scheme. That is in place. Deputy Ó Broin referred to a June circular. I wrote to the local authorities after that - in July last. I have said this in the House on a number of occasions and have engaged directly, as I do, with the chief executives and directors of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Economic Policy (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Fingal is a major employment zone too. Taking the airport as an example, 25,000 people are directly employed on-campus, with about 120,000 indirect jobs in that area. That is how important the airport industrial and economic zone is. Certainly, regarding remote working, specifically for Fingal, last year the local government division of my Department last year allocated €150,000 in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Economic Policy (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. The national planning framework, NPF, published in 2018, sets out a vision and strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040. National policy objective 44 of the NPF specifically commits to further supporting and developing the economic potential of the Dublin-Belfast corridor, in particular the core Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry network, and to promote and enhance...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Economic Policy (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Specifically on Fingal and Balbriggan, we can look at what our Department has done with funding under the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF. We will use Balbriggan again as an example of very significant investment to improve the public realm, purchase vacant properties, open up Dublin Street, the quay, the harbour and all of that, and that work has been transformative. We want...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We can extend it past the date, should we wish. In the intervening period, I expect all permanent board members to be appointed at that stage. This is a transition period. The board is working through parallel meetings at the moment to deal with the backlog. There is a focus on residential development. An Bord Pleanála worked over a number of weeks in the summer to specifically look...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As of August 2024, An Bord Pleanála had disposed of 2,439 cases. That was an increase of 39% from the cases disposed of. Compared to August 2023, there has been nearly a 40% increase in the number of cases disposed of so we are seeing that increase. Deputy O'Sullivan supported legislation that I brought in regarding the large-scale residential development arrangements, which came...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is complex and, by the way, it is not the fault of the people in emergency accommodation. No one suggested that except Deputy Ó Broin.