Results 6,801-6,820 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme was introduced, on an administrative basis, to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 31 March 2023. This scheme is available where a tenant faces the termination of a tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (25 Oct 2023)

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. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together. Section 28 guidelines for planning authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (the ‘Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines’), were issued in 2009. Section 28 of the Act provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála (ABP) shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2023)

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. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the challengeof vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Functions (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The protection of nature and the environment in Ireland is a responsibility shared by all of society. Various sectors and organisations, including several different Government departments, agencies and bodies all have key responsibilities in this regard. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is an executive agency within my Department with primary responsibility for nature...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In respect of acquiring or accepting properties, my Department acquires heritage structures and monuments, which are either of national importance or strategic importance, from time to time as resources and opportunities permit. Usually this is in the interests of the protection, preservation, conservation and management of monuments or sites. Such acquisitions are considered within the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including a minimum annual reckonable income. The Tenant Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021, with a number of amendments implemented from 1 February 2022. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (25 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently three Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS) grant schemes, commonly known as Septic Tank Grants, available to householders. The purpose of the grants is to provide financial assistance to householders to repair or upgrade septic tanks including those that fail inspections by a local authority. I can confirm that my Department, in consultation with key...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including a minimum annual reckonable income. The Tenant Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021, with a number of amendments implemented from 1 February 2022. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

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). For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no function in this matter. My Department does not have direct involvement in the executive functions such as procurement, carried out by a local authority. Under Section 149 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for the executive functions of the local authority, and for that purpose to manage and control generally, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 328 of 17 October 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Dwellings under the scheme come from a number of different sources including private owners, Part V and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Details of the number of units and funding of the Social Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government's Legislation Programme for Autumn 2023, published in September, includes the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill for priority publication this session.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material. The pyrite remediation scheme is a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

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. In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A 'Fresh Start' principle applies to state affordable housing or lending schemes for certain categories of persons who previously owned a home. The following categories of persons are eligible to apply under the Fresh Start principle: Applicant(s) who previously purchased or built a dwelling, together with a spouse, a civil partner or a person with whom he or she was in an intimate and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. From 1 May 2023, 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 properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a...