Results 3,381-3,400 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 769 and 770 together. 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 Housing Agency acts as agent on behalf of the local authorities under the Enhanced Grant Scheme. Once a home...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. It is understood from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The allocation of social housing, including newly constructed housing, is dealt with by individual local authorities. My Department doesn't have a role in such allocations. I understand from Carlow County Council that the new social homes at the development referred to encountered challenges with water supply services which they now inform us, have been resolved and will allow the allocations...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to construct and purchase homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that local authorities and AHBs progress Social Housing projects through is the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF). CALF funding is capital support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home. The Scheme was expanded on 17 April 2023 to include the Tenant Home Purchase Product, enabling...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. Applicants who meet the Fresh Start criteria may apply to the Local Authority Home...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On foot of the Court of Appeal Order dated 19 January, 2024 and the Supreme Court Order dated 19 September, 2023 expenditure of some €630,000 was incurred by my Department to meet the applicant’s legal costs in this case. It should be noted that legal costs incurred by the State in defending proceedings instigated against my Department, are not met directly by my Department. In...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Interim Remediation Scheme for Fire Safety Defects in Eligible Apartments and Duplexes (‘Scheme’) provides for the funding, through Owner Management Companies (OMCs), of emergency fire safety defect works in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in affected buildings pending completion of the full remedial works. A whole building approach is required to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Sep 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. Where my Department enters into an arrangement to fund posts directly with a local authority this funding would be predominately for the provision of staff to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Programme for Government (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s mission is to support sustainable development and vibrant communities through strategic planning, the sustainable and efficient delivery of well-planned homes, the sustainable management of our water resources, the nurturing of Ireland’s heritage, and effective local government. Our mission is shaped by the 178 commitment items (CIs) from the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The table shows the housing agencies, AHBs and registered charities that have received funding from my Department since 1 January 2024. Housing Agencies Approved Housing Bodies Charities - - - ·Local Government Management Agency ·Residential Tenancies Board ·The Housing Agency ·ALONE ·Ark Housing Association Ltd. ·Arlington Novas Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 Sep 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. I have engaged with Insurance Ireland with regards to the insurance aspects of underwriting houses that have been subject to certified remediation works under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Social Housing is delivered through a range of Local Authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes. Capital expenditure on the delivery of new social homes is also supported by current funding provided through the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). In respect of Affordable Housing delivery, Housing for All provides for a number of important affordability...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In response to the Programme for Government commitment, my Department launched a newly revised ten year Local Authority Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) in 2021 to retrofit 36,500 local authority homes by 2030. This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure, including offshore wind energy projects, and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. Prior to making a maritime area planning application for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. If a household meets the eligibility and need criteria, it qualifies for the suite of social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 791, 867 and 871 together. In January this year, I launched the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026 (MARWP) and invited local authorities to submit applications for funding with a closing date of 12 April 2024. Under the MARWP, all applications received by the Department undergo a two stage evaluation process. Stage one involves my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (9 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home. The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company is responsible for the operation and management of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (9 Sep 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). Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved Housing...