Results 5,001-5,020 of 7,163 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: 305. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the underspend of his Department for 2021; the percentage of underspend that will be carried over to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3455/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: 505. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if jurors for the Stardust Inquest will be entitled to be paid as they are in criminal cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3452/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Chair and all our guests. I have six questions, the first five of which are for the Department. I want to ask the Department about the proposal that was put forward by Mr. Mel Reynolds, Dr. Lorcan Sirr and Ms Orla Hegarty in 2017 for a streamlined process. That is a big issue for many people, namely, the amount of bureaucracy, time and cost they have to go through. Has that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: That is an issue the committee potentially needs to look at in more detail. It was looked at in the previous Oireachtas and the County and City Management Association, CCMA, put forward that view that it could be putting more risk onto the State. That needs to be interrogated further because this is definitely a big barrier for people. In terms of the urban regeneration and development...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I refer to the review of the compulsory purchase orders. Has the idea of compulsory sales orders and compulsory rental orders been considered?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: My view on the Derelict Sites Acts is the issue is not with legislation but the lack of use of it, including a lack of enforcement, a lack of accountability in local authorities using it and, perhaps, a lack of incentives for local authorities to use it. Can that aspect of it be examined?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I have one final question for the departmental officials and one other question after that. My understanding is that the vacant homes officers were all meant to be full-time positions, although only four of the local authorities have full-time officers. The rest have part-time officers or have added their duties to those of other people, which was referenced earlier. How will the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I have a question for Mr. Reynolds on the streamlined process. The contrast between the costs in Ireland and the UK is very stark, not just in respect of time and bureaucracy but in actual fees. Will he elaborate on why the costs are so high here? Is it just because they are all separate processes? What is involved in those costs compared to the UK? Why is Mr. Reynolds so confident that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I wish to return to an issue that I raised previously. In his opening statement, Mr. Reynolds said that the process for changing internal use in Ireland cost more than €10,000 in the form of fees, permissions, fire certificates and so on and took nearly half a year whereas the process in the UK for a similar internal change of use involved a fee of £695 and only took ten days....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank Ms Graham, but just to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Just so that I am clear, did Ms Graham mean that it was the building regulation section of the Department that held that view? Do I have that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: What about the view that it would put an extra risk on the State? Is that view coming from that section?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Did the Department have any kind of evidence to arrive at that view? Is it the Department's view that, in the UK, this approach has transferred more risk to the state?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: It is an important point. Could we get a written clarification on it from the Department? We need to get to the bottom of whether it is absolutely the case that this cannot be done because it transfers more risk or whether more can be done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Fire safety regulations are incredibly important. I have been strong on that issue over the years and I would not want to see any diminution of them at all. My clear understanding, however, from the people making this proposal is that they do not have a view that there would be any such diminution in the fire safety regulations. They would remain strong but this proposal would create a...

Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Second Stage (20 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: While I agree with the sentiment of Deputy Lahart on this having to be the final say, it is critical that it is not the final say because the legislation does not go far enough on building control. The other legislation the Minister has committed to for an independent building regulator authority is crucial. The Bill on its own, which is very flawed and I will table amendments to improve...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (20 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: 272. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will take steps to ensure that tackling gender-based violence is under the remit of a single Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2762/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I confirm I am in the Leinster House complex. I wish Mr. O'Rourke well in his new role. In regard to the experience in other countries in terms of compulsory purchase orders, it is very much that it facilitates a speedy negotiation of a fair price. It is an extra tool to do that. I would encourage Mr. O'Rourke to keep that under review and to come back to us on that. On Project...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I ask for clarification here. The general assumption is that the other 25% would be 10% social housing in respect of the Part V obligations and then 15% affordable purchase except where it is a local authority site and the local authority requires higher than 10% social housing. Is that the general approach?