Results 2,841-2,860 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (25 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. A review mechanism is provided within the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Act 2022, which allows me, as Minister, to increase the overall grant scheme cap of €420,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (25 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 140 of the Electoral Act 1992 provides that every notice, bill, poster or similar document having reference to an election or referendum, or distributed for the purpose of furthering the candidature of a candidate at an election, or a particular result at a referendum, shall bear upon its face the name and address of the printer and of the publisher. The Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 135 and 136 together. I refer to my reply to Question No. 186 of 18 June 2024 (PQ 25933/24) regarding a review of the Defective Concrete Block (DCB) Scheme. It should be noted that arising from the Government Decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced DCB grant scheme, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has developed the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023 and is currently managed by the Housing Agency, pending further...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Enforcement of the Building Regulations is delegated under the Building Control Act to local building control authorities (i.e. the 31 local authorities) who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. A total of 2,150 applications have been submitted to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme (Enhanced and previous) since its launch in June 2020 and to date 54...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Electoral legislation has not been amended on foot of the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case of Kiely vs Kerry County Council (Case No. 2014/366). The case concerned how the law, in this case the Local Elections Regulations 1995, was being applied rather than the substance of the law itself. Under electoral law, the returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act') on 22 June 2023, which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities and the Housing Agency in the first instance. Their respective roles...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All. In December 2022, funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January 2023, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. Last month, I launched the Vacant Homes Action Plan, Progress Report April 2024 which sets out what...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. The Housing for All Action Plan Update published in November 2022, included an action to examine the creation of a system of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (20 Jun 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 Schemes (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). For 2023 and 2024, the Government agreed that there would be increased provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All the Government has targeted delivery of 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, an average of 6,000 affordable homes to be made available or supported every year for purchase or for rent by Local Authorities, AHBs, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and via the First Home Scheme. The LDA represents a crucial lever in the Government’s delivery of affordable...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Minister, Deputy Foley, comes in - she is in a committee at the moment - I will share time with her. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion. The EU migration pact forms a central part of our national response to the migration crisis. It is collective action working together to address a common challenge in a humanitarian way. That is part of the best...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Bill 2023 is the culmination of a comprehensive legal review of the Planning and Development Bill 2000 (as amended) by the Office of the Attorney General. There was consultation with stakeholders as part of the Review followed by extensive pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. The Bill is currently before the Oireachtas and recently completed all stages in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Correspondence (19 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities, in their capacity as registration authorities, are responsible for the management and maintenance of the electoral register. The Electoral Reform Act 2022 delivered the legislative underpinning for a range of significant electoral reforms, including in relation to electoral registration, set out in the “Programme for Government – Our Shared Future”....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (19 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Regulations for a new gratuity scheme for local authority members have recently been published under S.I. No. 276 of 2024. Related guidance has been issued to local authority staff and serving members. The Regulations, which commenced on 14 June 2014, provide that where an elected member of a local authority ceases to hold office and has at least two years' qualifying service having...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (19 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Based on the current pay levels for Conservation Rangers, the estimated cost of recruiting an additional 30 WTE Conservation Rangers for the National Parks and Wildlife Service is €982,426. My Department is currently engaged with the Public Appointments Service in recruiting additional Conservation Rangers.