Results 6,461-6,480 of 26,666 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 74 and 115 together. At its core, the Government's Housing for All plan is about significantly increasing the supply of housing of the right type, in the right place, and at an affordable price. To this end, the plan comprises a suite of priority measures to transform our housing system, seeking to secure its sustainability into the future and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 83, 118 and 139 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January 2023, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. Under the Action Plan, a CPO Activation Programme was launched in April 2023. The Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware 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. A total of 1,880 applications have been submitted to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme (Enhanced and previous) since its launch in June...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: First-time buyer activity remains robust, with recent data showing a year-on-year increase in the number of homes purchased and mortgage approvals at historic levels. Data published by the Central Statistics Office show more than 55,100 homes were purchased at market prices by all buyer types between January and November last year. Some 15,600 or 28% of these were purchased by first time...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing, and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. Each local authority has prepared its own 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plan setting out their social and affordable housing delivery. The plan for Roscommon County Council is available on its official...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (15 Feb 2024)

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 Funding (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Departments 2024 budget (Vote 34) includes €1.66 billion of funding for Uisce Éireann for the provision of domestic water services. This includes a current expenditure provision of €680 million and capital funding of €983 million.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to work with all Local Authorities in respect of suitable opportunities for Turnkey delivery of new public homes. Local Authorities are particularly focussed on those opportunities where planning permissions are in place and where the development may not advance without the assurance of the Local Authorities interest. Turnkey developments are contracted by Local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has implemented several measures to ensure a balanced housing market across all tenures, including home ownership, social housing, and private rental. Under Housing for All, the Government committed to an 'owner-occupier' guarantee, allowing local authorities to designate a percentage of houses and duplexes in a development for owner-occupiers. In May 2021, measures...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Public Spending Code sets out the value for money guidelines for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects. The Public Spending Code was replaced and superseded with a set of Infrastructure Guidelines, published in December 2023 by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The arrangements set out in the Guidelines apply to all public...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On the 7 December 2023 I announced the projects that are approved for funding under the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages without access to Public Waste Water Services. I can confirm that my Department has written to the local authorities concerned outlining the next steps required to allow these projects commence and be completed as quickly as possible. I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 112 and 136 together. There has been a substantial uplift in the amount of new homes delivered since the launch of Housing for All in 2021. The final quarter last year was the fourth successive quarter with rolling 12-month completions surpassing 30,000 dwellings, with some 32,695 new homes delivered over the full year. This is the highest level of new...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 130 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 been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Question No. 379 of 13 February 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortality Rates (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 16 January 2023, the Health Research Board published its report on deaths among people who were homeless based on 2020 data. The research applied the methodology used to compile the National Drug Related Deaths Index, which is a census of drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent in Ireland. The study was commissioned by the Department of Health in...