Results 2,741-2,760 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The legal framework for the holding of referendums is set out in the Constitution and the Referendum Act 1994. Article 46(2) of the Constitution provides that every proposal for an amendment of the Constitution shall upon having been passed or deemed to have been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, be submitted by Referendum to the decision of the people in accordance with the law...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for Government. My Department does not collate the figures requested in relation to the anticipated yield of housing units arising from Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. However, the data sought may be available from Kildare County Council. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Grant schemes for water services funded by my Department are provided for certain private domestic water and wastewater services such as Group Water Schemes and Septic Tanks. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment provides a range of information and resource supports for businesses. Further information can be found on their website which brings together information and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home. The Scheme was expanded on 17th April 2023 to include the Tenant Home Purchase Product, enabling...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022, when it replaced the Rebuilding Ireland home Loan which was in operation from Jan 2018 to Jan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012. It offers households with acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears who have little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances, the chance to surrender a property to a lender and in turn become a social housing tenant whilst staying in their own home and community. The table below sets out the number of mortgage to rent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In early 2019, legislative amendments to provisions relating to placename changes in Part 18 of the amended Local Government Act 2001 were commenced. At the same time, previous provisions under local government legislation for the changing of placenames were repealed, and replaced by provisions in the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, amending Part 18 of the 2001 Act, which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gaeltacht Policy (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An Interdepartmental Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of my Department, the DTCAGSM and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The purpose of Part V is for the State to capture a portion of the increase in land value resulting from the granting of planning permission for residential development. The current Part V legislation provides for local authorities to acquire up to 20% of this land at existing use value and to use it to deliver homes to those households who qualify for social and affordable housing support. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to provide funding to local authorities under the legacy Affordable Housing Scheme for payment of mortgage subsidy to qualifying households based on income thresholds. The Scheme was stood down in June 2011 and householders who entered into agreements prior to the standing down of the scheme remain eligible for subsidy based on income. New affordable housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Compulsory Purchase Orders (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Addressing vacancy is a key priority for this government. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I originally published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. I recently published an update on the Action Plan a year on which shows the significant progress that is being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The qualification criteria for social housing support are set down in Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. A household may apply for social housing support to one local authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (10 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Details of the total rent collected by local authorities and the levels of arrears are contained in the annual local authority Audit Reports prepared by the Local Government Audit Service and published by my Department. With the exception of Cavan County Council, the 2023 Audit Reports are not yet available. Details of rent local authority rent arrears from 2019 are included on the table...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: They have taken a minute off. They are brutal.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and all Deputies for facilitating the debate on this urgent legislation before the summer recess. I wish to record my thanks to the Chief Whip and members of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for enabling the Bill to be read a Second Time here today. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 390, inclusive, together. My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391, 392 and 432 together. Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 including 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. ...