Results 3,341-3,360 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The detailed administration of each affordable purchase scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority in line with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. My Department liaises closely with all relevant local authorities in relation to the ongoing development and delivery of their affordable housing delivery programmes. I understand that the affordable purchase scheme in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under electoral law, a nomination paper must state the name, address and occupation (if any) of a candidate at a local election. A ballot paper must contain the name and description of the candidate standing nominated, as shown in the nomination paper. This requirement is intended as a means of identifying a candidate and ensuring the transparency of elections. In ruling on the validity of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the TRIS 2022/376/IRL and 2022/184/IRL, my Department, over the course of 2023, engaged extensively on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transparency and targeting of political advertising as that proposal progressed through the inter-institutional negotiations. In this context, Regulation (EU) 2024/900 of the European Parliament...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 to 295, inclusive, together. 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. Under section 11 of the Act, the Government can increase or decrease the overall grant scheme cap of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 to 302, inclusive, together. 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). Social Housing is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Membership of the Working Group recently established to undertake a review of engineering qualifications in the local government sector is detailed in the table below: Shane Tiernan Chief Executive, Roscommon County Council (Chair) Eamonn Hunt Local Government Management Agency Lorna Maxwell South Dublin County Council ...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív. Cuirfidh mé ceist ar an Aire Iompair faoin slí idir An Cheathrú Rua agus An Clochán agus Claremorris freisin. Tiocfaidh mé ar ais chuige go luath faoi sin.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this. I actually visited Castlemartyr with Deputy O'Connor and I agree with him. I will certainly raise these three towns, and the other issues the Deputy mentions, with the OPW on his behalf. I know he has been advocating very strongly for them. Work we are doing within my own Department, separate to that, is to improve the flood forecasting in our rivers...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I genuinely thank Deputy Mythen for raising this matter which is one that many Deputies have been raising with the Minister, Deputy Foley. In fairness, she is currently undertaking a review of the school transport scheme, and I believe that is nearing completion. It is important to note that every single day 140,000 children are able to access school transport across the country, but...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy raised this issue earlier this week or last week and it is a very pertinent point. The crucial issue with right-sizing is providing choice for people so that they do not feel that they must leave their family home. I know that is not what the Deputy is advocating. It is about choice. We do have schemes running through local authorities. Earlier this week Deputy Bruton...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: First, the targets are not ceilings. Many local authorities have exceeded the targets we have set them for social housing delivery and I want them to do that. A number of affordable housing schemes have been brought forward in Ennis and Shannon and we want to see more of them. As I mentioned previously, the vacancy grant is working very well across the country and in County Clare in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Of course, given the weekend that is in it, we want to ensure there is a safe and secure water supply. Where essential maintenance is required, especially on the basis of scientific tests which show that work is required to the fresh drinking water system, that needs to happen. If the Deputy gives me the details, I can raise it directly with Uisce Éireann to see what mitigation...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter regarding Carlow, which is of no surprise to me. A matter relating to Carlow is raised every day. This is a serious issue. I do not take it lightly. If the Deputy can give me the details, I will raise the issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and get him to look into it and respond directly to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: What we intend to do is to continue to build on the progress we are making. I have been in Longford and other places across the country many times. We have dealt with ten years of significant housing supply. Thankfully, since this Government came into office, we have delivered 110,000 new homes. I have been in Longford many times and have seen the fantastic new homes being built there....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy Smith on this. All of us know of children who are waiting far too long for initial assessments of need. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has brought forward a plan for an additional €12 million in funding to be able to purchase assessments through the private sector, as well as giving consideration to using the NTPF model. I want that stood...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I saw the attacks on the campaign of Ejiro O'Hare-Stratton and the racist tropes that are being at thrown at new Irish people and communities. Thankfully, more people from our diverse society are running for local authorities across all parties and none. All of us support that, and I certainly do. These types of attacks on campaigns and the abuse hurled at candidates, regardless of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am glad the Deputy raised this issue. I met with Finola Cassidy again last week. Other Ministers, including the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, have engaged on the matter. I want the process to be restarted. Last year, the facilitation process, which is confidential in nature, made a great deal of progress. That has stalled now, however. I earnestly want to see it restarted....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I will get further clarification for her directly from the Minister for Health. My understanding is that there will be 300 individual inpatient en suite rooms, each of which will include a place for parents or guardians to sleep. In addition, there will be 60 critical care beds and 20 child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, beds. That...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Thank God the Deputy is not the only workers' representative here. All of us represent workers. We do so in a country where 90,000 new jobs have been added to the economy over the past year.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Éist liom.