Results 6,961-6,980 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that my Department has been notified of potential legal proceedings. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for Allis the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing over the next decade. It includes unprecedented State investment of €4.5 billion per annum to facilitate the supply of housing at the substantial scale required to meet demand, including 54,000 affordable homes by 2030. Greater supply is key to meeting demand and facilitating access to affordable housing....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides financial support through the domestic waste water treatment system grant schemes to assist householders to carry out works to repair or upgrade defective septic tanks. I can confirm that a review of the grant schemes has been recently completed by my Department. As part of the review, there was extensive consultation with stakeholders, including convening a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In April 2022, I announced a new funding measure, as an advance stage of the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services. Funding of €50 million has been specifically allocated under the National Development Plan 2021-2030. The first round of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently finalising the drafting of the regulations to provide for consequential amendments to the Planning and Development Regulations regarding substitute consent procedures, following which the substitute consent and other relevant provisions of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 will be commenced. The regulations are in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not use ChatGPT or any other Artificial Intelligence (AI) to conduct business. As with all new technologies, my Department is assessing the potential of AI in the delivery of services, in line with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance on its usage in the public service, and works closely with the NCSC which encompasses the State's national/governmental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently 450 AHBs registered with AHBRA. My Department does not hold information on organisations that may have registered as AHBs in the past but are no longer on the register. The Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act makes it an offence for a person, other than an AHB as defined in the Act, to describe themselves as or hold themselves out to indicate that they are,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (3 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: One of the functions of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) is to collect and publish information (including statistical information) concerning AHBs as it considers necessary and appropriate. AHBRA conducted its first monitoring programme in September 2022, the results of which have been published in its first Sectoral Analysis on 8 May 2023, and is available on their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Office of Public Works (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the Office of Public Works (OPW) have confirmed that they have no involvement with Baltimore Station House and have not expressed any interest in acquiring it. Requests in respect of the OPW's involvement in respect of the property should be addressed to the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform who has responsibility for the Office. The Land...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The raising of the ratio of mortgage to income from 3.5 to 4 times for first-time buyers, as mandated by the Central Bank of Ireland, came into effect on 1January this year. With regard to the First Home Scheme, this change was carried over on the same date. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at:www.firhomescheme.ie. The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for Alldelivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and putaffordabilityat theheartof the housing system. There are two equity schemes currently available to support the affordable purchase of homes to eligible applicants. The First Home Scheme is operated by a Designated Activity Company (DAC), governed by a Board of Directors comprising...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. Local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme is operated by a Designated Activity Company (DAC), governed by a Board of Directors comprising representatives of the scheme funders, i.e. the State, AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB. First Home does not apply an interest rate. A service charge applies to the percentage value of unredeemed equity from year 6 in order to cover administrative costs associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Maximum rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. In prescribing these limits, household size and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 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 occupation as a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: During the Covid-19 emergency, the HAP Debt Management Process (DMP) was suspended from March 2020 and partially re-commenced in October 2020. This meant non-payment of differential rent by a tenant during that time did not affect payments to HAP landlords. Tenants were, however, expected to continue to pay their rent with supports available for those financially impacted by Covid. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that the monument in question is a protected structure (Record of Protected Structures ID 02348). My Department provides financial support to owners of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures to assist in their conservation and protection through two grant schemes, the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). The HSF is for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Sep 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 Policy (27 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, as amended. The regulations provide for specified classes of houses to be excluded...