Results 4,041-4,060 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2023 for tenants in private rental homes who do not qualify for social housing supports and are at risk of homelessness because a landlord has served a valid Notice of Termination due to an intention to sell the property. The primary tenant eligibility condition for accessing Cost Rental housing also applies for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight and management of the lists of qualified households awaiting accommodation, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant housing authority in accordance with Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. While there is no obligation on local authorities to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as quasi-judicial, independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA ) to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. Tenants and registered landlords may refer a matter for dispute resolution under Part 6 of the RTA, where the RTB may award up to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 to 402, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government is committed to funding Uisce Éireann’s capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. There will be record levels of investment in water services by Uisce Éireann in the period 2021-2025, with commitments of almost €6 billion in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not generally keep a record of qualifications held by staff members, and accordingly there may be staff working in various roles in the Department who have a qualification in quantity surveying but applied for different positions. There were seven WTE Quantity Surveyors Grade 1 employed in the Department at the end of April in roles where this is a requirement. There were...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. Government also agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, taking account of the constitutionally protected property rights of landlords, introduced a targeted Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. Rent controls are applied on the basis of the objective evidence available via the RTB...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. Legislation enacted in December 2022 amended the Planning and Development Act. The provisions under sections 3, 13 and 14 of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Act 2022 which insert section 179A into the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, have commenced. These provisions provide that housing development by,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Fossil fuel boilers have been effectively phased out in new dwellings. Electricity heating systems, the majority of which are heat pumps, were installed in 97% of new dwellings in 2023. By comparison, fossil fuel boilers were installed in less than 3% of new dwellings in 2023 – down from 79% for the period from 2010 to 2014. It is expected that this upward trajectory will continue with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2023, I announced the successful applications that are approved funding under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme for the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages without access to Public Waste Water Services. Following the announcement, my Department wrote to Clare County Council confirming approval of funding for projects in the villages of Broadford and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Interest Rates (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a government backed fixed rate mortgage for creditworthy First Time Buyers and Fresh Start applicants to purchase a home. The Local Authority Home Loan is only available to applicants who have been refused credit from at least two commercial lenders for the equivalent finance. The Housing Finance Agency provides financing to local authorities for the mortgages...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or the associated Planning and Development Regulations, 2001, as amended (the Regulations), requires planning permission. Section 247 of the Act sets out the process for pre-planning meetings (also referred to as pre-application consultations). Section 247(1)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a BER of B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this Programme out to 2030. Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 7 December 2022, the Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill (STTL Bill) and the priority drafting of the Bill providing for the establishment of a new registration system for short-term lettings to be operated by Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment in this regard under Housing for All - A New Housing Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (11 Jun 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's current financial management system became operational in 2004. As agreed with the Deputy, a review of this system's records shows that my Department had one contract with BAM Civil in 2009. Details of that contract are in the attached table. Company Purpose Agreed Cost (incl. VAT) Actual Cost (incl. VAT) Project Name Devolved Responsibility BAM...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (11 Jun 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. Registration of all...