Results 2,661-2,680 of 25,975 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Council Development Levies: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will arrange for that. The Government shares that interest and, therefore, will not oppose the motion. I will share with Deputies an outline of the existing measures in place in addition to those further proposed measures that are in line with the spirit of the motion, namely, that the uplift in funding derived from new developments benefits those affected communities. The Government...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important issue. In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. They also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the specific issue raised by the Deputy, Dublin City Council has received State funding. In respect of the energy efficiency schemes in phase 1, with funding from my Department, it saw 8,057 housing units upgraded with cavity walls and attic insulation. In phase 2, a further 1,110 units had their facades wrapped and windows upgraded. Some 80% of the council housing had been upgraded by...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (1 Feb 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: When was the letter sent?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: This is my second visit.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: This visit is just as important.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Acting Chairperson for his words of welcome. As a former Member of this House I am always glad to come back here for its excellent debates on various topics. I thank Senator Davitt for raising this matter. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to come before the House today to speak about the important issue of councillors' security. Local government plays an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Just directions.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Representation Allowance (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: To give clarity to the Senator, under the current directions, statutory instruments and guidance issued last September, councillors are entitled to get the full cost of an installation of a CCTV camera system in their home. They are entitled to 20% of the annual running cost thereafter. I take on board the Senator’s point. They will be issued with revised directions for expenses of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Urban Development (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Boyhan very much for raising this matter. The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040 and was established to support more compact and sustainable development through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland's five cities and other large towns. The Senator noted that is based on populations exceeding 10,000. The fund...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Urban Development (31 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: As I said, many of these projects are now coming to fruition. The Senator will see much more of that €1.5 billion in funding being drawn down. As I outlined earlier, a key action in supporting the Government's vacant homes action plan is the third round of URDF support, which will be specifically designed to address long-term vacancy and dereliction across our URDF cities and towns...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I think that covers the range of issues that were brought up. This is a great scheme. We want this scheme to work. We want to work in tandem with local authorities. The Deputies, as public representatives on the ground, are a key element of this. If there are any tweaks that are required to the scheme, funding is not an issue here. We want take-up. The town centre first policy is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: No, applications.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Going through the questions in the order raised, in response to Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan, the Croí Cónaithe scheme only came in for the cities in November. Certainly, we are only looking at the period to the end of December and it is a short timescale in terms of Cork city. I refer to the vacant homes officers. Deputy Stanton raised it as well. If Cork county, Cork city...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes. That five Deputies contributed shows how relevant and important the Croí Cónaithe scheme is. I will take them in order. Starting with Deputy O'Sullivan, Croí Cónaithe has no income threshold, so people can-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are keeping the Croí Cónaithe scheme under constant review. There has been a significant uptake so far, with 716 applications nationwide. In Cork county, 84 people had applied to the end of December. In Cork city, four had applied. The scheme is immensely successful. We want to get it bedded down and to encourage people to apply for it. Even if there is considerable...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I reiterate that that report is imminent. The report for 2021 should have been delivered in 2022. Both respective managers of Galway City Council and Galway County Council will give an update to their members at the next local authority meeting. More particularly, we will follow up to make sure this report is finalised with immediate effect - at the very latest by the end of the first...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 96, 108, 132, 157 and 159 together. Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. Housing for All, the Government's housing strategy, 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...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy. I have not received the report referred to in my reply to Question No. 89 of 30 November 2022. I understand it is in preparation but the public housing delivery outputs for 2022 are currently being validated for all local authorities, including for both Galway councils. This information will be important for the report's completion. I anticipate this report will cover...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It would have been expected that we would have received the report for 2021 in 2022. That has not happened. We are where we are. I will follow up with the task force on the matter of the report being with us. We are now in the first month of 2023. The report will be received by me by the first quarter but I will certainly follow up to make certain it is expedited. We are looking to...