Results 6,021-6,040 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763 and 764 together. Works eligible under my Department's revised Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. The funded measures achieve the B2 or cost optimal...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to me, as Minister, that an area should be considered as a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ). Following receipt of such a proposal, I, as Minister, request the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to conduct an assessment of the area to establish...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department engages in collaborative research at an all-island level, through a broad range of partnerships and cooperation mechanisms, as set out below. National Parks and Wildlife Services all-island collaboration Officials in the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department collaborate with colleagues in Northern Ireland on an ongoing basis on shared, all-island nature,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. Under Section 20 of the 2009 Act and Regulation 22(1) of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing, and the stress that is caused when defects arise in relation to their buildings. The Government is committed to helping those whose lives have been impacted by this issue. I received Government approval in January 2023 to draft legislation to establish supports for the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently three separate Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (DWWTS) grant schemes available to householders. The purpose of the grants is to provide financial assistance to householders to repair or upgrade their defective DWWTS, commonly called septic tanks. Grants are available to householders where a septic tank has been found to be defective following an inspection by the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Ministerial Guidelines - ‘Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning, Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ under Section 28 of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 (as amended), were issued to all local authorities in December 2020. The Guidelines introduced a standardised national approach, based on ESRI data, to be applied by each planning authority in...

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 supports 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 residence and for...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not maintain a schedule of personal data sharing activities over the past 20 years to date. The information sought is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. My Department shares personal data with other public bodies for a variety of reasons including where required by law, where relevant and necessary to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Land Development Agency's (LDA) Business Plan 2024 – 2028, the agency will provide 12,900 - primarily affordable cost rental - homes over the lifetime of the plan. This is a significant contribution to the overall objectives within Housing for All. This emphasis on delivering social and affordable housing means that there has been a significant change in the scale and remit...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Government Fund (LGF) in any given year, comprises of a combination of Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts and Exchequer funding for various supports and programmes. For 2024, the expected expenditure from the Fund will be over €1bn, and the Government is making a significant contribution of €449.9m of Exchequer funding in this regard. The Exchequer funding is made up...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (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. While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised...

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

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently three separate Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (DWWTS), commonly called septic tanks, grant schemes available to householders. The purpose of these grants is to provide financial assistance to reduce the environmental impact from defective septic tanks and to protect human health. They are available to householders where a septic tank has been found to be defective...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 which came into effect on 1 July 2019. Local planning authorities are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level data on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery and spend activity. This data includes information relating to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) and the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) and can be found at the following link...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (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. There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was formally established on 17 July 2023. MARA is an independent body with responsibility for the performance of the functions statutorily assigned to it. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. MARA can be contacted at...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) is a new tax introduced in Finance Act 2021 which seeks to increase housing supply by encouraging the activation of development on lands which are suitably zoned and appropriately serviced. It aims to bring those lands which have benefitted from investment in services and are capable of being developed forward for housing. The tax is an action contained...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Public ownership is a core principle governing the development of water services and the Government has given its full commitment to holding a referendum on ownership of water services It is important to note that the establishment of Uisce éireann in public ownership is already firmly secured under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022. I have previously committed to bringing forward...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Water Supply Project - Eastern and Midlands Region is a strategic national project, included in the National Development Plan, to help meet the long-term water supply requirements for the Eastern and Midlands region. The project is subject to the Public Spending Code, which sets out the value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects....