Results 4,821-4,840 of 26,666 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Interim Remediation Scheme is a demand-led scheme, and therefore a list of eligible properties is not maintained. My Department is currently, as a matter of priority, preparing legislation to put in place on a statutory basis, a remediation scheme for owners of certain apartments affected by fire safety, water ingress and structural defects. This legislation will establish supports...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that the delay in publication of the Marine Protected Areas Bill has arisen due to the legal and technical complexity associated with this ground breaking legislation. This has meant that drafting has taken longer than anticipated. However, my Department has been working in close collaboration with parliamentary drafters and our legal advisors to develop this Bill. Drafting is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Departments’ Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI Programme) provides funding to assist local authorities to resolve issues with DPI to enable the taking-in-charge of the housing estates. As regards the estates referred to in the question, my Department received an application for funding under the DPI Programme from Kerry...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2023, I announced the successful applications that are approved funding under the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages without access to Public Waste Water Services. Following the announcement, my Department wrote to Kerry County Council confirming approval of funding for the village of Beaufort and outlining the next steps required to commence and deliver the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Guidelines for Planning Authorities relating to Childcare Facilities, were issued in 2001 by my Department under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to provide a framework to guide both local authorities and developers. Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to the guidelines in carrying out their functions. The...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 795: In page 311, line 37, to delete “permission for retention” and substitute “retention permission”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Is this section 169(g)?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I followed a lot of it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will start with Deputy O'Callaghan. I happen to agree with his point. I think the regulations that govern the provision of childcare facilities, particularly the ratio of homes to childcare facilities, go back to about 2001. Coincidentally, while the committee was sitting yesterday, I had a couple of meetings with regard to what we are going to do in that space. We are carrying out a...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The first one relates to section 169(2). Yes, it could be used for the purpose stated by the Deputy. It is not set out specifically for that reason but it does allow for the ability to waive fees.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There are current waivers for charities, for argument's sake. I refer as well to where there are elected members and where their observations, whether I agree with them or not, are made. The Deputy will be aware of this aspect. Some local authorities have very strict criteria around what can be included in an observation in respect of where a fee would be waived. For argument's sake, some...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, it is a carryover. There is nothing new in that section.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is only in the preliminary stage. I have actually-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We will have to engage with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as well because some of this crosses over to its area of responsibility as well. Certainly, however, in relation to the provision of new childcare facilities in new developments, in my view there can be issues in this regard, especially around the ratio. We would, though, have to do this in a...