Results 7,141-7,160 of 26,762 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together. The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address the challenges facing the Rural Water Sector and in particular by Group Water Schemes. Under the programme, funding is available to address infrastructure deficits that are having an impact on the provision of safe and secure drinking water supplies. My Department undertook and has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Dáil Question no. 220 on 7 December which sets out the information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 403 together. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes, by 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 404 together. Cost rental is a new form of tenure which was introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021, where rents are set only to cover the cost of financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes. Under various schemes, the State may provide a subvention to reduce the initial capital cost and make the starting cost rent more...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405, 408, 409, 412 and 443 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The detailed advancement of housing and other works under the Cork City North West Quarter Regeneration (CNWQR) programme is a matter, in the first instance, for Cork City Council. The CNWQR Masterplan & Implementation Report was published in 2011. The strategy outlined a departure from previous policy, with a proposal to carry out wholesale demolition of the housing stock in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing supports and the oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the application for, and allocation of, tenancies, is solely a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations. Whilst some local authorities operate rightsizing schemes, my Department does not hold information...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The closing of the sale of each affordable home on its completion and delivery is a matter between parties to the transaction, who include the individual purchaser, their mortgage provider, and the relevant local authority, together with their respective legal representatives. My Department has issued pro forma legal and conveyancing material to all local authorities, following engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2022, is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-ass essments/ Details...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Article 16 of the Constitution states that those who have reached the age of 18 shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann. Articles 12 (relating to the President) and 47 (relating to referendums) state that citizens eligible to vote in Dáil elections are eligible to vote in such polls. Part II of the Electoral Act 1992 provides that a person must...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together. A key measure in Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) programme is supporting significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A site inspection of alleged unlicensed seaweed harvesting in the Kenmare River SAC in the vicinity of Ballycrovan Harbour, Co. Cork took place on the 24 of May 2023. A copy of the inspection report has been sent to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long term housing support, an assessment of housing need must be completed in order for a household to qualify for HAP. Any household with an identified housing need is eligible for HAP. HAP support is available to tenants in rent a room scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q2 2023, over 112,900 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were over 58,200 households actively in receipt of HAP support. Since July 2022 each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested in relation to the work of Land Development Agency (LDA) relates to operational matters and as such is not held by my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Persons living in direct provision who have been granted international protection status can access State provided supports and services on the same basis as Irish nationals. It is open to anyone to apply for social housing support, applications for which are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 427 to 433, inclusive, together. 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/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (12 Dec 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 425 together. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the...