Results 6,121-6,140 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2022, is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-ass essments/ Details...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Article 16 of the Constitution states that those who have reached the age of 18 shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann. Articles 12 (relating to the President) and 47 (relating to referendums) state that citizens eligible to vote in Dáil elections are eligible to vote in such polls. Part II of the Electoral Act 1992 provides that a person must...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together. A key measure in Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) programme is supporting significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A site inspection of alleged unlicensed seaweed harvesting in the Kenmare River SAC in the vicinity of Ballycrovan Harbour, Co. Cork took place on the 24 of May 2023. A copy of the inspection report has been sent to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long term housing support, an assessment of housing need must be completed in order for a household to qualify for HAP. Any household with an identified housing need is eligible for HAP. HAP support is available to tenants in rent a room scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q2 2023, over 112,900 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were over 58,200 households actively in receipt of HAP support. Since July 2022 each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested in relation to the work of Land Development Agency (LDA) relates to operational matters and as such is not held by my Department. 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. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Persons living in direct provision who have been granted international protection status can access State provided supports and services on the same basis as Irish nationals. It is open to anyone to apply for social housing support, applications for which are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 427 to 433, inclusive, together. In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 425 together. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Properties (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There are no vacant and derelict properties or sites under the ownership of my Department. It is the role of the Office of Public Works (OPW) to provide office accommodation to all Government Departments. The OPW owns or leases the buildings which my Department occupies. The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (12 Dec 2023)

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: Housing Provision (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing delivered for care leavers by way of funding provided to AHBs through my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme forms part of the overall social housing targets and delivery as reported.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (12 Dec 2023)

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 housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 222 and No. 224 of 7 December 2023 which set out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The statutory arrangements related to the preparation and adoption by the three Regional Assemblies of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, which must be consistent with the National Planning Framework and must have regard to any relevant guidelines issued under section 28 of the Act, are set out in sections 21 to 25 (inclusive) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (12 Dec 2023)

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 statutory role of housing 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 housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Electoral law provides for postal voting for a number of different categories of people including the following - whole-time members of the Defence Forces, members of An Garda Síochána, Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, electors living at home who are unable to vote because of an illness or a disability, electors whose occupation, service or employment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...