Results 401-420 of 5,661 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: I can answer that one. The vacant homes officers grant extensions of the 13-month period on a discretionary basis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Senator for his question. I know the Senator has been a strong advocate for the revised scheme. In May of this year, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I announced an individual allocation in the region of €93 million for the housing adaptation grants. This provided a provision of €74.5 million from the Exchequer along with a 20% contribution from the local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: I want to add a point regarding the conversion from office to residential. This is an important space with a sub-committee currently in place which is examining the potential for the development of vacant commercial properties for housing. Work is ongoing to gather evidence regarding the regulatory difficulties for those redeveloping vacant commercial properties for housing. It is really...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: I will briefly add to the Minister's response. There is an ICT element that is really required for stock management. A pilot scheme was implemented last year; it will be rolled out this year. We will move to a more preventative maintenance system rather than a reactive system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for this question on voids. Since the Government came to office, there has been a substantial increase in the level of funding to remediate voids and in the level of output in remediating them. When we took office in 2020-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: We are looking at stock condition surveys. That is something on which the Department is working with local authorities. We are also implementing information computer technology, ICT, to have real-time information on stock conditions. The intention is to roll that out to all sectors in 2024. It is work in progress. We are transitioning to a predominantly planned maintenance programme...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: The Government and Department are responding to the level of need. I echo the point that local authorities are in charge of these properties. We have made allocations. Last year, we allocated €46 million to fund local authorities for stock improvement work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: I am just saying that is for stock improvement work. It is also important that local authorities themselves focus on the job they have and are in a position to rent properties in their ownership that are in a well-received condition. That is really important. The Deputy referred to the individual cases that are presented to him. He will know from his engagement with Cork County Council...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: We will continue to work with the local authorities in each county on the needs they present.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: Yes. They are really important guidelines. My officials are still working on them to bring them to a conclusion. We hope to have them as soon as physically possible. I have put out a call since taking office over eight weeks ago so, again, I hope they will come before me within the next few weeks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: Yes. That is correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: I do not have an approximate time with me today but I certainly will follow up with the committee in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: I have engaged with Mr. Niall Cussen on taking office. Like all Departments and sectors, especially within the construction sector and within local authorities, there is a competitive process to get skilled talent and graduates form the various universities that qualify these types of professionals. There is always a competition in a vacancy. We are looking to increase the number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: Certainly, that speaks to the point around the need for proper consistency and alignment throughout all the planning process, at national, regional and local level. I think those are the inconsistencies that cause people who submit applications to be angered and it leads to increased frustration. Certainly, the Planning and Development Bill 2023 is looking to address that, especially around...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: There are liaison welfare officers in each of the local authorities who work with individuals who are at their most vulnerable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: Our Department is developing a ministerial action plan on planning resources which, to the Deputy's point, responds to the capacity challenges in the planning sector. A steering group led by the Department has been established. It will co-ordinate and provide oversight to the action plan. As we said, it will comprise representatives from the local government sector, the Office of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: They will.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Alan Dillon: It is interdepartmental.