Results 4,041-4,060 of 8,016 for speaker:Peter Burke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: This is a very important issue, as the Deputies have just highlighted. In terms of towns first, towards the end of the year we will have firm Government proposals for unlocking some of those sites that are targeted in the national planning framework and bringing them back into use. We must also consider sites, houses and shops on main streets that can be converted through the various...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for the question. I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 50 together. I have had no direct interaction with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council recently in respect of specific issues related to vacant housing. Officials of my Department are, however, in ongoing contact with local authorities on issues related to vacant housing, providing advice and guidance...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: I acknowledge that Deputy Carey has consistently raised this issue over the past number of months. It is important and, like him, I can see vulnerable people coming into clinics who need support and assistance with social housing. The review is ongoing. The review will be done in the context of the Affordable Housing Bill and its impact. Current schemes include the direct build scheme,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: I acknowledge what Deputy Carey said. He is right that a key to unlocking this issue is income disregards. He pointed out the case of a family that he has been dealing with. Local authorities have discretion regarding payments that are one-off or temporary in nature and can disregard them. There is potentially more space for such discretion because vulnerable people in receipt of income...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: We should go by facts in this House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: Will the Deputy will let me finish? I did not interrupt him. I would appreciate it if he could give me a bit of time. In the first instance, there has been an increase of 300% in housing supply since 2012. The Government has also delivered 34,000 new social homes, homes that are right for our citizens, since 2016. That represents a 300% increase in supply. While I accept that there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authorities (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 20 together. 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. The 2011 regulations prescribe maximum net income...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: The rental accommodation scheme has been an important contributor to social housing supply since its introduction on a pilot basis in 2005. Expenditure under the scheme covers recoupment made to local authorities for contracted rents due to private landlords and approved housing bodies, administration costs and a damages contingency fund for newly acquired accommodation. Exchequer...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: The Deputy will be aware that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has been keen to redress the imbalance in terms of direct build in our housing. That can be seen on the ground in Tipperary. There has been a 32% reduction in the housing list in the county in recent years. A total of 526 new homes have been built since 2016, including 274 social, 14 under the Part V process and 238 which have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Alcohol Sales (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: Local Authorities, under Section 254 of the Planning and Development Act, can licence street furniture outside a hotel, restaurant, public house or other establishment where food is sold for consumption on the premises. The annual fee is typically set at €125 but, to support the outdoors focus of Summer 2021, I recently set the 2021 licence fee at zero. Local Authorities can also,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency.  In accordance with the Programme for Government, legislation to establish the LDA on a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2016-2021, which is a  joint publication by the Department of Housing and the Department of Health, sets out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities.  The Strategy was developed as part of a coherent framework of housing and care for people with disabilities,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in line with the “preferred draft approach” which was announced in June 2017 by the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in conjunction with the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The review is addressing a number of key...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: The funding system for local authorities is complex, with authorities deriving their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government. Local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, population distribution, public service demands, infrastructure and other income sources, all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 (the Act) introduced new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for strategic housing developments (SHDs) of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála for determination. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: It is relevant to note that, under section 94 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, each planning authority must include a housing strategy in any development plan it makes to ensure that the proper planning and sustainable development of the relevant area provides for the housing of the existing and future population of the area in the manner set out in the strategy. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: I recently announced the provision of just over €4m for local authorities to assist them in their plans for the facilitation of an outdoor summer in the context of the safe reopening of the economy and society in line with the Government’s “Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead” plan. Local Authorities are best placed to determine the type of facilities that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: While our towns and villages have shown remarkable resilience through recent crises, they require specific policy supports to ensure that they continue to function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live and work, to raise families, to act as the service, cultural and recreational hub for the surrounding areas, and to facilitate social and community interaction. In...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 74 together. Since 2018, the National Planning Framework (NPF) is the national planning policy document providing overall strategic policy for the future development of Ireland.  Chapter 5.3 ‘Planning for the Future Growth and Development of Rural Areas’ of the NPF features several specific National Policy Objectives (NPOs) that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (24 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: Housing needs of people with disabilities are addressed in the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2016-2021.  A new NHSPWD, is currently being developed by my Department and the Department of Health, with a view to publishing by the end of 2021. The strategy is about facilitating the provision of housing options and related services to disabled people to...