Results 7,921-7,940 of 26,864 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Waterways Ireland is proposing to update the Shannon Bye-laws and Canal Bye-laws which are more than 30 years old and no longer fit for purpose. The needs of users have changed, environmental landscape and health and safety considerations have developed significantly and the waterways themselves have been transformed over the past thirty years. The purpose of updating the Bye-laws is to make...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Overall responsibility for roads policy and funding for the implementation of transport strategies is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport. Kildare County Council as the Roads Authority, is responsible for the management of the road network in its jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the above, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is providing part-funding for...

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

Darragh O'Brien: During the period under question, my Department has facilitated two remote and one in-person briefings from BelongTo. My Department has not facilitated any in-person or remote briefings from Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) during the same period. The information requested has been outlined in Table 1. My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The programme to provide funding for Biodiversity Officer roles within local authorities is being delivered by the Heritage Council, which is funded 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...

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...