Results 2,421-2,440 of 25,975 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We want houses to get commenced.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Housing for All - A New Housing Plan for Ireland is the Government's housing policy to 2030 and the most effective way of accelerating housing supply. Pathway 4 of Housing for All specifically looks at making the most efficient use of our existing housing stock. My Department provides private housing grants to assist older or disabled people who wish to stay in their own homes or those...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Gould for bringing forward this question. My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability which supports older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their homes to meet their needs. Housing for All commits to reviewing the grants scheme and a report on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: There are obviously two aspects. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is the senior Minister so he obviously received the report as well. Looking at housing adaptation grants falls under my specific remit. The Deputy will have to take my word. I have only recently received the review. I am actively working on it. I am actively meeting officials to see how we can progress it. I take...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are looking to have the review concluded very quickly. It would then become a budgetary matter in regard to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. We will progress it. We do not want to see that situation such as the Deputy's example happening again.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I see it on the ground. For me on the ground the housing adaptation grant is a very good scheme. It has not been reviewed since 2014. I take that on board. We now have a report from the officials and we are working with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to go through it forensically. From that we want to bring forward a proposal that we will have to bring to the Department of Public...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Which council is this?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The tenant in situscheme is hugely successful. Going back to the Deputy's case, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council provides an exemption for social housing units provided by a co-operative body. The Deputy’s councillor colleague is correct. The measure relating to development contributions and refunds is an activation measure and is about getting sites under construction...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Many local authorities, including Limerick City and County Council, Sligo County Council, the already-mentioned Dublin City Council, Galway City Council and South Dublin County Council, effectively provide exemptions from development contributions for all forms of social and affordable housing. The Deputy’s colleague is obviously a member of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Bacik for the question. Section 48(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that the level of contribution, and the types of development to which development contributions should apply, including any exemptions from charging in specific circumstances if that is deemed appropriate, are determined at local authority level. Local authorities'...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Government is committed to increasing housing supply generally, including rental accommodation and to protect renters while retaining landlords in the system. In particular the Government is committed to the introduction of a meaningful and effective Budgetary package for the rental sector to include both taxation and expenditure measures. Over the coming months, my Department and I will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report was published in July 2019. The Report reviewed the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of accommodation for Travellers. The Expert Review report, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of the arrangements for providing accommodation for members of the Traveller...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Under Housing for All, the Government aims to deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme. The LDA is tasked with managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Areas of Conservation (17 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this very important matter of the protection of our European sites and the nature directives. Obviously, his issue is specifically around Killarney National Park and the Burren National Park, which have enjoyed the full protection afforded to special areas of conservation for several decades. From the date of public notification, sites proposed for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Areas of Conservation (17 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this matter. While not commenting in any way on the European case, it relates to what was in place in 2019. The Government and the Department have made seismic advances in terms of registering statutory instruments. We are now down to just 40 and we expect to have them dealt with shortly. I agree that the protection of Ireland's natural habitat is of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (17 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Davitt for raising the matter of the security of councillors once again. I acknowledge the work he has done in this area on behalf of all our colleagues and councillors the length and breadth of Ireland. I have huge respect for the work they do. I started as a councillor and my colleagues were very supportive in allowing me to continue my political career by electing me to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (17 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Once again I thank Senator Davitt for raising this very important matter. Improved home security measures can help somewhat to reassure councillors and provide peace of mind for them and their families. However, there are wider questions of civility in public life and respect for elected office, which must be tackled at a societal level.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (17 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are here to represent the public. It is very much an interactive model. We have a particular system in Ireland where we are very close to the public and we must maintain that. It brings an added dimension to our political life that is not available in some other countries. For that to happen, we must have respect on both sides. That is the case for the majority of the public. I would...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Policy (17 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Tully for raising this important issue. I will deal with the two items. Regarding Part M, and it providing for "visitable" rather than "liveable", the Deputy might forward to me precisely what she has in mind in that regard. We have carried out a review on the housing adaptation grants and I am looking at it in partnership with and working with the Minister for Housing,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Policy (17 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Tully for raising this very important issue. The new joint National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 was developed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and was published, as the Deputy said, on 14 January 2022. The strategy places an...