Results 6,001-6,020 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: International Protection (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible for the provision of accommodation and related services to people in the International Protection process. However, in the context of my Department's Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Programme (ERUP) for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) from Ukraine and as set out in response...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 74 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that a local authority may confer a civic honour on a distinguished person in such a manner as it may determine and may establish and maintain a roll or record in which to enter the names of persons so honoured. The decision to convey a civic honour is a reserved function, the implementation of which is a matter for individual local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that I have launched the programme referred to in your correspondence today, 17 January 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, applies to applicable developments of houses on any land that is zoned residential (either exclusively or mixed use) or is granted planning permission for houses as a material contravention of the development plan. In line with the commitments in the Programme for Government, I introduced changes to Part V of the Planning and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates a wide range of grant schemes to address housing need and to support households within their existing housing, including through improvement, retrofitting and upgrading works, tackling vacancy and dereliction and a range of adaptation works to support older people and people with a disability. In the main, the detailed administration, including assessment, approval...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 744 and 817 together. Under section 13 of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('The Act') where at any time after making an application, an applicant becomes aware of any change in circumstances that affects his or her application, he or she is obliged to immediately notify the designated local authority of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme, designed to help bridge the gap for eligible first-time buyers, eligible homebuyers, and now self-builders, between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home (within price ceilings established across the country). Full details are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie....

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 746, 823 and 824 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is the lead Department for the provision and allocation of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP). The role of my Department in this area is a supporting role as part of the broader, whole of Government response. My Department is supporting the whole of Government effort on Ukraine across...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Disallowance Sought: The matter raised is one in which I, in my role as Minister with responsibility for planning, have no statutory function. Planning legislation places no specific restrictions on the species or height of trees or hedges, nor does it make any particular provision for remedy from any other nuisance (such as obstruction of natural light) which may be caused by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Priorities (17 Jan 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 emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the application for, and allocation of, tenancies, is solely a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations. My Department does not hold information on the number of applicants who have applied to rightsize. The information sought...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (17 Jan 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 accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Compulsory Purchase Orders (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department chairs the National Bathing Water Expert Group, which advises on the implementation of the Bathing Water Regulations, and collaborates with relevant bodies on addressing significant issues as they arise. The Environmental Protection Agency and Uisce éireann are represented on this group. In parallel, my Department is represented on the Bathing Water Task Force, which...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Uisce éireann, as a single publicly-owned national water services authority, takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. Under Part 5 of the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is the economic regulator of Uisce éireann, and is responsible for setting the total level of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Correspondence (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am advised by the relevant local authority that a non-statutory master plan has been developed for the site in question and agreed with the local community. This master plan has been reviewed and revised a number of times over the years. This master plan includes the construction of over 800 homes. To comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, the local authority will need to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address the challenges facing the Rural Water Sector and in particular by Group Water Schemes. I can confirm that I launched the MARWP 2024-2026 today, 17 January 2024. Local authorities have been invited to submit applications for funding for priority projects in their areas.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (17 Jan 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act) introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which was aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their functional areas, beginning on 1 January 2017. Planning authorities were required to issue...