Results 3,181-3,200 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2023, is available on my Department's website at In relation to the number of households on the social housing lists...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Louth County Council has already delivered their first local authority led affordable purchase scheme. My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association and the Housing Agency, is continuing to advise and support Louth in developing further affordable housing schemes that are well-aligned with the local housing market...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Union (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Gweedore waste water treatment was originally included in proceedings against Ireland taken by the European Commission but this was withdrawn in 2017. In July 2022 Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Donegal County Council, completed an innovative project for waste water treatment in Gweedore. This new scheme will ultimately lead to a reduction in the reliance on septic tanks in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019, the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with providing the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies. The register of AHBs...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Solar Energy Guidelines (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is the case that, as with the large majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy developments. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Generally social housing rents are linked a tenant’s income. My Department provides a range of funding streams, through local authorities, to assist Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) with the delivery of social housing, examples of which include the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) with a Payment and Availability Agreement, or the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). The Capital Loan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In January this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) to cover the period 2024 to 2026. The overall purpose of the MARWP is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services relied upon by rural dwellers, where public water services are not available. An Expert Panel is currently looking at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In January this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) to cover the period 2024 to 2026. The overall purpose of the MARWP is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services relied upon by rural dwellers, where public water services are not available. An Expert Panel is currently looking at...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators. It is good to be back with them again today. A comment was made concerning rushing this legislation or there having been no consultation on it and this being an attack on democracy. I again put on the record of the House that this Bill was approved by the Government in December 2022, published in January 2023 and underwent widespread consultation and pre-legislative...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry. I listened to-----

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I actually did listen to the Senator. I respect the points she has raised and I will endeavour to address them. I cannot, however, leave a charge she has made unanswered. I think it is appropriate that I give my opinion whether the Senator agrees with it or not. It is not just my opinion; there are the facts here too. We have had nearly 200 hours of debate in the Oireachtas on this...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have addressed them. I could actually-----

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fine.

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Regarding the periodic critical review, as the OPR was established in 2019, the PCR is now due to be undertaken. Informal meetings have been held between my Department and the OPR regarding the periodic critical review process. Officials in both the Department of Housing and OPR are currently engaging in an information-gathering exercise in advance of the formal PCR commencing. As part of...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: To answer Senator Boyhan directly, I expect the review to commence this year. As he rightly said, regardless of electoral cycles or when the election happens, the preparatory work has commenced. My officials have been meeting with officials in the OPR already. The information gathering piece is there. It is important that it is done. The office has been in place for five years or...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There are quite a lot of amendments in this group and there are Government amendments as well. I will address amendments Nos. 115, 116, 118 to 122, inclusive, 126, 143, 145 and 146 as tabled by Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn, and amendments Nos. 123, 124, 125, 127 to 130, inclusive, 132, 133, 136, 137 and 141 as tabled by Senators Boyhan and McDowell. We were talking about the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 59, 60 and 61 together. I have committed to establishing a Stakeholder Forum which will meet in the coming months and which will include stakeholders with an interest in the policy areas under the remit of the NPWS. The Forum will adhere to the consultation principles set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Consultation Principles and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Bruton who, as always, makes a very important intervention. The whole environment has changed for school children, particularly with the prominence of social media and mobile phone devices. That is a debate that has been happening across the way. It might be timely on the 100th anniversary of the Department of Education to look at that again. I will certainly speak to the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I ask the Deputy to give me the details. All of us, and the Minister, Deputy Foley, have been very involved in the bus transport scheme. I have found her office to be extremely helpful in that regard. Bus Éireann and its inspectors have a role in it with regard to the routes and where the stops are. I have come across an issue in my own area very similar to the one the Deputy raised....