Results 7,821-7,840 of 26,778 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 Nov 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 (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, or building their own home, through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie. The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rented Dwellings Register (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 7 December 2022, the Government approved the priority drafting of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting (STTL) Bill and publication of the General Scheme of the Bill which provides for the registration of short-term tourist lettings with Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All, the Government's housing policy. On 21 December the proposed STTL Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Meteorological Services (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Number of WTE hydrometeorologists working in Met Éireann in 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023 Year 2021 7 2022 8 2023 8 2024 A competition will be run in 2024 with the intention of recruiting additional hydrometeorologists.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are designated as lead agencies for coordinating the local response to flooding emergencies as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006), details of which are available on my Department's website at the following link: . The arrangements for emergency management are seen as having worked extremely well, in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004, all or part of any unspent appropriations for capital supply services may be carried over for spending in the following year. This provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. This must be expended in the following year i.e. it is not permissible to further defer any surplus. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently finalising the text and Programme of Measures for the third River Basin Management Plan which will cover the Water Framework Directive (WFD) third cycle up to 2027. The delivery of a new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, and will advance Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by, inter alia, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Data on the number of residential dwellings purchased, including by first-time buyers, are captured and published by the Central Statistics Office. The most recent data, for the period to end-August 2023, show more than 41,700 dwellings were purchased by all buyer types between January and August this year. Some 11,000 or 26.5% of these were purchased by first-time buyers, an increase of 2%...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Data on the number of residential dwellings purchased, including by first-time buyers, are captured and published by the Central Statistics Office. The most recent data, for the period to end-August 2023, show more than 41,700 dwellings were purchased by all buyer types between January and August this year. Some 11,000 or 26.5% of these were purchased by first-time buyers, an increase of 2%...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. To qualify for social housing support a household must meet all of the eligibility criteria, which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the flagship cross-border Ulster Canal project. In July 2007, it was agreed by the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) to extend Waterways Ireland remit to include the reconstruction of a 13.5km stretch of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones. Waterways Ireland have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Waterways Ireland is a North South body whose role, responsibilities and remit are set out in the British Irish Agreement Act 1999 and the North-South (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. Any amendment to the remit of Waterways Ireland would be a matter for the North South Ministerial Council and would require legislative changes to both the Act and the Order. The body has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 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: Meteorological Services (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Flood forecasters (Hydro-meteororlogists) in the Met Éireann Flood Forecasting Centre work routinely Monday to Friday with additional attendance at weekends when there is any potential risk of flooding identified. The duty hydro-meteorologist liaises frequently with the rest of the forecasting team in Met Éireann and there is a routine scheduled briefing daily with the on-duty...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 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. A number of Departmental schemes are in place to support this objective, which are governed by relevant legislation, regulations and guidance. In relation to the schemes mentioned, the First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mayor of Charlotte was unavailable, due to prior commitments, to meet with the Consul General and myself during my recent visit to North Carolina. However I did meet with the Housing and Neighbourhood Services Director for the City of Charlotte.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)EU requires Member States to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect a variety of habitats and species. This Directive is transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011). The designation of SAC sites under the Directive is a formal, legal process, with a number...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...