Results 321-340 of 1,038,910 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Marian Harkin OR speaker:Brendan Griffin OR speaker:Brendan Howlin)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We can extend it past the date, should we wish. In the intervening period, I expect all permanent board members to be appointed at that stage. This is a transition period. The board is working through parallel meetings at the moment to deal with the backlog. There is a focus on residential development. An Bord Pleanála worked over a number of weeks in the summer to specifically look...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (19 Sep 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: On the backlogs, has the Minister any figures or trends regarding the work that has been done? I acknowledge the beefed-up board is only in its inception and those figures may not be available, but could the Minister provide us with any trend at the moment? Second, I want to follow up on the question regarding prioritisation. Whether it is a matter of policy at the moment or going...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As of August 2024, An Bord Pleanála had disposed of 2,439 cases. That was an increase of 39% from the cases disposed of. Compared to August 2023, there has been nearly a 40% increase in the number of cases disposed of so we are seeing that increase. Deputy O'Sullivan supported legislation that I brought in regarding the large-scale residential development arrangements, which came...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

Vacant Properties

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

David Stanton: 54. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has estimated the number properties that are vacant in the State that could be used for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37013/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

David Stanton: 66. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way his Department is working with the Department of Finance on the administration of the vacant property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37014/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

Michael Moynihan: 110. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the operation of the Croí Cónaithe scheme; the uptake of the scheme in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36749/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

David Stanton: This is an opportunity for the Minister to give some information to Members of the House on the number of vacant properties that could be used for housing in this State, or an estimation to that effect. That includes commercial properties. Second, how is the Department working with the Department of Finance on the administration of the vacant property tax? Is there an overall view of what...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 , 66 and 110 together. Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. The vacant homes action plan, which was 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. Earlier this year, the Minister published an update on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister of State for his response and recognise the work that is being carried out here. Does he have any figures with respect of how many actual properties are vacant in the State in the moment that could be used for housing from this database? Is that database publicly available? Will he comment on the top-up grant for derelict properties? We have numbers for the vacant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (19 Sep 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: The GeoDirectory database for quarter 2 2024 classifies 82,031 dwellings as vacant on a national vacancy rate of 3.9%. This remains a record low. The report showed that vacancy rates had decreased in 19 counties. The database published worrying figures for commercial vacancy. There are crisis levels of vacancy in many towns and villages across the country. In County Sligo, it is 20.5%;...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (19 Sep 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: There is nothing new.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is complex and, by the way, it is not the fault of the people in emergency accommodation. No one suggested that except Deputy Ó Broin.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (19 Sep 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: The numbers continue to rise.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (19 Sep 2024)

Defective Building Materials

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (19 Sep 2024)

Thomas Pringle: 52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will make the revisions to the defective blocks scheme cap and rates retrospective to include people who have availed of the scheme to date, in the interests of fairness and equity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37157/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (19 Sep 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I ask this question in relation to the defective blocks scheme and the amendments that have come forward in regard to it. We know that when the scheme was announced, people were advised to continue on with the old scheme and that the new conditions would be applied retrospectively for them and they would be able to benefit from the new scheme. That actually is not happening. That is a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. It is a very important issue. As the Deputy is aware I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 on 22 June 2023. This was a greatly enhanced scheme where we upped the cap from €247,000 to €420,000. We adopted those regulations for that scheme on 29 June 2023. A review mechanism was included in that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (19 Sep 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Will it also apply to people who have completed works as part of the scheme, who did it in good faith and worked under the old scheme while this new scheme has been implemented and enacted? They are now left, having spent money they cannot access. As well as that, it is vitally important because the new scheme has seen inflation of more than 20% in construction figures and they need to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. The scheme is gaining hold in the affected counties as well. We are seeing more people applying to it. I am looking at recent numbers up to 31 August. In County Clare there have been 112 applications, 1,760 in County Donegal, 38 in County Limerick and 392 in County Mayo. I will be bringing proposals around increased costs and an increased cap as well to Cabinet very...