Results 6,261-6,280 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not paid any fees to the company concerned in respect of any current contracts. My Department does hold one current contract with the company concerned but work has yet to begin and no fees have been paid. Details of that contract can be found in my response to Question No. 681 of 7 November 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not currently hold any contracts with the company concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and a suite of measures has been introduced to address vacancy and increase the pace at which properties are brought back into use. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January, outlines all of the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (5 Dec 2023)

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. Section 5 of the Act contains details on the process for the inclusion of additional local authority areas into the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under electoral law, a nomination paper must state the name, address and occupation (if any) of a candidate at an election. A ballot paper must contain the name and description of the candidate standing nominated, as shown in the nomination paper. This requirement is intended as a means of identifying a candidate and ensuring the transparency of elections. In ruling on the validity of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that applications under the previous Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant scheme will benefit retrospectively from the increased grant amounts and allowances made available under the Enhanced DCB Grant Scheme. The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) provided updated cost reports for the North West and Midwest Regions in February and April 2023, respectively. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Correspondence (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The provisions in Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 were formally notified in draft form to the European Commission in accordance with the notification requirements of Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Following an open competition the consultancy firm referred to has been contracted to provide environmental assessment services to the Department in respect of the first revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF), namely the Strategic Environmental Assessment, Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. This is to ensure that the revision to the NPF complies with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Roadmap for the First Revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF), published in June 2023, provided an outline of the indicative timelines for the revision process. A copy of the Roadmap can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/deef6-a-road-map-for-the-first-rev ision-of-the-national-planning-framework/. A core objective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seanad Elections (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 sets out the current legislative provisions governing the election of university senators to Seanad Éireann. In a recent judgment the Supreme Court determined that sections 6 and 7 of that Act, which provide for the election of members of the Seanad by certain university graduates, are unconstitutional because they are not consistent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In July 2022 I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. In May 2023, I announced a revised grant rate of up to a maximum of €50,000 available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and also for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates an X account and has a grey checkmark as a government organisation. Further information on this type of profile label can be accessed on the X website at the following link: help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/profile-labels. My Department does not have this verification through a subscription fee. My Department has a social media policy is in place and Departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Framework for Future Delivery of Water Services (June 2022) was agreed following a comprehensive process of engagement with unions under the aegis of the Workplace Relations Commission and enables the integration of public water services into Uisce Éireann's organisational structure, as envisaged in the Government’s Policy Paper on Water Sector Transformation (February, 2021)....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 to 338, inclusive, together. Local authorities derive their income from a variety of local sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government. It is taken that the questions relate to income from commercial rates. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. The funding system that applies to local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from central Government. Local authority income and expenditure is reported in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Income...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

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

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Companies and Taxes Consolidation Acts.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: You said it was rushed.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: No, I did not. I wrote to-----