Results 3,161-3,180 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is Part 17.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 13: In page 29, to delete lines 11 to 16 and substitute the following: “ “approved local newspaper” means, in relation to the functional area of a planning authority— (a) a publication (other than an online publication or online version of a publication) that— (i) circulates in the functional area of the planning authority, and...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have outlined the rationale for amendment No. 1. It may have caught some of the Deputies by surprise that the debate on the Bill had started but I was operating to the schedule. What we are looking at here, which is very important, is the extension of the RPZs for another year while we look at what other rent controls might be introduced. We are using the Bill as a vehicle to do that....

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On Deputy Ó Broin's first question, the provision allows for exactly what he has outlined. Taking Carrigaline as an example that has been raised in the House, the passing of this provision would give me, as Minister, the power to add the portion in question to an RPZ even though it would not, on its own, meet the criteria for an RPZ. On Deputy O'Callaghan's question, we will see...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I cannot accept the two proposed amendments to amendment No. 1 tabled by Deputies Boyd Barrett, Ó Broin, Ó Snodaigh, Gould and Cian O'Callaghan with the aim of adding references in the Long Title to give effect to international conventions and directives of the European Parliament and of the Council and to a number of other enactments that are referred to in the Bill but not...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Okay. I have moved the amendment and I have spoken to the others in the group. I will come back in if need be.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: To be helpful, Deputy Farrell moved Deputy Ó Broin's amendment.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I take it that the same applies. It is seven minutes and two minutes.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: In page 27, to delete lines 5 to 9 and substitute the following: “An Act to consolidate and revise the law relating to planning and development; to provide for proper planning and sustainable development in the interests of the common good; to provide for the licensing of events and control of funfairs; for those purposes to repeal and replace the Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. The aim of the review is to strike an appropriate balance between addressing the concerns of local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 395 together. I received the Report of the Housing Commission on 8 May and published it in full very soon thereafter on 22 May. The Commission’s work has taken two-an-a-half years to conclude, culminating in a 400 plus page report (including appendices), and 83 recommendations and 540 or so actions and sub-actions. Accordingly, it requires...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s grant scheme for the renewal or repair of a thatched roof provides funding of up to €6,350 or up to 80% of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland where the private owner holds a medical card. A higher level of assistance of up to €8,252 is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace that protects the rights of all employees. To demonstrate our commitment to providing a fully inclusive culture my Department is currently developing an internal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy, in collaboration with staff. This work is in line with commitments made in the Civil Service...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The General Services Supervisor (GSS) is the most senior grade within the general operative and related grades structure in local authorities. It is of its nature therefore primarily a supervisory grade which operates across all of the key functions including Roads, Water and Environment. The duties assigned to a GSS will vary according to the nature of the role, the number of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The equity share in an affordable home purchase arrangement is a function of the gap between the purchasing power of the approved affordable housing purchaser and the open market price of the property concerned. The provision of affordable purchase housing by local authorities is supported by a capital subvention of €50,000, €75,000 or €100,000 per home from the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government Legislation Programme for the Summer 2024 Session, which was published on 16 April 2024, sets out my Department's priority legislation and can be accessed at the following weblink: www.gov.ie/en/publication/edb3c-government-legislation-progr amme-2024/ Importantly, the Planning and Development Bill 2023 remains a top priority for me and the Government, and commences Report...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 376 and 377 together. Statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in the Local Authority Performance Indicator Report. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the number of dwellings in local authority ownership and the percentage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commit to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their home. The most recent tenant purchase scheme, the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is based on an incremental purchase model. This scheme strikes a balance between increasing the scope for those in receipt of long-term housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 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. The grant scheme, as set down by the Oireachtas, facilitates the remediation of existing houses that have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks, but not the...