Results 3,481-3,500 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Jul 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 Schemes (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1039, 1061, 1203 and 1205 together. The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It replaced the Rebuilding Ireland home Loan. It has been available nationwide from local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1040, 1062 and 1204 together. 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. Local authorities also have a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1041 and 1063 together. The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012. It offers households with acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears who have little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances, the chance to surrender a property to a lender and in turn become a social housing tenant whilst staying in their own home and community. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Question No. 139 of 10 July, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1043 and 1064 together. I refer to my response to Question No. 140 of Wednesday 10 July 2024, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1044, 1065 and 1069 together. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I originally published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical installations. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under electoral law, Returning Officers are responsible for the selection and provision of polling stations at polling places. Section 94 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended by section 3 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1996, provides that Returning Officers must, where practicable, select buildings for polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users. Returning Officers continue...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1049 and 1104 together. The European Union (Planning and Development) (Displaced Persons from Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 306 of 2022) came into effect on 23 June 2022. The Regulations give effect to Council Directive No 2001/55 EC and Council Implementing Decision EU 2022/382 of 4 March 2022, to provide immediate protection in EU...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Through my Department's Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme significant funding has been provided to local authorities for housing estates that rely on water services infrastructure provided by the developer of the estate (DPI). The aim of the Programme is to provide funding that assists the local authorities to implement solutions that resolve...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Post Office Network (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities. Under Section 149 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for the executive functions of the local authority, and for that purpose to manage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1066, 1067, 1091, 1103 and 1216 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1068, 1095 and 1214 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities, in their capacity as registration authorities, are responsible for the management and maintenance of the electoral register. It is the duty of each authority to ensure, as far as possible, and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and completeness of the register in respect of its own administrative area. My Department does not compile the information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development Bill 2023 was passed by Dáil Eireann on 12 June 2024 and initiated in Seanad éireann on 27 June 2024. A copy of the amended Bill can be found on the Oireachtas website at the following link: Committee Stage in Seanad Eireann was completed on 17 July 2024 and the Bill will now proceed to Report Stage in the Autumn. Following the Bill’s anticipated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1073 and 1210 together. My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan (NDP). Uisce éireann is the national utility and the primary provider of water and waste water services. State investment in water services in Ireland is provided for in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has engaged with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) in relation to the eligibility of DCB homeowners under the National Retrofitting Schemes run by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). I can confirm that DECC has now introduced bespoke arrangements to assist DCB homeowners to access the existing SEAI energy efficiency retrofitting grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (23 Jul 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 165 valid Owner Management Company (OMC) applications have successfully achieved Phase 2 of the Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme). OMCs have to undertake a significant amount of work to complete Phase 3 of the Scheme, and the time taken to do this will vary for each OMC. The elements of work for OMCs to complete in Phase 3 are set out below:Selection and engagement of a Competent...