Results 3,481-3,500 of 26,778 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Economic Policy (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. The national planning framework, NPF, published in 2018, sets out a vision and strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040. National policy objective 44 of the NPF specifically commits to further supporting and developing the economic potential of the Dublin-Belfast corridor, in particular the core Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry network, and to promote and enhance...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Economic Policy (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Specifically on Fingal and Balbriggan, we can look at what our Department has done with funding under the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF. We will use Balbriggan again as an example of very significant investment to improve the public realm, purchase vacant properties, open up Dublin Street, the quay, the harbour and all of that, and that work has been transformative. We want...

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)

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 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: 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)

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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: All I can say is, Deputy, it is subject to my bringing the memo to Cabinet, which is being prepared at the moment, with options for Cabinet to decide upon. I can say to residents and affected homeowners that they will see an increase in the cap. They will see an increase in the allowable costs, the application of which and the approval of those is subject to Cabinet approval which I expect...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. Deputy Devlin tabled the question and I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for standing in in his stead. An Bord Pleanála, as the Deputy knows, is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We are resourcing the Housing Agency. There is a specific senior programme manager in place in the agency who is managing the applications. We have worked very closely with the OMCs on the applications, being able to seek the correct information and working that through. That is why the pathfinder schemes are so important. We receive applications every single day of the week and continue...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It was considered. We are going on a whole-of-building basis, and that is the way to do it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Absolutely. We are working through the process for retrospective payments as well. I gave a commitment when I entered government to address this issue. The three parties of the Government gave a firm commitment to address this issue. Residents' response to our announcements on the works so far have been very positive. I will continue to work with them and all interested Members of the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is an absolute priority for me as Minister and the rest of the Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Last year, almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered through build, acquisition and leasing, including 8,110 new-build homes, representing the highest level of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Ó Broin and every Member of this House knows that the reasons people enter homelessness are very complex. People enter homeless emergency accommodation for a variety of reasons. One of the main preventive measures the Government introduced that is working is the purchase of homes for tenants in situ. So too is the increased supply of social housing stock. People are spending...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Certainly not.

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

Darragh O'Brien: There is no restriction on the tenants in situ scheme. I wrote to the local authorities-----

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

Darragh O'Brien: Excuse me, do not interrupt me. On 5 July, I wrote to every chief executive across the country stating the targets set for them were the floor, not the ceiling. We exceeded our target last year. I expect us to do that again this year. The Deputy raised this last year as well. He said there were arbitrary targets and ceilings set regarding tenants in situ. There are not. It is a very...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The interim fire safety scheme is in place now. It is a complex arrangement. At the outset, I thank the stakeholders and the residents in particular, including the Construction Defects Alliance, the Apartment Owners Network and Not Our Fault, which have engaged in a really constructive manner. Yesterday, I received Government approval for the priority drafting of the main scheme...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Safety (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I reject any assertion there have been delays in bringing this forward. We want to make sure the interim fire defects scheme works for people and residents. That is why I have engaged personally with literally hundreds of residents and their representative groups on this issue. The legislation we agreed yesterday is very important too. It will go to the Oireachtas joint committee...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (19 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: First-time buyers are being supported under Housing for All and activity is continuing to strengthen, with the number of first-time buyers in the year to June 2024 some 28% higher than the same period in 2021 when Housing for All was introduced. A number of key measures have been put in place under the Plan, including, for example, the First Home Scheme which supports first time buyers...