Results 2,741-2,760 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Expenditure (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides the statutory framework for dealing with political financing and sets out the regulatory regime covering a wide range of inter-related issues such as, among other matters, the reimbursement of election expenses; the establishment of election expenditure limits and the disclosure of election expenditure. Under section 3 of the Electoral Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under electoral law, postal voting is available for a number of different categories of people including the following: whole-time members of the Defence Forces, members of An Garda Síochána, Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, electors living at home who are unable to vote because of an illness or a disability, electors whose occupation, service...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of its ongoing workforce planning processes my Department keeps staffing matters under constant review in order to ensure all priority vacancies are filled in a timely manner and that resource allocations are balanced across the Department to meet key priorities as necessary. My Department's latest round of formal workforce planning will get under way in the coming months following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Through Housing for All (September 2021) and the two annual updated action plans (November 2022, November 2023, respectively), the Government has set out its plan to address housing, bringing forward a range of short, medium and long-term actions to stimulate housing supply. Croí Cónaithe (Cities), the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) Investment Scheme, and Project Tosaigh,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 554 together. The Interim Remediation Scheme for the funding of eligible emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes has been in place since December 2023. The Scheme, which is being administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis, is open to applications from apartment Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs) via the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the temporary use by or on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to accommodate or support displaced persons or persons seeking international protection and set out the class of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 430 of 22 October 2024, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The 2024 Framework Implementation Plan provides for the various options available to existing Local Authority Water Services employees, including reassignment to suitable vacancies in other local authority service areas. I understand that Kerry County Council, similar to other local authorities, is currently engaging with the representative union in relation to terms and conditions of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Community Development Projects (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department currently supports a programme of large-scale regeneration projects in Limerick, Dublin and Cork These regeneration projects target the country’s most disadvantaged communities, and seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. The Limerick Regeneration Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling coastal change management in response to climate change will be complex, multi-faceted and dynamic, demanding a range of research, policy and consequential management responses. Through the 15 recommendations set out in the report which have been accepted by Government, an evidence-based coastal change management strategy facilitating key decisions to be taken to address and manage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 566 together. I am satisfied that my Department properly implements the provisions of Circular 4/2013 in respect of staff returning from career breaks. Staff returning from career breaks are included in workforce planning considerations with a view to filling any appropriate existing or forthcoming vacancies in my Department. The information...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Earlier this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme for the period 2024 to 2026 and invited local authorities to submit applications for funding. I am pleased to say that I have now approved funding of some €47.1 million for 256 individual capital projects, which will improve water services in rural areas across the country. Details in this regard...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I received Government approval on 18 September 2024 for the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024. The purpose of this legislation is to place the apartment defects scheme on a statutory footing. The scheme will establish supports for the remediation of relevant and eligible fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local Authority Fire services management and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) have continued to engage with SIPTU representatives following on from a Labour Court hearing and Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in 2023 with regard to the application of a range of policies and the implementation of fortnightly pay to retained firefighters. The implementation of all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a key support, introduced by this Government, to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 566 together. I am satisfied that my Department properly implements the provisions of Circular 4/2013 in respect of staff returning from career breaks. Staff returning from career breaks are included in workforce planning considerations with a view to filling any appropriate existing or forthcoming vacancies in my Department. The information...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have met with and visited the residents in the Burrow, Portrane on a number of occasions, most recently in the Summer of this year. I remain in contact with them directly. Tackling coastal change management in response to climate change will be complex, multi-faceted and dynamic, demanding a range of research, policy and consequential management responses. Ireland’s coast faces...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Earlier this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme for the period 2024 to 2026 and invited local authorities to submit applications for funding. I am pleased to say that I have now approved funding of some €47.1 million for 256 individual capital projects, which will improve water services in rural areas across the country. Details in this regard...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I received Government approval on 18 September 2024 for the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024. The purpose of this legislation is to place the apartment defects scheme on a statutory footing. The scheme will establish supports for the remediation of relevant and eligible fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local Authority Fire services management and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) have continued to engage with SIPTU representatives following on from a Labour Court hearing and Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in 2023 with regard to the application of a range of policies and the implementation of fortnightly pay to retained firefighters. The implementation of all...