Results 6,221-6,240 of 26,666 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 176, inclusive, together. Arising from the Government Decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with delivering a programme of work to address a number of technical items. An interagency DCB Technical Matters Steering Group has...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Since the introduction of the new remuneration package available for local authority elected members in July 2021 following the publication of the Moorhead Report, there is in fact financial support in place for elected members for office accommodation. The Local Representation Allowance (LRA) is payable to an elected member of a local authority on a vouched basis for expenditure up to...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: The Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme is demand led which makes it difficult to accurately predict the number of eligible applicants that will apply for assistance and undertake works in a given year. However, as indicated in my reply to the previous Parliamentary Question I have ensured sufficient funding is available to enable remediation works under the enhanced scheme in...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: To date Clare County Council has received funding approval from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to assist in the delivery of 10 affordable purchase homes at Shannon. Two further applications for proposed affordable purchase schemes in Ennis were received by my Department in December and in January and are currently under assessment. My Department is also aware of a further proposal relating...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (22 Feb 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: Planning Issues (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: It is a principle under planning that the planning process is not pre-determined and where any planning application is lodged in accordance with section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), the application must be considered on a case by case basis by the relevant planning authority. An application for planning permission also provides an opportunity for...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I genuinely do not see that. I discussed this at length yesterday. Obviously, the national planning framework guidelines are delivering and are being revised and reviewed right now. They will be updated and will look at where we want to target our growth. The housing supply targets in each development plan reflect demand. This is all plan-led, particularly in the context of county...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: We can look at that. I did say yesterday that we had input and feedback in relation to this specific insertion of a new subsection into section 83. We will look to refine the wording between now and Report Stage. We have received feedback from members of the committee as well. We are going to work on that between now and Report Stage.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Of course.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy mentioned the Planning Regulator, which is obviously central to our system in checking that the development plans are consistent with the national plans. We have had recommendations from the regulator where voted changes to the development plan have not been accepted. Those recommendations have been followed through in the main by the Minister of State responsible for planning,...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I assure the Deputy that I will work on the wording. I have taken on board the points members have raised on that.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Of course. I certainly get the point. Deputy O'Callaghan has done development plans too. I assume every person in here has sat through and voted on a development plan. When looking at development plans, you will see where school sites are identified and where there are objectives for school sites and community facilities. That is all part of the plan-making process. What we want to do...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: First, I do not necessarily subscribe to, let us say the greater Dublin area, GDA, that we have a big overhang of overzoned land. To be fair to the Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR, it derisks overzoning. I have seen recommendations that have come up because I have to deal with them as Minister. Very specific and detailed is work done by the OPR. Once a draft development plan is...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I do not agree. We do not know what evidence backs that up. If the Deputy is saying outside of Dublin, is he referring to outside of the city? It is not the situation in Fingal and is certainly not the situation in south Dublin. I do not agree. We could have a debate on that or we could talk about the amendment.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Certainly, it is appreciated. The residential zoned land tax, RZLT, is another activation measure and it is important that where land is zoned that it is used, and for the purposes that it is zoned for. I agree with the point and will conclude on this. There should be no assumption from one development plan to another that just because land is zoned in one, it should remain zoned in the...