Results 3,721-3,740 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Question Heading for question(s) 194 (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority. If a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The policy of providing grant funding to households for work on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular. Three separate grants are available to provide financial assistance to householders to repair or upgrade their defective DWWTS. The grants are focused on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy and national standards, providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 200 and 201 together. Under Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 & 2003, there is a standing obligation on the “person having control” of the premises to ensure appropriate measures for fire safety are in place at all times. In addition, the design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (18 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207 and 209 together. The Building Regulations set out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings and works to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings. They are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment, and to ensure that due...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank members and the Chair. I welcome the opportunity to discuss with the committee the Department's Revised Estimates for 2024 and the Votes for Tailte Éireann and the Electoral Commission, which are also under the aegis of this Department. I am joined by the Minister of State with responsibility for local government and planning, Deputy Alan Dillon, and by the Minister of State...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Nothing has been surrendered. The additional amount – it was approximately €62 million – was allocated to the secure tenancy affordable rental investment scheme, STAR, to which we were receiving applications. We only opened that scheme late last year and there was a great deal of interest in it, so we wanted to secure those tenancies. I will discuss the AEV in a...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Where it comes from is what I-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We will get the information on where it came from for the Deputy.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Deputy repeat his question?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Let me check that and come back to the Deputy. I am only being told where it is going. I will have to look at it and compare it with the previous ones.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand the point. I do not have it to hand.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: With the pipeline and demand we have, we will have to manage the Vote carefully. That is why we sought and received approval for additional funding. We have already added additional funding to the first home scheme and the affordable housing fund. For this reason, I think we will spend out. I am trying to see, such is my eyesight, but I will get clarification. I think there is a note...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes. Is that this year's or last year's? It is a Supplementary Estimate from last year.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We have that and will get it for the Deputy. That is the net. It is here, but in very small writing that I can barely see.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, we will give it to the Deputy.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In certain areas we actually overspent last year and had to reallocate moneys. The pipeline is so strong for delivery this year that I expect us to spend that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes. We sought and received flexibility within those subheads too. Towards the end of last year, we had to move money, as I mentioned. The secure tenancy affordable rental, STAR, scheme did not exist. I will not say that will not happen again. We might have a new delivery mechanism we have to fund, which we did successfully last year when the STAR scheme was opened. We needed to fund...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I should have said that we will respond in detail to the Ceann Comhairle's letter. There is no question of us trying to hold back information. I assure the Deputy of that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (13 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I could go back and forth with the Deputy now. I know he does not want to. The document he received from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform was a working document.