Results 4,161-4,180 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (30 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 203 together. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Housing for All required...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (30 May 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 reuse and regeneration of vacant and derelict properties in cities, towns, villages and rural areas not only provides much needed housing, it can also transform and revitalise communities. The Vacant Homes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (30 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (30 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/9e4ee-get-planning-statistics/ However, the data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (30 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government and my Department continue to support local authorities in the delivery of new public housing, with strong recent delivery and ambitious national and local targets set for local authorities to deliver further social and affordable housing. To support this delivery, Budget 2024 provided for continued record investment in Housing with €4.25 billion in Exchequer funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 new homes per year, over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through First Home, a strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service directly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing First provides a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing homelessness for individuals experiencing mental health, physical health, substance misuse, social, behavioural, and other challenges. The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The capital expenditure provision for my Department in 2024, as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2024 published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and available at www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/ is €3,888m. The breakdown of this capital allocation by Programme is set out below: PROGRAMME 2024 GROSS CAPITAL...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (29 May 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 Progress Report, which I recently published on my Department's website, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The enhanced grant scheme was legislated for following extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders. At the time of the Scheme launch, I established an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Schemes provide for the purchase, by eligible tenants, of local authority properties which are available for sale under the terms of the particular scheme. All applications must satisfy the requirements outlined in the relevant legislation. However, the schemes only provide for the purchase of local authority properties, and do not extend to properties owned...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (29 May 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. The grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority and are available only in circumstances relating to risks to water quality and/or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department recognises that continued investment in water infrastructure is required across urban and rural Ireland. With regard to our rural communities, my Department is committed to support take-up of Uisce Éireann’s Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme to provide water and wastewater growth capacity in smaller settlements and also to continued non-Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There are a number of housing estates across the country that rely on developer provided infrastructure for their water services networks. These estates have not been taken-in-charge and their water services networks are not, currently, connected to the public (Uisce Éireann) network. The water services infrastructure, provided by the developer of such estates, is more commonly called...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s grant scheme for the renewal or repair of a thatched roof provides funding of up to €6,350 or up to 80% of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland where the private owner holds a medical card. A higher level of assistance of up to €8,252 is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 261 and 292 together. 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 Progress Report outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Act 1966 provides for the charging of rent by local authorities on social housing tenancies. Rents are based on household income levels, with those on lower incomes paying lower rents. This system is known as the ‘differential rents’ system. It is a critical piece of State’s welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands...