Results 6,821-6,840 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Budget 2024 (24 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Finance provides certain scenario analysis in the context of the annual Budget in the context of tax changes. That Department can consider any particular questions in regard to tax impacts which the Deputy may wish to refer to it.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together. The OPW is the Sponsoring Agency of the rapid build programme referred to, on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), which is the lead Government Department for the emergency humanitarian response. As part of the whole of Government response, information on publicly...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In line with the ‘Protocol for the Provision of Information to Members of the Oireachtas by State Bodies under the aegis of Government Departments/Offices’, my Department ensures that all State bodies are made aware of the requirement to put arrangements in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. A full list of the State bodies...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was replaced by the Local Authority Home Loan on 4 January 2022. The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan is available nationwide from local authorities for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provided for major reorganisation of local government structures and the strengthening of governance and accountability in local government. Among other things it created an integrated county/sub-county relationship, with the establishment of a comprehensive and modern system of municipal governance; replaced existing regional structures with new...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The figures on page 244 of the 2024 Budget Expenditure Report refer to estimated expenditure for 2023 and 2024 and they relate to ISIF capitalisation. The figure of €663,850m for 2023 was submitted as an estimate figure for non-voted expenditure to my Department in November 2022. In 2023, I have approved €525m which was transferred to the LDA in two tranches in H1 2023. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Budget 2024 provides funding of €70 million for the remediation of homes affected by building defects. This money will fund the operation of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme and support homeowners with dwellings damaged by the use of defective blocks during 2024 along with providing supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. My Department has been working in close collaboration with Parliamentary drafters over the past...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that I plan to publish the framework for the new Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme in the coming weeks. Local authorities, including Mayo County Council, will then be invited to submit applications for funding for priority projects in their areas.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system and my Department has introduced a number of initiatives to support the delivery of affordable homes for purchase by first time buyers. The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) was introduced to assist first-time buyers...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (19 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 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 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Burial Grounds (19 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A series of ancient human remains were excavated from Omey island in 1992-93 as part of a rescue excavation. The rescue excavation was commissioned because burials were being washed away by continuing coastal erosion and the entire site with all those buried there at risk of being lost to the sea. Scientific dating of the burials indicates that these remains date to between the 7th and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (19 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (19 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The vast majority of known archaeological monuments in County Meath are subject to legal protection by reason of being included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) as established under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. Accordingly, it is illegal to carry out work at or in relation to them without giving the Minister two months’ notice of the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: NewERA provide financial and business advisory services with respect to the LDA to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in an ongoing capacity. Under the terms of reference agreed with NewERA and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, NewERA provide advice to the Ministers and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (18 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 (BER)/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (18 Oct 2023)

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