Results 5,781-5,800 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (8 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are independent statutory bodies with their own democratically elected councils, and management and governance structures. Under Section 63 of the Local Government Act 2001, a local authority is "independent in the performance of its functions". The disposal and acquisition of land are local authority functions. Section 183 of the 2001 Act provides for the procedure to be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (8 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The priority drafting of the necessary amendments to the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 has been approved by Government. These amendments will shortly begin the legislative process as part of the upcoming Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is undertaking a review of the future of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) which considers the role of RAS in the private market, taking account of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme and Approved Housing Body participation. The draft report was submitted to me on 6 October 2023 in order to note the contents and recommendations. My Department is currently in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (8 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Constitutional recognition of local government provides the basis for a separate local government system, distinct from national government. Local authorities are independent statutory bodies with their own democratically elected councils and management structures. Subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. The elected council is the primary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 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. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (7 Feb 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/. The data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 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. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cork Events Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. It was agreed by Government in the context...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regional Development (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a broad national plan for strategic planning and sustainable development of urban and rural areas, with the objectives of securing balanced regional development and a sustainable approach to the form and pattern of future development (a ‘compact growth’ approach). The necessary co-ordination of plans at regional and local level to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tenants in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Properties (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Recommendations on all sites identified in the Report on Relevant Public Lands which was published by the LDA in 2023 are now under consideration. Sites which are being recommended for transfer to the LDA will be submitted to Government for consideration in sets, based on highest priority sites and lowest level of site constraints. Subsequent sets of sites will be considered by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As the national standalone public water utility, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for the provision and maintenance of fire hydrants in Ireland. The upkeep and maintenance of these fire hydrants is an operational matter for Uisce Éireann.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that a review of the private wells grant schemes is ongoing. As part of this review, my Department is engaging with key stakeholders in the Rural Water Sector. I expect to receive recommendations for my consideration shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is governed by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. Changes to the scheme were introduced on 29 January 2024 when the Housing (Sale of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Dáil Question No. 356 of 30 January 2024 which sets out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (7 Feb 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 provides for the enhanced grant scheme, and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. Where the owner of a relevant dwelling dies after an application for a remediation option grant has been submitted to the designated local authority, and the designated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 262 together. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. The Housing for All Action Plan Update published in November 2022,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Following a review conducted by my Department in 2022, the Government agreed to my recommendation to increase the baseline social housing income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Notwithstanding these recent changes, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not provide specific funding allocations for public lighting. The provision and maintenance of public lighting is the responsibility of each individual local authority. Local authorities receive income from a variety of sources including grants from Central Government, Local Property Tax proceeds, commercial rates and other locally-raised charges. It is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 263 together. The taking in charge of housing estates by local authorities is provided for under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), and the procedures for this are initiated under section 11 of the Roads Act, 1993. The taking in charge of residential estates is also a reserved function of the elected...