Results 4,061-4,080 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January 2023, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with the commitment under Housing for All, work continues to advance on determining the scope, functions, role and structure of the proposed Building Standards Regulator. To this end, a steering group has been established to provide high-level strategic guidance to my Department on a range of relevant matters. On receipt and consideration of the group’s report, I intend to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Commission report has not yet been submitted. Once the report is received, and after I have had the opportunity to examine it, I will bring proposals for next steps to Government for consideration. A formal response to the report's findings and recommendations will issue thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and 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 the local authority to determine what action is necessary and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (16 Apr 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 Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I completely and utterly reject what the Deputy has just said. It is a measure and an option that is available. Every tenant in the country has been written to through the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, with the options available. The scheme operates on an administrative basis and nothing will stop with regard to applications. I have already said to the Deputy that it must be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy can have a chat with his colleagues who are sitting behind him.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. We developed the cost rental tenant in situ scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because the landlord intends to sell. This was an add-on to the tenant in situ scheme which I mentioned earlier. There were more than 1,800 purchases last year and we will continue that scheme into this year. We will continue the cost rental tenant in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will come back to Deputy Wynne on it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have the majority report and the minority report on the proposals on how housing would be reflected in the Constitution. I do not have the overall Housing Commission report. It will come in time. It is about the future of housing in Ireland. While we are doing this, as we have said in answer to questions previously, it is important we continue to increase our housing supply, including...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not true.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Unquestionably, the Croí Cónaithe grant scheme is working extremely well. The Deputy would also know that, because it is Exchequer funding, there have to be checks and balances on the payments of grants. I know Sinn Féin might play fast and loose with money from time to time but, in fairness, it is Exchequer funding and we have to be careful with it. The scheme has taken...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy has rightly mentioned there are two reports on this. There is the majority report and the minority report, both of which have to be considered together. I welcome that. It shows that the commission has done good work and there are different views on it. It is complex. We have seen with regard to Bunreacht na hÉireann that one must be extremely careful and respectful of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: No. I will do that when I come back in.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: You opposed it, Pearse.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I reject completely the charge that we have stuck our heads in the sand. Let us deal with the issue itself, however. Deputy Doherty is aware that in June of last year, I commenced the enhanced scheme through the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022. I remind him that he and his party voted against that enhanced scheme, which would have left...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Doherty knows very well that his constituency colleague - the Minister, Deputy McConalogue - was on European business that evening. The Minister engages with me on a daily basis and advocates in a positive and constructive way for changes to the scheme. He actually made an input into the new scheme, unlike what Deputy Doherty did. I will remind the Deputy that I wrote to him, his...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: -----proposed, which is for one property and one additional property. I know there was also much discussion around holiday homes and otherwise that evening. I want to make sure that the Deputy did not commit to it that evening either. The reality of it is that it is our job to make this scheme work. It is working for households. It needs to improve-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As I said-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry-----